Tropical Hideaway in Sepia Tones

September 17, 2022September 15, 2022 ~ Karen Young

I wanted to make a neutral project. So this thank you card using the Tropical Hideaway Stamp Set and sepia tones was the result.

Using Crumb Cake and Early Espresso cardstock, the image is stamped tone-on-tone in Crumb Cake.

Then, using Watercolor Pencils, the leaves are coloured using the Early Espresso and White Pencils, with any harsh lines softened with a Blender Pen.

A length of the coordinating Faux Suede Trim sits across the project.

Finally, a sentiment from the Sending Smiles Stamp Set is raised up on Mini Dimensionals.

I think this project would look great in other colours too.

Which colours would you use?

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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Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Ribbons & Embellishments in Every Colour

September 2, 2021September 1, 2021 ~ Karen Young

For this week’s Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques video, I’m showing a technique on how to have ribbons and embellishments in (almost) every Stampin’ Up! colour.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Ribbons & Embellishments in Every Colour. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs Click below to watch my video.

My project uses a colour combination of Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry and Basic White.

The Flowers of Friendship Stamp Set and Flowers & Leaves Punch Bundle provide the stamping and floral shapes.

Using the multiple flower stamp, this creates the background images. These are coloured using a Blender Pen.

Each punched flower, stamped tone-on-tone, has a touch of Wink of Stella added.

Tasteful Labels Dies provide the shape for everything to sit on.

A swoosh of ribbon, coloured using the technique in today’s video sits behind.

Finally, a few Rhinestones are added. Again, these are coloured to coordinate with the project.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques video. Pop back next week for the next one.

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.

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Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Two-Step Stamping

August 26, 2021August 25, 2021 ~ Karen Young

For this week’s Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques video, I’m briefly explaining about Two-Step Stamping.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Two-Step Stamping. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs Click below to watch my video.

My project uses a colour combination of Basic Gray and Smoky Slate for the squirrels. Plus Old Olive, Early Espresso and Soft Suede for the leaves, branches and acorn.

Nuts About Squirrels from the new July-December Mini Catalogue provides all of the stamps used here. Two-Step stamping is used for a lot of the images on this project.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Two-Step Stamping. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

I chose to use grey for my squirrels as that is what visits my garden quite a lot. We aren’t lucky enough to have red ones in our area.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Two-Step Stamping. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

The sentiment sits on a swoosh of Faux Suede Trim.

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

While I was recording my video, I could see a squirrel out of my window. Perhaps it knew!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques video. Pop back next week for the next one.

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.

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Gorgeous Leaves Bundle in Shades of Brown

August 14, 2021August 13, 2021 ~ Karen Young

Today it’s time to have another play with the fabulous Gorgeous Leaves Bundle from the new July-December Mini Catalogue.

Gorgeous Leaves Bundle lin Shades of Brown. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

I previous made this project and have remade it using the new Gorgeous Leaves Bundle (Gorgeous Leaves Stamp Set and Intricate Leaves Dies).

It’s my Stamp Set of the Month for my September Class. This is also my Mostly Men Class too. Make sure you book your place by Wednesday 18th August.

This time, my colour combination is Crumb Cake, Soft Suede and Early Espresso with Very Vanilla.

Gorgeous Leaves Bundle lin Shades of Brown. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

A background using the splat-type image from the Stamp Set is created using Crumb Cake. Leaves from the Stamp Set are then stamped and cut out using the Dies and layered on top of the background.

The strip of Soft Suede cardstock has Soft Suede leaf shapes from the Dies added to create a layered effect.

Love of Leaves Stamp Set provides the sentiment cut out with the Double Oval Punch. It’s backed by a length of Faux Suede Trim. Gorgeous Leaves Bundle lin Shades of Brown. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs Finally, some Brushed Metallic Dots add a touch of bling.

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.

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Postage Stamp and Textures In Good Taste

July 2, 2021July 1, 2021 ~ Karen Young

This masculine style project combines an Embossing Folder, some DSP and a Punch.

Postage Stamp and Textures In Good Taste. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Using Crumb Cake and Early Espresso, I chose to use Very Vanilla as I wanted a more grungey-type design. See my video on how I choose between Basic White and Very Vanilla.

The background is given texture using the Painted Textures 3D Embossing Folder. I’ve then added some extra colour using Crumb Cake and a Sponge Dauber.

Postage Stamp and Textures In Good Taste. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

In Good Taste DSP, currently on Special Offer, provides the shapes cut out using the Rectangular Postage Stamp Punch.

