Last Week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa – Dragonflies in Shades of Blue & Green

August 29, 2022August 26, 2022 ~ Karen Young

Last week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa project was this group of dragonflies in shades of blue and green.

When I was designing the project, I couldn’t decide whether to use blue or green for my dragonflies, so I chose a few shades of blue and green instead!

There’s Starry Sky, Orchid Oasis, Pool Party, Mint Macaron, Soft Succulent and Soft Sea Foam, along with Very Vanilla.

The Twigs & Sprigs Embossing Folder provides the background.

Each dragonfly is cut out using the Dragonflies Punch, with the larger one cut out twice in Soft Sea Foam.

My top dragonfly has a light coating of Wink of Stella and is layered onto the other one by just applying glue down the centre. This allows the wings on both shapes to be seen.

A length of coordinating Seam Binding from the July-December Mini Catalogue goes across the centre of the project.

The dragonflies sit on shapes cut from the Beautiful Shapes Dies and the All That Dies. They are then stuck to the project using Dimensionals.

Each of the small dragonflies glued down in colour order from green to blue.

The Lovely You Stamp Set provides the sentiment and is also attached using Dimensionals.

Finally, some Elegant Faceted Gems are placed across 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.

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Happy Hedgehogs for Mothering Sunday

April 2, 2022March 29, 2022 ~ Karen Young

Last week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa project was the non-stamping version of this card I made for Mothering Sunday.

Happy Hedgehogs Bundle. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

This card uses the Happy Hedgehogs Bundle (Happy Hedgehogs Stamp Set & Hedgehog Builder Punch) from the Mini Catalogue.

The colours for the cardstock is the same as the class project, with added Early Espresso and Crumb Cake stamping.

Using Stampin’ Write Markers, I coloured the leaves and flowers, then went over them with a Blender Pen. I also used a Blender Pen on the hedgehog prickles.

For the toadstools, these were stamped, coloured using an inkpad and Blender Pen and then fussy cut.

Happy Hedgehogs Bundle. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

The green grassy area is created using Pear Pizzazz and a Sponge Dauber. This has coordinating Baker’s Twine wrapped around and a bunny ears bow.

A touch of sparkle is added to the flowers with some Wink of Stella.

Again, using the Lovely You Stamp Set and the Double Oval Punch, the sentiment is layered and added.

As the card was being hand delivered, the toadstools were layered and the hedgehog was raised up on double-stacked Dimensionals.

Happy Hedgehogs Bundle. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

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

This card has a few hidden meanings. Not only was it Mothering Sunday, it would also have been my Dad’s Birthday, the second without him. As you may have heard me mention before, Dad loved nature, so this is a nod to his Birthday as well as celebrating Mum.

Plus, Dad was allergic to mushrooms, so the toadstools (mushrooms) are a little reminder of him too. He would have appreciated the humour!

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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Last Week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa – Hedgehog Builder Punch

March 28, 2022March 26, 2022 ~ Karen Young

For last week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa project, I designed this cute card using the Hedgehog Builder Punch and Iconic Dies.

Hedgehog Builder Punch. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

My colour scheme started with Blushing Bride, Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla. I then added Pear Pizzazz, Real Red and Soft Suede.

As we are unable to share stamps at this online class, I took inspiration from Page 64 of the Mini Catalogue and embossed the shape for the spikes.

The hedgehog layers were then stuck together and a Classic Matte Dot became the eye.

Hedgehog Builder Punch. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Toadstools from the Iconic Dies were then cut and layered together.

Lengths of coordinating Baker’s Twine was then added to the project.

Then, the various pieces to create the scene were added in layers, finishing with the hedgehog raised up on Dimensionals.

The three flowers were added using Glue Dots.

A sentiment from the Lovely You Stamp Set sits on shapes cut from the Double Oval Punch.

Finally, some small Pearls create the centre of the flowers.

Hedgehog Builder Punch. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

The Iconic Dies and the Embossing Folder are on the Last Chance List and are retiring. Make sure you grab them while you can.

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

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Starburst Technique

November 11, 2021November 10, 2021 ~ Karen Young

For this week’s Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques video, I’m sharing how to create projects using the starburst technique.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Starburst Technique. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Click on the link below to watch my video on this subject

My colour combination is Fresh Freesia, Highland Heather and Gorgeous Grape.

Using strips of cardstock and turning them into triangles, the exploded version of this technique takes shape.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Starburst Technique. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

A swoosh of the coordinating Sheer Ribbon is then added.

The sentiment is from the Lovely You Stamp Set and cut out using the Tailored Tag Punch.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Starburst Technique. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Finally, the sentiment is raised up over the ribbon using Dimensionals.

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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Magenta Madness Just Because

September 8, 2021September 7, 2021 ~ Karen Young

This bright butterflies ‘just because’ card is great for raising a smile.

