Daffodils for Day of Reflection

March 23, 2021March 22, 2021 ~ Karen Young

Today marks one year on from the first UK lockdown, and the start of a National Day of Reflection.

Having lost someone close during this time, I will be reflecting during the day. My reflections will be for both me and my family, and for others who are also grieving.

Along with a minute of silence at 12 noon and shining a light at 8pm, another suggestion is to buy yellow flowers, Day of Reflection. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Rather than buy some flowers to mark the day, I have made some 3D punch art daffodils to put in my own window.

They are simply made from two punches, Perennial Flower Punch pieces in Daffodil Delight. It couldn’t be any other colour! The trumpets are from the Small Bloom Punch in Pumpkin Pie and the stems are strips cut from Granny Apple Green.

Day of Reflection. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

There are so many extra touches that could be added to them, from additional layers, inking the edges and different colour ways. But I wanted to keep mine simple and create the essence of daffodils, rather than be really precise.

If you want to make your own daffodils, the products I’ve used are listed below.

Happy crafting

Karen Young HIPPOFROG Designs

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

Online Shopping Club Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

Last Week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa – In Good Taste DSP

March 22, 2021March 18, 2021 ~ Karen Young

Last Week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa project was all in good taste!

It uses the In Good Taste DSP, along with the Tasteful Labels Dies.

In Good Taste. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

The inspiration for this project is page 59 of the January-June Mini Catalogue.

I like the effect of the background stamping on the catalogue project, with the layers on top.

As I’m unable to provide stamped images to attendees, a sheet of DSP provides the perfect alternative background. With the In Good Taste DSP being double-sided, the attendees could choose which they preferred.

In Good Taste. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs My colour combination of Basic Gray and Night of Navy is taken from the Well Suited Twine Combo Pack and makes this the perfect masculine-style project.

For a slightly different look, I have tied knots in the pieces of Twine from the Well Suited Combo Pack.

In Good Taste. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

The sentiment from the Many Mates Stamp Set is coloured using a Blender Pen and raised over the twine using Dimensionals.

This is a quick and simple project to make, plus, the design is really versatile and can suit different colours, shapes and sentiments.

I’ve used Whisper White in my project, which has now been replaced with Basic White. See this post for full details while I work through my supply.

Why not join me at a future Class. Head to my Class Timetable for full details.

Happy crafting

Karen Young HIPPOFROG Designs

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

Online Shopping Club Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

Butterfly Brilliance Customer Thank You Cards

March 20, 2021March 19, 2021 ~ Karen Young

For my latest batch of customer thank you cards, I just had to use items from the new Butterfly Brilliance Collection.

This collection is an early release Bundle from the upcoming Annual Catalogue. There are TWO paper packs too that are available for a limited time (while stocks last).

All of the items are available individually, with a discount for the full collection (while stocks last).

Butterfly Brilliance. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

I cut a strip of the 6×6 Butterfly Bijou DSP Stack as a background piece for my Pool Party basecard.

Next, I used the Brilliant Wings Dies to cut out both a solid and detailed butterfly shape. One in Mango Melody and the other in So Saffron.

After sticking these together, the butterfly was then stuck onto the DSP.

I then added a sentiment from the Blossoms in Bloom Stamp Set in Basic Gray Ink. This is cut out using the Treasured Tags Pick a Punch to make a rounded edge. If you were a fan of the Word Window Punch, then this punch is a good substitute.

The sentiment is attached across the wings using Mini Dimensionals.

Butterfly Brilliance. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Finally, Artistry Blooms Sequins in co-ordinating Mango Melody add a touch of sparkle.

Find out more about the items in the Butterfly Brilliance Bundle and make sure you grab the limited availability items while you still can.
Please note, if one or more of the DSP sets has sold out, the full discounted Bundle option will be discontinued. You will still be able to purchase the other remaining items separately.

I’ve used Whisper White in my project, which has now been replaced with Basic White. See this post for full details while I work through my supply.

Don’t forget to head to my Class Timetable for full details of the classes I am currently running.

