Expressions in Ink for a 50th

September 28, 2021September 24, 2021 ~ Karen Young ~ Leave a comment

Today I’m sharing a card for another 50th Birthday being celebrated this September.

Expressions in Ink for a 50th. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

I thought it was the perfect time to take inspiration from the project on the front cover of the Annual Catalogue.

It uses the Expressions in Ink Suite Collection. The two pieces of DSP create a background.

Using Gold Foil Sheets, the ’50’ is cut from the Playful Alphabet Dies, with the leaves from the Artistic Dies from the Suite. This coordinates with the gold foiling running through the DSP.

The flowers from the Artistically Inked Stamp Set are stamped in Polished Pink to coordinate with the DSP, with the leaves in Pear Pizzazz. These are all cut using the Dies.
Expressions in Ink for a 50th. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Each piece is then layered together, along with a length of Gold Shimmer Ribbon. A sentiment then sits on top of the roses.

Finally, a touch of Wink of Stella is added to the centre of the flowers, with sequins from the Ephemera Pack dotted around the project.

Expressions in Ink for a 50th. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Join me at one of my online classes. 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. Items available while stocks last.

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

A Vintage Look With Quiet Meadow

September 25, 2021September 24, 2021 ~ Karen Young ~ Leave a comment

If you are a fan of vintage look projects, this one definitely ticks the box.
A Vintage Look With Quiet Meadow. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

My colour combination is Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede, Blushing Bride and Very Vanilla. I tend to use Very Vanilla for these types of projects as it gives a more muted tone.

Check out my video on Basic White or Very Vanilla for more information.

First, I created the background using the Quiet Meadow Stamp Set. The stamping is quite random across the page, with a variety of first and second generation for the words and splats.

Next, using a Blending Brush, I added extra ink to the edges of the project to create the vintage feel.

A Vintage Look With Quiet Meadow. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

The sentiment is cut out using the coordinating Meadow Dies. Don’t forget that the Stamp Set and Dies come as a Bundle in the Annual Cataloge.

Very Vanilla Baker’s Twine from the Essentials Pack is threaded through each of the holes in the sentiment shape.

I used Mini Dimensionals on the back of the sentiment to pop it off the page before securing the ends of the Baker’s Twine.

A Vintage Look With Quiet Meadow. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

This is a quick and easy project to make and came together in no time at all. You could also add embellishments too.

Join me at one of my online classes. 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. Items available while stocks last.

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

Silvery Simply Elegant Thanks

September 24, 2021September 23, 2021 ~ Karen Young ~ Leave a comment

The pretty DSP does all the hard work for me on this project.

Silvery Simply Elegant Thanks. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

This is a piece of the Simply Elegant Specialty DSP. It has gold, silver and copper foil running through it.

As Smoky Slate is quite close to silver, I chose to use that for my accent pieces, along with Basic White.

Silvery Simply Elegant Thanks. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Using the Hippo & Friends Dies, I used the Spotlight Technique to cut out a piece from the DSP, plus a layer piece from Smoky Slate.

A length of the coordinating Simply Elegant Trim in Silver sits across the project. This then has a triple loop bow attached with a Glue Dot.

Check out yesterday’s Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques video for a demonstration on tying multiple loop bows.

The Ornate Thanks Stamp Set provides the stamp set. This has ends shaped to mirror the die-cut pieces.

Finally, the sentiment is raised up using Mini Dimensionals.

Silvery Simply Elegant Thanks. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Join me at one of my online classes. 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. Items available while stocks last.

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

SSOTM with Gorgeous Leaves – Project 5

September 22, 2021September 16, 2021 ~ Karen Young ~ Leave a comment

This is the first of the bonus projects from my recent SSOTM Gorgeous Leaves Class.

SSOTM with Gorgeous Leaves - Project 5. Project designed by Karen at HIPPFROG Designs

Along with the class colours of Bumblebee, Cherry Cobbler, Evening Evergreen and Old Olive, the bonus projects also add Soft Suede.

Using Soft Suede, the bark image from the Gorgeous Leaves Stamp Set creates the background.

Next, a length of Evening Evergreen Chevron Weave Ribbon, plus a length of the class kit Linen Thread are looped around the project.

SSOTM with Gorgeous Leaves - Project 5. Project designed by Karen at HIPPFROG Designs

A sentiment from the Biggest Wish Stamp Set sits on a circle cut using the Layering Circles Dies. Falling leaves are stamped at the top and bottom.

Then, various leaves are cut using the Intricate Leaves Dies, along with a few branch shapes too.

