Countdown to Christmas 2026 – Week 1

October 3, 2026September 11, 2026 ~ Karen Young ~ Leave a comment

It’s already that time of year where I start my annual Countdown to Christmas series.

Countdown to Christmas 2026 is a 12 week countdown between now and Christmas. Every Saturday I’ll share a project designed to provide you with ideas and inspiration for your festive crafting.

For my first project of 2026, I couldn’t help but be drawn to the Advent Labels Stamp Set and Punch Bundle from the new Catalogue. Especially the ‘Countdown to’ stamp, it seemed very appropriate for this Christmas card!

Using traditional Christmas red and green, my colour combination is Peaceful Pine, Real Red and Darling Duckling, with Basic White.

The background piece is stamped tone on tone with the wreath images and a strip of cardstock is added across the centre.

Then, the three shapes are cut out using the coordinating punch. Two are stamped with the fairy lights, and the other with ‘Countdown to Christmas’. Wink of Stella is added to the fairy lights to give them a touch of sparkle.

The two fairy light shapes were stuck straight to the project, with the centre shape raised up on Dimensionals.

Join me at one of my classes. Visit 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.

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

September 2026 Card Making Class – Project 3

September 23, 2026September 2, 2026 ~ Karen Young

The third project from my recent Card Making Class is this leafy design.

It uses the Simply Leaves Bundle and the Textured Tree Ring 3D Embossing Folder, both from the Online Exclusives range.

For this project, my colour combination is Golden Glow, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie and Pecan Pie, with Basic White. Crumb Cake is used to make the tree rings.

First the two larger leaves are stamped and punched using the Simply Leaves Bundle.

Next the smaller leaf is stamped and cut out by hand.

Using a square of Crumb Cake, this is embossed and cut out to create a slice. It is then given some more depth using a Crumb Cake Stampin’ Pad and a Blending Brush.

A sentiment is then stamped. This is from the Framed & Fabulous Stamp Set from the Hot Foil range.

Skeleton leaves are then stamped behind where the slice will sit.

To assemble, the slice is stuck down first using Tear & Tape, followed by the two larger leaves.

A length of Linen Thread is then added to create a swoosh.

The smaller leaf and sentiment are then stuck together, with the leaf covering the edge of the sentiment.

This piece is then raised up using Dimensionals.

Join me at one of my classes. Visit 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.

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

September 2026 Card Making Class – Project 2

September 18, 2026September 2, 2026 ~ Karen Young

Today I’m sharing the second project from my recent monthly Card Making Class.

The theme for September’s class was ‘Mostly Men’, so the projects all have a slightly more masculine feel to them.

This design uses the Gears & Textures Stamp Set and coordinating Dies.

My colour combination is Gray Granite, Cajun Craze and Crushed Curry, with Basic White.

First, the splats and spatters are stamped on the background to give a workshop feel. A bit of extra shading is created using a Blending Brush.

Next, the gears and chain are cut out in Gray Granite using the Dies. They are then coloured in Cajun Craze and Crushed Curry, using Sponge Daubers.

A shape is then punched using the Triple Banner Punch and a sentiment from the coordinating Banner Sayings Stamp Set is added. This discounted Bundle can be found in the new Catalogue.

To assemble, the chain section is cut and stuck to the project, leaving a space in the middle for the sentiment to sit on.

All of the gears, apart from the largest one are then stuck to the project.

Finally, the sentiment and large gear are added using Dimensionals.

Join me at one of my classes. Visit my Class Timetable for full details.

Happy crafting

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store. Items available while stocks last.

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

ICYMI – Purple Butterflies

August 13, 2026August 6, 2026 ~ Karen Young

In case you missed last week’s Card & Cuppa project.

Head here for more details.

Join me at one of my classes. Head to my Class Timetable for full details.

Happy crafting

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store. Items available while stocks last.

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

Last Week’s Card & Cuppa – Purple Butterflies

August 10, 2026August 6, 2026 ~ Karen Young

Last week’s Card & Cuppa project is this trio of purple butterflies.

I had been asked for a purple project, so my colour combination is Fresh Freesia and Gorgeous Grape, with Lost Lagoon for the accent colour.

This project uses a couple of Two-Step Stampin’ Stamp Sets, All Aflutter and Greenery Lane.

Make sure you check out the Last Chance Products list to get your hands on the Greenery Lane Stamp Set while stocks last.

To begin, the large leaves from the Greenery Lane Stamp Set were stamped in Lost Lagoon to create a background. The smaller leaves were then placed around these, with the infill in second generation stamping.

Then, the tiny flower was added five times in Fresh Freesia.

Next, the butterflies from the All Aflutter Stamp Set were stamped twice onto a separate piece in the purples. Once in first generation, then again in second generation. They were then cut out using the coordinating All Aflutter Punch.