These are layered down the centre of the embossed piece with a length of Faux Suede Trim across the project.

A sentiment from the Many Messages Stamp Set is stamped and again cut out with the punch. I chose to ink up the stamp with an Early Espresso Stampin’ Write Marker.

Postage Stamp and Textures In Good Taste. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Finally, the sentiment is raised up on Dimensionals.

This project has only used a small piece of DSP, so you could make a LOT of cards from a pack of DSP using this design. Grab a pack of DSP while it is discounted, for even more value for money.

Why not 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

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A Very Tasteful Thank You

June 4, 2021June 4, 2021 ~ Karen Young

This Very Tasteful Thank You is a quick and simple project to make. It’s great if you need to create multiples, or need a card in a rush.

Very Tasteful Thank You. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

It uses the In Good Taste DSP and the Tasteful Labels Dies, hence the ‘very tasteful’ description!

I chose a Crumb Cake and Early Espresso colour combination to coordinate with the DSP.

Very Tasteful Thank You. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Using the more angled dies from the Tasteful Labels Dies, these pieces are layered on top of a piece of Faux Suede Trim.

Once again, I’ve been frugal with my Early Espresso cardstock, as I explained in my Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques video. Make sure you check it out if you haven’t already done so.

Very Tasteful Thank You. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Finally, some Silver & Clear Epoxy Essentials are dotted across the project. To coordinate with the angles, the diamond shape ones are used here.

This design can be recreated using different DSP, dies and sentiments for a completely different look.

Why not 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

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Vintage Style Quiet Meadow

May 10, 2021May 9, 2021 ~ Karen Young

When I was flicking through my new Annual Catalogue to make my pre-order list, several products jumped out at me.

One of these was the gorgeous Quiet Meadow Bundle (Quiet Meadow Stamp Set and Meadow Dies).

Vintage Style Quiet Meadow. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

I had, and still have, so many project ideas for this bundle running round my head that I couldn’t wait to use it when it arrived.

The first project I made was this vintage style card in more sepia tones.

It uses Crumb Cake, Early Espresso and Soft Suede for the cardstock and stamping.

The background has Sponge Dauber inking to soften the edges.

Using Watercolor Pencils, the flower was coloured in Early Espresso and Whisper White.

Vintage Style Quiet Meadow. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Two cute tags were cut using the dies with the Crumb Cake stamped and coloured.

Lengths of Scalloped Lace Trim, Faux Suede Trim and Crumb Cake from the new Baker’s Twine Essentials Pack add a pretty finishing touch.

Vintage Style Quiet Meadow. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

As this is the first of a handful of projects I made using this Bundle, more will follow.

If you are interested in having access to catalogue pre-orders along with a discount on products, then take a look at the fabulous JOIN+ offer running this month. Pay £99 and receive £154 of products.

This Stamp Set is a strong contender for a future Stamp Set of the Month Class. Watch this space for more details. Head to my Class Timetable for details of my online classes.

Happy crafting

Karen Young HIPPOFROG Designs

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

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In Color Introduction Class – Cinnamon Cider

July 9, 2020July 8, 2020 ~ Karen Young

At my annual ‘In Color’ Introduction Class, each new colour has a project dedicated to it. This is the project for Cinnamon Cider.

It’s a more masculine project and just uses Cinnamon Cider, Early Espresso and Crumb Cake.

As well as the new colours, we use new products too. The fabulous Old World Paper Embossing folder gets an outing here.

The piece has to be torn around the edges to give a more aged look. Some of the attendees found this part really hard as they think tearing their paper is an act of vandalism!

I can’t wait to create even more projects with this folder. I’ve got visions of getting very inky with Sponge Daubers for some more tearing and serious distressing. Sorry ladies!

The pretty feather shape from the Nature’s Thoughts dies sits really well on the Everyday Label Punch shape.

A length of the extremely tactile Early Espresso Faux Suede Trim is looped behind. You are going to need a lot of this ribbon as you’ll want some to stroke – it really is that fabulous.

To finish, an Enamel Dot in Cinnamon Cider is sat either side of the punched shape.

Don’t forget to take a look at all the fabulous new items in the Annual Catalogue. If you purchase between now and 3rd August, you can earn Bonus Days coupons too.

It would be great to ‘see’ you at one of my classes. All abilities welcome. Head to my Class Timetable for full details of all the onlines classes I’m currently running.

Happy crafting

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

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