Happy crafting

Karen Young HIPPOFROG Designs

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

Online Shopping Club Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

In Bloom Bundle meets In Color

March 17, 2021March 12, 2021 ~ Karen Young

Have you seen the fabulous new Bundles in the January-June Mini Catalogue.

For this project, the new In Bloom Bundle meets In Color, to create a pretty floral card.

My colour combination is Seaside Spray and Rococo Rose In Colors, with Pear Pizzazz and Very Vanilla.

As these cards were for Mothering Sunday, I made two. One in Seaside Spray and the other in Rococo Rose, with accents in the other colour.

Another new product in the Mini Catalogue is the pretty Stitched With Whimsy Dies. This is the wavy embossed outline shape you can see on the Very Vanilla background piece.

In the background, I used a Sponge Dauber and ink in the opposite colourway. This adds a slight hint of colour for the leaves and flowers to sit on.

The Pierced Bloom Dies are a set of 25 Dies. Some co-ordinating with the In Bloom Stamp Set as part of the Bundle. Other dies in the set work on their own, such as the bow shape.

Each flower centre and the bows have a light coating of Wink of Stella that sparkles when it catches the light.

With all the leaves and flowers layered, apart from the centre flower, it was time to add the sentiment, along with the bow and tiny flower.

One of the sentiments in the Stamp Set was perfect for the cards, again cut out using one of the Dies from the Bundle.

By using Dimensionals to attach the central flower, this creates extra depth.

Finally, Pearls are added to the centre of each small flower.

Which colour combination do you prefer, blue or pink?

Why not join me for one of my classes where you can make projects like this one. Head to my Class Timetable for full details.

Happy crafting

Karen Young HIPPOFROG Designs

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

Online Shopping Club Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

Last Week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa – Double Oval Punch

March 15, 2021March 12, 2021 ~ Karen Young

For last week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa project, I again took inspiration from the January-June Mini Catalogue.

Double Oval Punch. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

This time it was the project on Page 65 that caught my eye.

My version is in Highland Heather and Very Vanilla.

The ovals are cut using the new Double Oval Punch. I love that we have a fabulous two-in-one oval punch.

Each scallop oval is positioned, with any overhang cut from the side. For the smooth edge ovals, these are embossed using the Ornate Floral Embossing Folder before being stuck onto some of the scallop ovals. Once again, the overhang is cut away. Double Oval Punch. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Using the Lovely You Stamp Set, the sentiment is in Gray Granite, with a few Highland Heather flowers too.

A length of Gray Granite Shimmer Ribbon is stuck on top of the scallop oval, before the sentiment oval is raised above it using Dimensionals.

Finally, some Pastel Pearls in co-ordinating Highland Heather are dotted around the card for a finishing touch.

Double Oval Punch. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

I really like how versatile this project is. It can be made in any colour, with the sentiment changed as needed. Simply make a few to have on standby, then add the relevant sentiment when it’s time to send.

Why not join me for a future class. Head to my Class Timetable for full details.

Happy crafting

Karen Young HIPPOFROG Designs

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

Online Shopping Club Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

Comfort & Hope and Butterflies

March 11, 2021March 10, 2021 ~ Karen Young

Now this card has arrived, I can share it with you.

Comfort & Hope and Butterflies. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

It’s the Stamp Set Comfort & Hope and butterflies from the Butterfly Gala Stamp Set.

As the recipient loves butterflies, Pool Party and purple, these were my inspiration.

The colour combination is Pool Party, Highland Heather and Crumb Cake, with Very Vanilla.

First, I made a background using images from the Comfort & Hope Stamp Set.

Next, it was the butterflies. These were stamped and then punched out with the Butterfly Duet Punch. I find it easier to stamp the bodies once they have been cut out as it helps to line them up.

Each one was then given a light coating of Wink of Stella to add some sparkle. Comfort & Hope and Butterflies. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Finally, Pastel Pearls in co-ordinating Highland Heather add the finishing touch. I’m really loving these pearls from the January-June Mini Catalogue.

