Last Week’s Card & Cuppa – Inspired by roses

| Leave a comment

Last week’s Card & Cuppa project was inspired by roses.

Card & Cuppa project using Petal Palette. Designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

I have a beautiful rose bush in my front garden that blooms throughout the summer and this year is no exception. In fact the blooms are so pretty that I just had to take a picture.

Roses in garden that inspired Card & Cuppa project

So, when I was thinking about a project for the class, these flowers were my inspiration.

Petal Palette is the stamp set I chose as it has the lovely roses. The crumb cake background dulls the colouring but I like the more muted tones on this project. Even though my roses are a bright red!

All of the stamping is in Early Espresso and the roses are coloured with Watercolor Pencils (yes, I know the ‘u’ is missing, but that is their name in the catalogue as it’s American spelling!) A Blender Pen is used to soften the colouring.

For contrast, a strip of the fabulous new Polka Dot Ribbon is used down the edge before a layered sentiment is added.

Card & Cuppa project using Petal Palette. Designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

The ribbon is great for adding some texture as it’s really tactile. To add more depth, the sentiment is raised up on Dimensionals.

Card & Cuppa project using Petal Palette. Designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Finally, Wink of Stella is added to the petals to add a subtle touch of bling.

Card & Cuppa project using Petal Palette. Designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

It’s great to be able to take inspiration from the world around us. What has inspired you to create something?

Happy crafting

Karen Young HIPPOFROG Designs

To order any of the supplies used, click on the images below to go to my online store. Remember to use the Hostess Code if you are placing an order.

You can also join my team here.

Petal Palette Clear-Mount Stamp SetJar Of Love Photopolymer Stamp SetCrumb Cake A4 CardstockEarly Espresso Classic Stampin' PadEarly Espresso A4 Cardstock1" (2.5 cm) Circle Punch1-1/4" (3.2 cm) Circle PunchVery Vanilla 5/8" (1.6 cm) Polka Dot Tulle RibbonWatercolor PencilsBlender PensClear Wink Of Stella Glitter BrushSnail AdhesiveStampin' DimensionalsVery Vanilla C6 Envelopes

Introducing Grapefruit Grove

| Leave a comment

Here’s another project from my recent In Color Introduction class and this project is introducing Grapefruit Grove. You’ll have seen me use the colour previously.

Introducing Grapefruit Grove. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

This uses the new Rooted in Nature Bundle from the Nature’s Poem Suite in the Annual Catalogue. It’s one of those sets that grabbed my attention straight away and I knew it just had to fall into my basket!

Here we’ve used the leaves from the Stamp Set and stamped them in Grapefruit Grove.

Using the co-ordinating Nature’s Root Framelit we’ve cut the smaller leaves and both embossed and cut the feature leaves. The texture these have is really stunning.

Introducing Grapefruit Grove. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Happy Birthday Gorgeous provides the sentiment and it sits in a circle from the Stitched Shape Framelits and a layer from the Layering Circles Framelits.

These all sit on a strip of matching Grapefruit Grove ribbon.

Introducing Grapefruit Grove. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

I love the colour combination of this project with Grapefruit Grove, Pool Party and Merry Merlot. It’s not the usual colour scheme you would use for leaves but I’m really pleased with how it came out.

It’s great to experiment with unusual colour combinations or change from what is perceived to be the norm.

To join us at a future class, check out my class timetable.

Happy crafting

Karen Young HIPPOFROG Designs

To order any of the supplies used, click on the images below to go to my online store. Remember to use the Hostess Code if you are placing an order.

You can also join my team here.

Rooted In Nature Clear-Mount BundleHappy Birthday Gorgeous Photopolymer Stamp SetLayering Circle Framelits DiesStitched Shapes Framelits DiesGrapefruit Grove Classic Stampin' PadGrapefruit Grove A4 CardstockGrapefruit Grove 1/8" (3.2 mm) Grosgrain RibbonMerry Merlot A4 CardstockPool Party A4 CardstockVery Vanilla A4 CardstockVery Vanilla C6 EnvelopesSnail AdhesiveStampin' Dimensionals

3 years…

| Leave a comment

It’s now three years since I took my voluntary severance package and I have no regrets (year 1 reflection, year 2 reflection). All I see is huge positives. These past three years have flown by and I’m loving life.

I’m still achieving my goal of not working for anyone else and am still enjoying being my own boss.

My craft business is continuing to give me lots of joy and I love teaching my regular weekly and monthly classes.

I’ve also just fulfilled an ambition I’ve had for a number of years and completed courses in manicure and pedicure, so a new chapter in my life is beginning.

3 years on. New chapter in life. Exciting times ahead. HIPPOFROG Designs with Karen Young

My second business as a mobile nail technician will be launching tomorrow (nicely manicured fingers crossed) and I’m filled with excitement about it. Two businesses where I get to unleash my creative side, what’s not to love?