These shapes are then layered, some directly onto the background, others to the back of the sentiment.

To add depth, the sentiment, with the attached shapes is then raised up on Dimensionals.

SSOTM with Gorgeous Leaves - Project 5. Project designed by Karen at HIPPFROG Designs

Finally, some of the coordinating Class Kit Matte Decorative Dots are added.

Join me at one of my online classes. 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. Items available while stocks last.

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

SSOTM with Gorgeous Leaves – Project 4

September 21, 2021September 16, 2021 ~ Karen Young ~ Leave a comment

This is the final project the attendees made at my recent SSOTM Gorgeous Leaves Class.

SSOTM with Gorgeous Leaves - Project 4. Project designed by Karen at HIPPFROG Designs

My inspiration for this is taken from Page 47 of the current Mini Catalogue.

As with the other projects from the Class, the colour combination is Evening Evergreen, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive and Bumblebee.

These colours are taken from the Matte Decorative Dots that were included in the Class Kits.

This class was also my annual Mostly Men Class, so all of the projects have a more masculine feel.

SSOTM with Gorgeous Leaves - Project 4. Project designed by Karen at HIPPFROG Designs

After stamping the splat images to create a swoosh across the page, falling leaves are then stamped for an autumnal touch.

Next the three large leaves atre stamped and cut out using the Gorgeous Leaves Stamp Set and Intricate Dies Bundle.

The leaves are tied together at the top using a length of Linen Thread, again from the Class Kits.

These are then stuck to the project using Dimensionals to raise them up.

A sentiment from the Welcoming Woods Stamp Set is then added.

SSOTM with Gorgeous Leaves - Project 4. Project designed by Karen at HIPPFROG Designs

Finally, the tiny Matte Decorative Dots complete the project.

Click to see Project 1, Project 2 and Project 3 from the class.

For those who ordered the full Class Kit, they were also given access to a video showing how to create two bonus projects. Watch this space for these shortly.

Join me at one of my online classes. 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. Items available while stocks last.

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

SSOTM with Gorgeous Leaves – Project 3

September 18, 2021September 16, 2021 ~ Karen Young ~ Leave a comment

For the third project from my recent Stamp Set of the Month (SSOTM) Gorgeous Leaves class, I couldn’t resist a diagonal design!

SSOTM with Gorgeous Leaves - Project 3. Project designed by Karen at HIPPFROG Designs

It’s a design I’ve created several times before in different guises.

Again, the colours are Evening Evergreen, Old Olive, Bumblebee and Old Olive, teamed with Basic White.

First, the fabulous splat images are stamped onto the background.

SSOTM with Gorgeous Leaves - Project 3. Project designed by Karen at HIPPFROG Designs

Next, I drew a line where the edges of the Basic White sentiment strip would sit. This gave me an idea of where I needed to stamp my leaves.

Once my leaves were stamped, I cut out some of the smaller intricate leaves to add another layer of texture. These are stuck down using my pencil line as a guide.

A background strip of Old Olive is then added, along with the sentiment from the Artistically Inked Stamp Set.

Lengths of Linen Thread from the Class Kits then sit along the edges of the Basic White sentiment piece.

SSOTM with Gorgeous Leaves - Project 3. Project designed by Karen at HIPPFROG Designs

Finally, some Mattte Decorative Dots are added to sentiment in three of the colours.

Click to see Project 1 and Project 2 from the class.

Join me at one of my online classes. 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. Items available while stocks last.

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

SSOTM with Gorgeous Leaves – Project 2

September 17, 2021September 16, 2021 ~ Karen Young ~ Leave a comment

The second project from my SSOTM Gorgeous Leaves class was this leafy Thank You card.

SSOTM with Gorgeous Leaves - Project 2. Project designed by Karen at HIPPFROG Designs

The eagle-eyed among you will notice that is similar to another recent project. This time, the colours and layout are different.

To create this card, a colour combination of Cherry Cobbler, Bumblebee and Old Olive team with Very Vanilla.

Each attendee had a pack of Matte Decorative Dots in their Class kits, so my colour combinations for the projects are taken from them.

This was also my annual Mostly Men class, so the projects have a more masculine feel.

SSOTM with Gorgeous Leaves - Project 2. Project designed by Karen at HIPPFROG Designs

Both of the ‘splat’ style stamp images are used to create a background for the leaves.

A mix of various generations of stamping create the leaves, cut out using the dies.

These are arranged before a tone-on-tone piece topped with the more delicate skeleton leaves is placed down one side.

Thank You is from the Beauty of Friendship Stamp Set on a cut out using the Double Oval Punch.