Magenta Madness Just Because. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs With an almost monochrome feel, my colour combination is Magenta Madness and Basic White.

Using a piece of the Expressions In Ink DSP to create the background is really quick and easy. This piece has some gold running through it too.

The butterflies are cut using the Brilliant Wings Dies. Each one has been given a gentle coat of Wink of Stella.

Magenta Madness Just Because. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

For the sentiment, I’ve used the Lovely You Stamp Set and layered it onto Magenta Madness cardstock. Both ends are shaped using the Banners Pick a Punch.

Magenta Madness Just Because. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Behind the sentiment is a length of the simply Elegant Trim in gold to coordinate with the DSP.

This is a great card to create in batches. Why not make a few and add different sentiments.

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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Bee-ing Iconic

July 9, 2021July 8, 2021 ~ Karen Young

Excuse today’s pun!

Bee-ing Iconic. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs
When you create a project with bees, it has to start with a Bumblebee and Basic Black colour combination.

One of the designs in the In Good Taste DSP has a mosaic pattern. Cutting a shape around the various hexagons creates the honeycomb shape. Sponge Daubers, Bumblebee and Soft Suede Ink then help to colour it.

Bee-ing Iconic. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

The bees are from the Iconic Dies and I have added a piece of Basic Black behind the outline of the body. A Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker colours the legs and antennae. Wink of Stella is added to the wings for a little bit of sparkle.

The Lovely You Stamp Set provides the sentiment. It had to be ‘just because’ with these bees as it makes me smile and think of my Dad.

Today, it is six months since we lost him to COVID. He loved all things nature and his sense of humour would have loved this play on words. I can imagine him chuckling at this project.

Bee-ing Iconic. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

A length of the Baker’s Twine Essentials Pack, tied in a knot around the edge of the sentiment adds an extra touch.

Finally, the bees are raised up on Mini Dimensionals.

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 – 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

Lovely You for my Lovely Customers

December 23, 2020December 17, 2020 ~ Karen Young

My November customers were all sent this handmade card to say thank you for supporting my business.

As it uses the Lovely You Stamp Set and co-ordinating Punch Bundle, it’s more of a lovely you for my lovely customers project.

As I thought people might be getting a bit fed up with Christmas colours, I chose to use the Subtles Collection for my colour combination.

There’s Pool Party, So Saffron, Blushing Bride and Soft Sea Foam, plus Whisper White.

Don’t forget to check this post with information on the replacement for Whisper White.

Stamping the images in a random patterns gives the impression of them falling across the page.

As Soft Sea Foam is quite a pale ink, itdoesn’t show up very well in my pictures.

A length of co-ordinating Pool Party Sheer Ribbon with knotted ends is then added.

The sentiment and sentiment layer has ends cut with the Lovely Labels Pick a Punch. This punch and the stamp set form part of a discounted Bundle.

Some small Pearls, coloured with a Pool Party Stampin’ Blend add a finishing touch.

If you’re placing an order for any of these items, or items on the retiring list, don’t forget to use the Online Shopping Club Code to receive a little extra gift from me.

You can also join me at online classes. Find out more at my Class Timetable.

Happy crafting

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 – All About the Angles

November 2, 2020October 26, 2020 ~ Karen Young

Last week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa project was all about the angles with this bright and cheery card.

The combination of Magenta Madness, Daffodil Delight and Whisper White really make it pop.

A piece of Artistry Blooms DSP, placed at an angle, creates the background layer.

Next, a piece of Whisper White, textured with the Ornate Floral Embossing Folder is added. This is also placed at an angle.

My top tip for playing with angles is to make it absolutely clear it is supposed to be like that, rather than just wonky!

A sentiment from the Lovely You Stamp Set, cut out using the Label Me Fancy Punch is layered onto a punched circle.

Three lengths of ribbons are placed across the project at various angles, before the sentiment is attached using Dimensionals.

Finally, various sizes of Gold Glitter Enamel Dots are added for some sparkle.

A design like this can be recreated using lots of different papers, embossing folders, ribbons, etc. Just pick what you want to use and have a play.

If you’d like to join me for 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

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

Last Week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa – Essential Tag Punch: Take Two

September 14, 2020September 12, 2020 ~ Karen Young

For last week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa project, it was take two for the Essential Tag Punch.

I previously made this project at one of my recent Papercrafting Classes. The Card & (Your) Cuppa attendees liked it and wanted to make one, hence the reason for Essential Tag Punch: Take Two.

For this version, I’ve chosen Just Jade as my main colour.

Once again, it uses the Forever Greenery DSP, cut out with the Essential Tag Punch from the Mini Catalogue. I chose three pieces of DSP and cut two from each, in different orientations. This is so they could be used for either the top or bottom row.

It’s easier to start with the middle two shapes and work out, as you can decide your distances between the shapes. The shapes overhung the edges on mine, so I trimmed them down.