Even thought I’m now running two businesses, stress levels are a thing of the past. Yes, it can still be stressful at times, but I deal with things in a very different way to when I was in a an environment contending with office politics, unnecessary meetings, egos and more.

I have much more mental energy to positively deal with what I can control, and also try not to worry about things that I can’t. Just a small part of the important ‘taking care of me’ process – something we woefully neglect until we are in a situation where it is desperately needed, rather than little and often.

Another part of the very important ‘taking care of me’ process is that this year I’ve also finally been diagnosed with migraines. I’ve always experienced bad headaches, that I assumed were migraines, but never been officially diagnosed. Every month a migraine was wiping me out for 36-48 hours, plus the fuzzy ‘hangover’ feeling once the pain has gone. Thankfully, the Doctor agreed and prescribed me a Triptan for when they strike.

I can honestly say that this little 2.5mg drug has changed my life. My migraine goes within a few hours of taking it and I can get back to ‘normal’.

No more having to postpone or not attend events, or attend and not be firing on all cylinders. I’ve no idea how I used to carry on working at my desk without taking numerous sick days when I was in an office.

So, now that several things are under control, I’m ready to make this chapter really exciting and smash a few more goals.

 

Last Week’s Card & Cuppa – Gallery Grunge & Soft Sea Foam

| Leave a comment

At last week’s Card & Cuppa I introduced the attendees to one of the new Stampin’ Up! colours, Soft Sea Foam.

Gallery Grunge and Soft Sea Foam. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

I also chose to use one of the new stamp sets in the Annual Catalogue called Gallery Grunge. It’s a fab set with some large images that create fabulous backgrounds. My inspiration for this project is the sample on Page 163.

Tone-on Tone stamping on the layer adds some extra detail. I’ve added Mango Melody and Berry Burst as the colour combination for the main stamping and they work really well together to create the project.

Gallery Grunge and Soft Sea Foam. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

The strip of Linen Thread adds some more texture and the circle of Very Vanilla helps the sentiment to stand out from the background.

‘Treat yourself’ from Picture Perfect Birthday fits perfectly in the Tailored Tag Punch.

Gallery Grunge and Soft Sea Foam. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Finally, a few pearls are added to complete this very subtle card.

I love the design of this card and can see me replicating it in various colours. Which colours would you choose?

Why not join us for next week’s Card & Cuppa sessions. Book your place by 18:00 the day before.

Don’t forget that there are three Card & Cuppa for Children sessions running during the school holidays too.

Happy crafting

Karen Young HIPPOFROG Designs

To order any of the supplies used, click on the images below to go to my online store. Remember to use the Hostess Code if you are placing an order.

You can also join my team here.

Gallery Grunge Clear-Mount Stamp SetPicture Perfect Birthday Photopolymer Stamp SetSoft Sea Foam Classic Stampin' PadSoft Sea Foam A4 CardstockMango Melody Classic Stampin' PadBerry Burst Classic Stampin' PadVery Vanilla A4 CardstockVery Vanilla C6 EnvelopesPearl Basic JewelsLinen Thread1-3/4" (4.4 cm) Circle PunchTailored Tag PunchSnail AdhesiveStampin' Dimensionals

Daisy Delight meets Pineapple Punch

| Leave a comment

Today I’m sharing another project from my ‘In Color’ Introduction class. This time it’s the turn of Pineapple Punch.

Daisy Delight meets Pineapple Punch. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Pineapple Punch is a really bright colour, but when you start to team it with other colours it tones in really well. For this project, the combination is with Old Olive and Early Espresso.

I chose to use Delightful Daisy for this project and the main daisy is stamped and punched twice and then layered. To finish the daisy, the centre piece was stamped, punched and added.

Daisy Delight meets Pineapple Punch. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

The leaves are a mixture of first and second generation stamping. It’s a really simple ‘less is more’ type card where there is lots of white space that allows the daisy to be the main focal point.

Daisy Delight meets Pineapple Punch. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

I chose to leave the project sentiment free as it’s great for a whole host of different occasions.

Which colours would you choose to use?

Why not join us at a future Papercrating Class? Click here for my class timetable.

Happy crafting

Karen Young HIPPOFROG Designs

To order any of the supplies used, click on the images below to go to my online store. Remember to use the Hostess Code if you are placing an order.

You can also join my team here.

Daisy Delight Photopolymer Stamp SetDaisy PunchWhisper White A4 CardstockPineapple Punch Classic Stampin' PadPineapple Punch A4 CardstockEarly Espresso Classic Stampin' PadOld Olive Classic Stampin' PadOld Olive A4 Cardstock1/2" (1.3 cm) Circle PunchSnail AdhesiveStampin' DimensionalsWhisper White C6 Envelopes

‘In Color’ Introduction – Shades of Lovely Lipstick

| Leave a comment

Today I’m sharing another project from my recent In Color Introduction Class. This time it’s shades of Lovely Lipstick.

Shades of Lovely Lipstick Card. Designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Blackberry Bliss and Pear Pizzazz work really well with the new Lovely Lipstick to make a fabulous colour combination .

A Sponge Brayer and some strips of card for masking creates the shades of Lovely Lipstick effect. I love how you can make ombre effect as subtle or expressive as you want to.

The leaves and flowers from Swirly Bird are stamped multiple times to create different colour shades with a sentiment from Jar of Love.

As with this project, the Pretty Label shape is punched twice, once for the sentiment, and again to create a layer by chopping it in half. The strip of co-ordinating ribbon neatly hides the join.

Due to the round shapes on this project, the new Details Trio Punch just had to be used to round the corners.

Shades of Lovely Lipstick Card. Designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Once the flowers are punched and leaves are fussy cut, they are stuck onto the sentiment. This is then finally attached to the project using Dimensionals.

Shades of Lovely Lipstick Card. Designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

This project can be easily replicated in lots of different colours with different sentiments too.

Want to join us for future classes? Check out my class timetable for more details.

Happy crafting

Karen Young HIPPOFROG Designs

To order any of the supplies used, click on the images below to go to my online store. Remember to use the Hostess Code if you are placing an order.

You can also join my team here.

Swirly Bird Photopolymer Stamp SetJar Of Love Photopolymer Stamp SetVery Vanilla A4 CardstockLovely Lipstick Classic Stampin' PadLovely Lipstick A4 CardstockLovely Lipstick 1/8" (3.2 mm) Grosgrain RibbonPear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' PadPear Pizzazz A4 CardstockBlackberry Bliss Classic Stampin' Pad1/2" (1.3 cm) Circle PunchDetailed Trio PunchSponge BrayersSnail AdhesiveStampin' DimensionalsVery Vanilla C6 Envelopes

Last Week’s Card & Cuppa – Inspired by Wimbledon

| Comments Off on Last Week’s Card & Cuppa – Inspired by Wimbledon

Every year at Card & Cuppa, I design a project inspired by Wimbledon Tennis Tournament colours.

Here is this year’s Purple, Green and Yellow card.

Project inspired by Wimbledon. Designed by Karen Young at HIPPOFROG Designs

This card uses the same bundle we used last week – Pop of Petals with the Four-Petal Punch. Touches of Texture is where the flowers and ‘splats’ come from.

The leaves are Granny Apple Green with Gorgeous Grape flowers. The background stamp is in Pineapple Punch.

A crucial part was stamping the butterflies 7 times using Memento Ink, 3 on the card and 4 onto a strip on Pineapple Punch cardstock.

To add more depth to the butterflies, parts are coloured with the matching Stampin’ Write Marker. On one of the butterflies, the colouring is covered with Wink of Stella before punching.

Project inspired by Wimbledon. Designed by Karen Young at HIPPOFROG Designs

3 of the butterflies are then stuck over the background butterflies. The final butterfly is then added with a Dimensional to look like it is flying off the card.

Project inspired by Wimbledon. Designed by Karen Young at HIPPOFROG Designs

A great summery sentiment free card that is suitable for a lot of different occasions.

Why not join us at a future Card & Cuppa session by booking your place here. Don’t forget about the special Card & Cuppa for Children sessions I’m running during the school holidays too.

Happy crafting

Karen Young HIPPOFROG Designs

To order any of the supplies used, click on the images below to go to my online store. Remember to use the Hostess Code if you are placing an order.

You can also join my team here.

Pop Of Petals Clear-Mount BundleTouches Of Texture Clear-Mount Stamp SetWhisper White A4 CardstockPineapple Punch Classic Stampin' PadPineapple Punch A4 CardstockIn Color 2018–2020 Stampin' Write MarkersGranny Apple Green Stampin' PadGranny Apple Green A4 CardstockGorgeous Grape Classic Stampin' PadGorgeous Grape A4 CardstockTuxedo Black Memento Ink PadClear Wink Of Stella Glitter BrushSnail AdhesiveStampin' DimensionalsWhisper White C6 Envelopes

Balloon Celebration meets this year’s In Color Collection

| Comments Off on Balloon Celebration meets this year’s In Color Collection

At the end of last month I held an ‘Introduction to In Color’ class where the attendees made 6 cards.

5 of the cards focussed on an individual In Color with one combining them all. This is the project where they were all used.

Ballon Celebation meets this year's In Color Collection. Project designed by Karen Young at HIPPOFROG Designs

I’ve used a Whisper White base card, along with a Smoky Slate layer and stamping to allow the colours to pop.