A piece of Linen Thread, also in the Class kits is looped behind.

SSOTM with Gorgeous Leaves - Project 2. Project designed by Karen at HIPPFROG Designs

Finally, a few of the Matte Decorative Dots are added.

Click to see the first project from the class.

Join me at one of my online classes. 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. Items available while stocks last.

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

SAB Birthday Circles

September 15, 2021September 14, 2021 ~ Karen Young ~ Leave a comment

The fabulous Textures & Frames Stamp Set makes another appearance with this simple Birthday card.

SAB Birthday Circles. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

It uses just two stamps from the Stamp Set to create the background in Misty Moonlight and Mossy Meadow. Combined with Very Vanilla, this colour combination is great for those more masculine projects.

The central piece is cut using the Layering Circles Dies, with a sentiment from the Nuts About Squirrels Stamp Set. As I wanted the sentiment on two rows, I used a Stampin’ Write Marker to ink up each part separately.

Find out more about inking up stamps with Stampin’ Write Markers at my Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques Series.

SAB Birthday Circles. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

As I was using circles, I used the Detailed Trio Punch to round the corners to match.

A length of the Baker’s Twine Essentials Pack in coordinating Very Vanilla is wrapped around the project.

SAB Birthday Circles. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Finally, the sentiment piece is raised up using Dimensionals.

I really love this stamp set and am going to miss it when Sale-A-Bration is over. Make sure you don’t miss out on getting your hands on one.

Why not earn this stamp set for FREE and make your own versions in lots of different colours. Remember, items are only available until the end of September, while stocks last.

Join me at one of my online classes. 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. Items available while stocks last.

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

Say it with Sunflowers

September 11, 2021September 10, 2021 ~ Karen Young

This sunny thank you card was made for a friend who loves sunflowers.

Say it with Sunflowers. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

My main colours are Daffodil Delight, Old Olive and Basic White, with others used for the colouring.

The Jar of Flowers Stamp Set and coordinating Jar Punch provide the stamping and jar shape.

Say it with Sunflowers. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

I’ve stamped in Black to create the outlines for colouring. I would normally use Grey or Brown for this, but felt black would work better with the overall design.

For the sunflowers, these are stamped twice. This allowed me to fussy cut parts of the images out for some strategic piecing. They are stuck together in various layers over the top of the jar.

Now, instead of the three sunflowers, there is a fuller looking bouquet. It was a bit fiddly and time consuming cutting them out, but it was worth it.

Using Stampin’ Blends, the water is coloured in Balmy Blue, stems and leaves in Granny Apple Green, centre in Soft Suede and flowers in Daffodil Delight.

A sentiment from the Blossoms in Bloom Stamp Set sits in a shape cut using the Tasteful Labels dies.

Say it with Sunflowers. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

This is raised using Dimensionals over some Linen Thread and a little bow.

Join me at one of my online classes. 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. Items available while stocks last.

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

A Fabulous 50th

September 10, 2021September 10, 2021 ~ Karen Young

A very good friend celebrated their 50th Birthday earlier this week.

A Fabulous 50th. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

As they are a fan of Crumb Cake, Rich Razzleberry and sparkle, my colour combination was easy to decide.

I chose to make a square card and I used lots of different products to create this project.

The images and die cutting are from the Artistically Inked Bundle (Artistically Inked Stamp Set and Artistic Dies), Quiet Meadow Stamp Set and the Playful Alphabet Dies.

A Fabulous 50th. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

To begin, the background piece was stamped with the small flowers from Artistically Inked, plus some splats from Quiet Meadow.

This was then run through the Timeworn Type 3D Embossing Folder. Next, using a Blending Brush, I gave a vintage feel to the background. I like how it looks like dried flowers.

Different generations of stamping create the flowers for the centre piece.

The layering begins with the die cut leaves, then the Fine Art Ribbon and Glitter Organdy Ribbon. As there isn’t a Rich Razzleberry Stampin’ Blend Combo, the light Blackberry Bliss Blend was a good substitute to colour the ribbon.

I then layered the flowers together on a separate piece of cardstock and popped some more die cut leaf pieces around them. Raising the whole piece up on Dimensionals added a lot more depth.

A Fabulous 50th. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

’50’ is coated in Wink of Stella and added to the corner. Again, using Dimensionals, the sentiment lays across the flowers. As this project was being hand delivered, I used several layers of Dimensionals.

Finally, some Metallic Pearls are dotted around the project.

Join me at one of my online classes. 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. Items available while stocks last.

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