August Card Making Class – Project 2

August 15, 2025August 12, 2025 ~ Karen Young

The second project from August’s Card Making Class was this Thinking of You card.

With the theme of Fabulous Florals, this Blooming Phrases stamp set from the Online Exclusives range certainly hits the brief.

A colour combination of Highland Heather, Fresh Freesia and Shaded Spruce work together to create this delicate project.

‘Thinking of you’ was stamped in the corner.

Using the end ‘wiggle’ of another sentiment, each stem was then stamped. Some were made longer with a bit of masking, careful lining up and stamping twice.

Next, the flowers were added, before the mammoth task of stamping each leaf individually.

Once all the stamping was completed, the Brass Butterflies added a finishing touch.

Join me at one of my 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.

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Last Week’s Card & Cuppa – Introducing Darling Duckling

July 7, 2025July 2, 2025 ~ Karen Young

Last week’s Card & Cuppa project was not only my annual ‘Inspired by Wimbledon’ project. It was also a great oppotunity to introduce a new In Color.

Some of you will have seen Darling Duckling briefly in a project from my June Monthly Class. But today I’m introducing you to Darling Duckling in a bit more detail.

In my ‘Inspired by Wimbledon’ projects, I tend to use green, yellow and purple, along with white. This project uses Lemon Lime Twist, Darling Duckling and Berry Burst (not quite purple!).

The leaves from the Textured Notes Stamp Set, part of the Online Exclusives range, are stamped around the edges. Flowers from the Bee My Valentine Stamp Set are then stamped second generation.

Using a Darling Duckling Blender Pen, the centre of the flowers are coloured, before adding a touch of Wink of Stella too.

Then, a length of White Woven Ribbon is also coloured using the same Blender Pen to allow everything to coordinate.

A sentiment from the Tags of Thanks Stamp Set is stamped onto a circle (this represents a tennis ball!) and layered too. The Stamp Set, Ribbon and Circle Punches are all from the Online Exclusives range.

Everything was then assembled with some Brass Butterflies adding a finishing touch to the summer feel of the project.

For information, the picture below shows how Darling Duckling compares to other colours in the current Stampin’ Up! range.

Join me at one of my 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.

NEW Stampin’ Rewards Join my team Current Products Offers & Promotions Book a Class

Last Week’s Card & Cuppa – Cheerful Daisies Bundle

June 12, 2023June 11, 2023 ~ Karen Young

At last week’s Card & Cuppa project it was the turn of a new Bundle, along with a new colour too.

Items from the new Cheerful Daisies Bundle (Stamp Set and Dies) and Pecan Pie combined to create this pretty monochrome Birthday card. These are new products from the Annual Catalogue.

This project is a version of one of my most popular lockdown projects. So I have CASE-d myself with a monochrome twist.

If you’re not sure what CASE-ing is, then check out my video here that gives a quick overview.

Using one of the three Basics Embossing Folders from the Online Exclusives range, a background was created. It was given a vintage look with a Blending Brush and was then offset against the Pecan Pie layer.

Various images from the Cheerful Daisies Stamp Set were stamped and shapes were cut out using the coordinating Cheerful Daisies Dies.

The daisy sitting under the sentiment is again given a hint of colour using a Blending Brush.

A swoosh of ribbon from the Trim Combo Pack is then added. This is another Online Exclusive product and the other ribbon in the pack we used on the last Card & Cuppa project. It sits under the sentiment and coordinates really well with the warmth of Pecan Pie.

Finally, some Brass Butterflies are dotted across the project.

This project would look fabulous in other monochrome variations.

Which colour(s) would you choose?

Join me at one of my 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

Last Week’s Card & Cuppa – SAB Dainty Flowers DSP

February 6, 2023February 5, 2023 ~ Karen Young

For last week’s Card & Cuppa project, I reached for the fabulous FREE SAB Dainty Flowers DSP.

This DSP is simply stunning and when I saw one of the projects in the SAB brochure, I just had to CASE it.

If you’re not sure what it means to CASE, then check out my video here which gives a quick overview.

Using Pear Pizzazz and a Blending Brush, the ombre ink effect was created.

Next, a sentiment from the Hello Beautiful Stamp Set is stamped in Starry Sky onto Balmy Blue Cardstock.

This, and the layer are both given a shaped edge using the new Happy Labels Pick a Punch from the January-April Mini Catalogue.

The bunny ears bow is made from a piece of coordinating In Color Baker’s Twine and the White Twine from the Baker’s Twine Essentials Pack.

If you are one of those who is a little ‘bow-phobic’ then I have a Top Tips, Tricks & Technique Video that takes you through how to tie bunny ears bows.

The sentiment then sits over the top of the bow using Dimensionals.

Finally, some Brushed Brass Butterflies are dotted across the project.

Don’t miss out on the new products that have been added to this year’s SAB offering. SAB items are available until the end of the month, while stocks last.

Join me at one of my 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

Last Week’s Card & Cuppa – Bottled Happiness Bundle

October 31, 2022October 30, 2022 ~ Karen Young

After using an ‘A’ Stamp Set for my first back to in person Card & Cuppa Class, for last week’s class I reached for ‘B’.

This is the fabulous discounted Bottled Happiness Bundle (Bottled Happiness Stamp Set and Vintage Bottle Punch).

I chose the new In Color blue and purples of Orchid Oasis, Starry Sky and Tahitian Tide for my colour combination, plus Basic White.

As the Stamp Set has two-step stamping, everything comes together really quickly.