Each of the new In Colors is punched out with the Balloon Bouquet Punch to create a fun bunch of balloons.

Once they were all attached together, lengths of Silver & White Baker’s Twine with that fabulous sparkle were added to the back.

Ballon Celebation meets this year's In Color Collection. Project designed by Karen Young at HIPPOFROG Designs

The bow is from the Cookie Cutter Builder Punch. Not just a punch for Christmas!

Dimensionals are attached to the back of the balloons to make them look like they are floating. Attaching the bow with a Mini Dimensional cut in half was the most difficult part of the project!

Ballon Celebation meets this year's In Color Collection. Project designed by Karen Young at HIPPOFROG Designs

This is a card that is suitable for anyone and almost any occasion.

Pop back soon when I’ll show you the other cards from the class.

Happy crafting

Karen Young HIPPOFROG Designs

To order any of the supplies used, click on the images below to go to my online store. Remember to use the Hostess Code if you are placing an order.

You can also join my team here.

Balloon Celebration Photopolymer Stamp SetBalloon Bouquet PunchCookie Cutter Builder PunchWhisper White A4 CardstockWhisper White A4 Thick CardstockSmoky Slate Classic Stampin' PadSmoky Slate A4 CardstockIn Color 2018–2020 A4 CardstockSilver Baker’s TwineSnail AdhesiveStampin' DimensionalsMini Stampin' DimensionalsWhisper White C6 Envelopes

Buy 3, Get 1 FREE on selected DSP

| Comments Off on Buy 3, Get 1 FREE on selected DSP

July is turning out to be a fun month.

Not only is there the fabulous FREE inkpads for joining Stampin’ Up! promotion, there is also the return of the Buy 3, Get 1 FREE on selected DSP offer.

If you like stroking paper and don’t like cutting into it, then this is perfect for you. You can purchase 3 packs to cut up and use and select another for FREE to keep intact!

Click on the picture below for details of the papers available in the offer.

The biggest problem is going to be deciding which packs to choose.

Happy crafting

Karen Young HIPPOFROG Designs

To order any of the papering in the offer, click on the images below to go to my online store. Remember to use the Hostess Code if you are placing an order.

You can also join my team here.

Nature's Poem Designer Series PaperTwinkle Twinkle Designer Series PaperUnder The Mistletoe Designer Series PaperAnimal Expedition Designer Series PaperBest Route Designer Series PaperPetal Promenade Designer Series PaperTranquil Textures Designer Series PaperGarden Impressions 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 cm) Designer Series PaperTropical Escape 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 cm) Designer Series PaperWood Textures Designer Series Paper Stack

Last Week’s Card & Cuppa – Pop of Petals

| Comments Off on Last Week’s Card & Cuppa – Pop of Petals

At last week’s Card & Cuppa session the attendees got to play with a new bundle – Pop of Petals.

Pop of Petals Bundle. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

This project is my version of the sample on Page 47 of the Annual Catalogue. I’ve used Petal Pink, Pear Pizzazz, Gorgeous Grape and Flirty Flamingo ink.

The stamp set has a number of flower designs that co-ordinate with the Four-Petal Flower Punch. Word of warning here, the punch and images need to marry up as the punch is not symmetrical.

Firstly, a pretty image of several flowers in the set creates the background. Two different flower images are used in this design, one is for the flowers in Flirty Flamingo onto Petal Pink cardstock. Second is the leaves using tone-on-tone stamping and then cutting the image into four.

I love the sentiment from Picture Perfect Birthday as makes a great centrepiece.

Using Blender Pens we softened the flowers by moving ink from the stamping to colour the images.

Pop of Petals Bundle. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Wink of Stella adds sparkle in the centre of the flowers. Finally, everything was built from the bottom to the top using a combination of SNAIL and Dimensionals to create depth.

Pop of Petals Bundle. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Why not join us for a future Card & Cuppa session. Remember to book your place by 18:00 the day before so that I have enough kits for everyone.

Happy crafting

Karen Young HIPPOFROG Designs

To order any of the supplies used, click on the images below to go to my online store. Remember to use the Hostess Code if you are placing an order.

You can also join my team here.

Pop Of Petals Clear-Mount BundlePicture Perfect Birthday Photopolymer Stamp SetWhisper White A4 CardstockFlirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' PadFlirty Flamingo A4 CardstockGorgeous Grape Classic Stampin' PadPear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' PadPear Pizzazz A4 CardstockHighland Heather A4 CardstockPetal Pink Classic Stampin' PadPetal Pink A4 CardstockBlender Pens2-1/4" (5.7 cm) Circle PunchWhisper White C6 EnvelopesSnail AdhesiveStampin' Dimensionals