This gave us six butterflies, three slightly lighter than the others. Three were then chosen for the final project. I chose one dark and two lighter ones for mine.

A sentiment from the Banner Sayings Stamp Set and Triple Banner Punch is then stamped, layered and added to the bottom.

Each of the butterfly wings curled using a Paper Folder and then stuck to the project using Mini Dimensionals. These are placed to cover where the large and small leaves join each other.

Finally, small Iridescent Pearls are stuck in the centre of each of the five tiny flowers.

Join me at one of my classes. Head to my Class Timetable for full details.

Happy crafting

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store. Items available while stocks last.

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

July 2026 Card Making Class – Project 3

July 22, 2026July 15, 2026 ~ Karen Young

The third project from my recent Card Making Class was this pretty scene.

With an ‘It’s all new to me!’ theme, this project uses the 5 BRAND NEW 2026-2028 In Colors. It gave the attendees that opportunity to use the new magnetic design Stampin’ Pads too.

Using the Untouched Landscapes Stamp Set from the May-August Catalogue, each image is stamped in a different colour.

A sentiment and layers, from the Banner Sayings Bundle are then added. I think this looks like a sign you would see on a walk in the countryside.

There really isn’t a lot to do to create this project, so it’s great for a quick and simple card. You could make several and then add the sentiment later depending on the occasion.

I love how the colours work really well together in the scene too.

Join me at one of my classes. Head to my Class Timetable for full details.

Happy crafting

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

ICYMI – Simply Leaves Bundle

July 16, 2026July 12, 2026 ~ Karen Young

In case you missed last week’s Card & Cuppa project.

Head here for more details.

Join me at one of my classes. Head to my Class Timetable for full details.

Happy crafting

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 – Simply Leaves Bundle

July 13, 2026July 12, 2026 ~ Karen Young

For last week’s Card & Cuppa project, I used a new Bundle from the Online Exclusives range.

The Simply Leaves Bundle (Simply Leaves Stamp Set & Simple Leaf Punch) were recently released as part of the July Online Exclusives range.

If you’ve been around a while, you’ll know I love the punches, so this set just had to fall into my basket.

Rather than an autumnal feel, I chose to create a more summery project with my colours.

My colour combination was Berry Burst, Strawberry Slush, Petal Pink and Highland Heather, along with Basic White.

First, the background ombre was created by using Blending Brushes with Petal Pink, Strawberry Slush and Highland Heather.

Next, one of the smaller leaves was stamped 2nd Generation multiple times onto the ombre.

The leaf veins image were stamped 3 times onto a separate piece and these were then coloured with Blending Brushes. They were then cut out using the coordinating Punch.

Any additional colour was then added to the cut shapes.

Each leaf was then scored along each of the vein lines and then gently folded along them to give some additional shaping.

A sentiment, also from the Stamp Set was stamped in Berry Burst onto a shape cut out using the Triple Banner Punch. The layer was cut out in Berry Burst before they were stuck together slightly offset.

The top right leaf was stuck down using glue, while the other leaves were attached to the sentiment to create one piece.

That whole piece was then added using Dimensionals to raise it up.

Finally, three Iridescent Pearls were coloured using a Stampin’ Blend, also in Berry Burst, and added to the project.

Join me at one of my classes. Head to my Class Timetable for full details.

Happy crafting

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

ICYMI – Introducing Crisp Cantaloupe

June 11, 2026June 3, 2026 ~ Karen Young

In case you missed last week’s Card & Cuppa project.

Head here for more details.

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 – Introducing Crisp Cantaloupe

June 8, 2026June 3, 2026 ~ Karen Young

At last week’s Card & Cuppa Class, I continued introducing the new 2026-2028 In Colors.

This time I was introducing Crisp Cantaloupe. I chose to pair it with Misty Moonlight and Basic White. I’m a little bit smitten with this colour combination.

I also used the brand new Exciting Times Bundle (Exciting Times Stamp Set & Rounded Rectangle Punch) from the new Catalogue. This design is inspired by a project in the new Catalogue too.

First, the large image was stamped tone on tone in Crisp Cantaloupe. Everything stamped in the new In Colors uses the new style Stampin’ Pads.

Next, the image was stamped again twice onto Basic White, along with the ‘starburst’ image. The sentiment, also from the Exciting Times Stamp Set, was then stamped in the centre.

These were then cut out using the coordinating Rounded Rectangle Punch.

The pieces were then assembled together with the two punched shapes sitting behind the large rectangle.

A length of Baker’s Twine from the Essentials Pack and some Iridescent Pearls were coloured using Misty Moonlight Stampin’ Blends.

Once the Twine had dried, it was turned into a swoosh to sit behind the sentiment that was raised up on Dimensionals.

Finally, the coloured Pearls were added.

The picture below shows a comparison of the new Crisp Cantaloupe In Color against current Stampin’ Up! Colours.

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

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