First, we stamped the flowers in Tahitian Tide and then lined up the leaves and flower centres and stamped those in Starry Sky.

The bottle and sentiment are then stamped in Orchid Oasis onto a separate sheet.

Using the coordinating punch, the bottle is cut out and then the sentiment with the Double Oval Punch. It just fits.

I could have stamped the bottle directly onto the project, but I wanted to bring it forward, so stuck that down in front.

A bow is then added in coordinating In Color Metallic Woven Ribbon.

The sentiment sits across the project on Dimensionals.

For a touch of sparkle, Wink of Stella is dotted in the centre of each of the flowers.

Finally, some small Brushed Brass Butterflies are placed around the bouquet.

This is a really quick project that would look great in a variety of different colours.

I made versions of this project for my recent customer Thank You cards. Some had different colour layers and some different ribbon. All were without the Brushed Brass Butterflies as sadly I didn’t have enough!

Join me at one of my 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

July Customer Thank You Cards

August 13, 2022August 9, 2022 ~ Karen Young

As these have all been received, I can share my Customer Thank You Cards for those who shopped with me during July.

The basecard is a FREE SAB item. This is the Pool Party card from the Cards & Envelopes pack. Don’t forget that SAB items are only available until the end of this month (while stocks last).

Using the Splendid Thoughts Stamp Set and Splendid Stems Dies Bundle from the July-December Mini Catalogue, the leaves and shapes were stamped and cut. My leaves use Mint Macaron Cardstock and Ink.

Then, very gentle use of a Blender Pen on the stamped leaves just soften the white every so slightly.

Coordinating Splendid Day Specialty DSP provides the strip that sits in the background. This DSP really lives up to the splendid name. It needs to be seen in person to appreciate the full beauty.

A sentiment from the Sweet Songbirds Stamp Set sits on the semi-circle shape that creates the pot.

Using Dimensionals, the pot and a few of the leaves are raised up to give some depth to the project.

Finally, Brushed Brass Butterflies are added, two small and one large.

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

Last Week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa – Shades of Orange Flowers

August 8, 2022August 3, 2022 ~ Karen Young

Last week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa project used various shades of orange to create this floral any occasion card.

Pale Papaya, Mango Melody and Pumpkin Pie provide the oranges, with Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla. I do like an orange, Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla colour combination.

The background is created from the Timeworn Type Embossing Folder and a Sponge Dauber. This gives it a more antique feel.

Each of the flowers is made by sticking two flowers cut out using the Flowers & Leaves Punch together, in an offset way. Before being stuck together, the edges are curled using a Paper Folder and also given a touch of Wink of Stella around the centre.

A length of coordinating In Color Ribbon sits across the project.

With the flowers arranged in colour order, they are then stuck to the project using Glue Dots.

The ever versatile Art Gallery Stamp Set once again provides the sentiment that is stuck to the ribbon.

Finally, Opal Rounds provide the centre for each flower, with some Brushed Brass Butterflies flying to the edge of 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

First Inking of Amazing Silhouettes

March 30, 2022March 29, 2022 ~ Karen Young

I can’t believe this card I made for Mothering Sunday was my first inking of the Amazing Silhouettes Stamp Set.

Amazing Silhouettes. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

It’s inspired by page 40 of the Mini Catalogue.

My colour combination is Calypso Coral, Pool Party and Very Vanilla, with metallic accents.

To achieve the mottled effect for the stamping, I have used a sponge dauber to ink up the stamp. This technique is great fun as you achieve something unique every time. I think I may need to do a Top Tips video on the process.

Amazing Silhouettes. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

A length of Simply Elegant Trim is added and tied in a knot.

Using the Floral Gallery Dies, the words sit across the stamping. These dies are currently part of a Special Offer during March, so make sure you grab the discounted Bundle from the promotion before the end of the month.

Finally, some Brass Butterflies are added. These provide another metallic element to coordinate with the trim.

Amazing Silhouettes. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Don’t forget the Annual Catalogue Last Chance list is here. You’ll need to be quick to grab items before they disappear for good.

I think I’ll definitely be inking this Stamp Set up again soon!

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

Last Week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa – Meadow Dies Meets Grid Paper

March 21, 2022March 16, 2022 ~ Karen Young

For last week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa project, the Meadow Dies came together with Grid Paper to create this pretty Birthday Card.

Meadow Dies Meets Grid Paper. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

The soft colour palette of Crumb Cake, Mint Macaron and Very Vanilla, give this project a classy look.

By ripping and tearing a piece of Grid Paper to create a mask, the background piece was created using Blending Brushes and Ink. The Grid Paper mask was then used again to create the second colour. This is similar to the project on Page 26 of the Annual Catalogue.

Don’t forget that Grid Paper has lots of different uses. It also comes in two different sizes.

Meadow Dies Meets Grid Paper. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Blending Brushes are also used to give some colour to the flower, cut using the Meadow Dies.

A sentiment from the Artistically Inked Stamp Set is then positioned behind the stem with both the flower and sentiment raised up on Dimensionals.

Next, a bow made from Linen Thread is tied to the stem.

Finally, some Brushed Brass Butterflies from the Mini Catalogue provide an extra touch.

Meadow Dies Meets Grid Paper. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

I love how the masked section looks a bit like rock strata. I have a friend who is a geologist, so I’m hoping I have the correct terminology!

Have you seen the fabulous offers for March. Check out a new set of products and some discounted items (including the Meadow Dies I’ve used on this project). Remember that some of these offers are only running through March.

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