Comfort & Hope and Butterflies. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Why not join me at a class and learn how to make projects like this one?

Head to my Class Timetable for full details and booking information.

Happy crafting

Karen Young HIPPOFROG Designs

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

Online Shopping Club Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

Last Week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa – Fun With In Color

March 8, 2021March 7, 2021 ~ Karen Young

For last week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa project, the attendees had fun with In Color.

Here is the project.

Fun With In Color. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

It is my version of the project on Page 17 of the January-June Mini Catalogue.

I chose the same colours as the Catalogue project – Bumblebee, Magenta Madness and Just Jade.

Instead of stamping, the large shapes are from the Curvy Dies. These look like an abstract shape and work well with the rest of the project.

Strips of the In Color 6×6 DSP Stack make the stripes across the page. Fun With In Color. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Each flower is then stuck on with a Glue Dot and has a co-ordinating In Color Enamel Dot for the centre. Fun With In Color. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Finally, more Enamel Dots are added across the project in all of the 5 In Colors.

For this project, the attendees had the chance to stick to clean and simple, or show their wild side by scrunching, tearing, separating cardstock and going full on grunge. Of course, there was also the option of somewhere in the middle!

Why not join me for one of my Classes. Head to my Class Timetable for full details and booking information.

Happy crafting

Karen Young HIPPOFROG Designs

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

Online Shopping Club Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

Butterfly Brilliance (02 Mar-03 May 21)

March 2, 2021March 11, 2021 ~ Karen Young

Click on the pictures/links below for details.

Don’t forget to visit our Special Offers page for more fabulous items.
Items available while stocks last.
Shop at my online store. Don’t forget to add the current Online Shopping Code

Last Week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa – Flowering Vine Dies

March 2, 2021March 1, 2021 ~ Karen Young

Last week was the first Card & (Your) Cuppa session of 2021. It was great to be back.

Here is the project. It uses the fabulous Flowering Vine Dies. It is my version of the project on Page 62 of the new January-June Mini Catalogue.

Flowering Vine Dies. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

The colour combination is Mint Macaron, So Saffron, Blushing Bride and Very Vanilla, with Just Jade Ribbon.

Two pieces of lattice effect and lots of flowers are cut out using the Flowering Vine Dies. This takes a while, but the smaller flowers can be cut in multiples of three as there are three dies for these. Each flower is then stuck onto the back of the lattice piece using either Multipurpose Glue or Fine-Tip Glue.

Then, these pieces are stuck onto the basecard, so the flowers show through.

Flowering Vine Dies. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

A sentiment from the Ornate Thanks Stamp Set in Basic Gray is added to another die cut shape from Flowering Vine Dies. This is stuck onto a co-ordinating So Saffron piece.

This piece is stuck over the swoosh of Just Jade Ribbon using Dimensionals.

Finally, some small pearls are added to the centre of the larger flowers.

Flowering Vine Dies. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

To join me at a future class, head to my class timetable for full details and to book your place.

Happy crafting

Karen Young HIPPOFROG Designs

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

Online Shopping Club Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

Customer Thank You Cards using FREE SAB DSP

February 27, 2021February 26, 2021 ~ Karen Young

Earlier this week I showed you some Thank You cards I had made using the FREE Flower & Field SAB DSP.

Here is another version of the project, made using a different sheet from this fabulous 12×12 DSP.

This was my most recent customer Thank You card, for those who shopped with me during December and January.

Customer Thank You Cards using FREE SAB DSP. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

This time, I’ve taken the bright Flirty Flamingo piece with stripes. Again, this is cut in half to show the other side. The floral side at the top and the stripes on the bottom.

Rather than a length of ribbon, a strip of co-ordinating cardstock covers the join. Customer Thank You Cards using FREE SAB DSP. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Finally, a sentiment from the Vine Design Stamp Set, cut out using a Circle Punch is stuck on using Dimensionals. Customer Thank You Cards using FREE SAB DSP. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs