Last Week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa – Abstract Beauty Suite Collection

January 17, 2022January 16, 2022 ~ Karen Young

Last week was our first Card & (Your) Cuppa Class of 2022.

As the January-June Mini Catalogue has just launched, I used some products from the new Abstract Beauty Suite Collection.

Abstract Beauty Suite Collection. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

This Suite Collection includes a Stamp Set and Die Bundle, some fabulous 6×4″ DSP, Embellishments, an Ephemera Pack and some cards and envelopes too.

I used a piece of the DSP to choose my colours of Blushing Bride, Balmy Blue and Misty Moonlight, with Basic White.

The shapes are cut from the Beautiful Shapes Dies in the set and are dotted across the project.

Abstract Beauty Suite Collection. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Using a sentiment from the Hello Beautiful Stamp Set, this sits on top of some of the shapes.

As I love abstract shapes, this Stamp Set and Die Bundle, along with the DSP fell into my basket as soon as I could order it!

A few gold Metallic Pearls are added as a finishing touch. These coordinate with the gold flecks in the DSP. Abstract Beauty Suite Collection. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Don’t forget that as well as the Mini Catalogue, it is also SAB time. Sale-A-Bration runs until the end of February.

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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Countdown to Christmas 2021 #12

December 18, 2021November 30, 2021 ~ Karen Young

The 12th and final project in my Countdown to Christmas 2021 series is this fabulous shaker card.

Countdown to Christmas 2021 #12. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

It is the final project from my Special Christmas Cards online Class. Last year, I designed a shaker card that was a hit, so I chose to make another one.

This year’s uses the fabulous Stitched Stars Dies.

My colour combination is Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla and Gold.

The cut out has a piece of Window Sheet attached to hold the shaker pieces. Foam Adhesive Strips are stuck to the back.

Countdown to Christmas 2021 #12. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

It is then filled with Sequins for Everything, plus a star cut from Gold Foil Sheets.

When the shaker piece is assembled and secure, the extra Gold stars were added.

Countdown to Christmas 2021 #12. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

The project is finished with some coordinating Gold Metallic Pearls.

Here is my coordinating box.

Countdown to Christmas 2021 #12. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

I hope you’ve enjoyed my Countdown to Christmas Series and that it has given you a touch of inspiration for your own Christmas projects.

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 – Stars, Tags & Monochrome

November 8, 2021November 7, 2021 ~ Karen Young

Last week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa project was this monochrome card with tags and stars.

Last Week's Card & (Your) Cuppa - Stars, Tags & Monochrome. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

It would be a great card for a teenager or 21st.

Using Gray Granite and Basic White for the design works really well as the Gray Granite looks silver.

The star are cut using the Starlit Punch from the Mini Catalogue. A set in each colour. They are then coated in Wink of Stella.

These are stuck across the project with any overhanging pieces cut away.

Last Week's Card & (Your) Cuppa - Stars, Tags & Monochrome. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Next, a tag from the Tailor Made Tags dies is stamped with the sentiment from the Turtle Friends Stamp Set, with some of the stars added too.

A length of the coordinating Shimmer Ribbon is threaded through the tags and tied together with a Baker’s Twine bow.

The tags are offset slightly and attached with Dimensionals to raise them off the page.

Finally, some silver Metallic Pearls are dotted across the project.

Last Week's Card & (Your) Cuppa - Stars, Tags & Monochrome. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

This is a great project to recreate in different colours, it would also make a fabulous Christmas card 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.

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Last Week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa – SAB Sheep Dies

September 20, 2021September 16, 2021 ~ Karen Young

Last week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa project uses the FREE SAB Sheep Dies.

Top Tips, Tricks & TecSAB Sheep Dies. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

It’s my version of the project on Page 11 of the SAB Brochure.

The colours are Balmy Blue, Flirty Flamingo, Daffodil Delight and Basic White.

A Balmy Blue background is created using a Blending Brush.

Top Tips, Tricks & TecSAB Sheep Dies. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Tasteful Labels provide the shapes for the sentiment from the Artistically Inked Stamp Set to sit on. I’ve extended the banner slightly on either side by cutting it in half.

Using the Bark 3D Embossing Folder, I added some texture to the front clouds.

These sit around the sun. I found that holding them together using Glue Dots allowed me to slot the sun in easier.

The clouds and sun are then raised up using Dimensionals.

Top Tips, Tricks & TecSAB Sheep Dies. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Finally, some Gold Metallic Pearls are dotted around.

Just a quick reminder that there are only 10 days of Sale-a-Bration left. Don’t miss out on some fabulous FREE items, available 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

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.

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Beauty and Daisies

July 3, 2021July 2, 2021 ~ Karen Young

These pretty monochrome daisies sit on a fabulous background of DSP.

Beauty and Daisies. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs
The background DSP is stamped with the Beauty of Friendship and Daisy Lane Stamp Sets in Misty Moonlight. Don’t be afraid to stamp onto your DSP, it creates some great effects.

Various generations of stamping have been used for the smaller ‘splat’ type images at the top. Check out this week’s YouTube Video on what generational stamping is all about.

Beauty and Daisies. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Using the Medium Daisy Punch, the daisies are cut out and layered after stamping. They are then lightly coated with Wink of Stella for some subtle sparkle.

For the sentiment, I used the Beauty of Friendship Stamp Set and the coordinating Beautiful Trees Dies for the shape.

A length of coordinating Baker’s Twine from the Flowers for Every Season Ribbon Combo Pack is finished with a bow.

Beauty and Daisies. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Finally, some Metallic Pearls are dotted around to pick out the silver in the Baker’s Twine.

Don’t forget that this fabulous DSP is on Special Offer until 2nd August. Why not grab a pack or two and start stamping on it.

Join me for 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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Orange-Tip Butterfly Inspiration

May 29, 2021May 28, 2021 ~ Karen Young

On one of our recent walks, we saw some Orange-tip butterflies.

I wasn’t quick enough to grab a picture of them. But, with their distinctive look, I chose to make a project using them as inspiration.

If you haven’t already done so, check out my recent Top Tips, Tricks and Techniques video where I talk about taking inspiration from the world around you.

Orange-tip butterfly inspiration. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

This project combines quite a lot of products. New in the Annual Catalogue, the Butterfly Brilliance Stamp Set and Dies and Quiet Meadow Stamp Set. Plus, from the January-June Mini Catalogue, the Vine Design Bundle, Twine Combo Pack and Double Oval Punch.

I’ll miss the Vine Design Stamp Set and Die Bundle when it retires at the end of June. If you want to get your hands on this Bundle, make sure you grab it while you can as items are only available while stocks last.

For my colour combination, I chose Pear Pizzazz and So Saffron. The orange tips are coloured using Watercolor Pencils and a Blender Pen.

Orange-tip butterfly inspiration. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

After stamping in Basic Gray and cutting and colouring the butterfly, I turned my attention to the background.

As you know, I love ‘splat’ stamp images, and the new Quiet Meadow Stamp Set was just perfect for this project.

Also, as I was using more rounded shapes, I used the Detailed Trio Punch to round the corners too.

A sentiment from the Vine Design Stamp Set is raised over a length of twine from the Snail Mail Twine Combo Pack.

The butterfly then sits on a die cut that I have coloured using Sponge Daubers.

Finally a few Gold Metallic Pearls are popped around the card.

Orange-tip butterfly inspiration. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Don’t forget that the JOIN+ offer ends on Monday. Find out more about this fabulous offer and how to join my team.

For full details of my 2021 Classes, head to my Class Timetable.

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 Offers & Promotions Book a Class

Last Week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa – Layering Circles Dies

April 26, 2021April 23, 2021 ~ Karen Young

Last week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa project was my version of a project I’d seen on page 38 of the January-June Mini Catalogue. Layering Circles Dies. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs I chose Misty Moonlight, Petal Pink and Balmy Blue, along with White for my colour combination.

I’ve used Whisper White in my project, which has now been replaced with Basic White. See this post for full details while I work through my supply.

For my project I’ve create a two colour background, with the joins covered by the different size circles. All of the circles are cut using the Layering Circles Dies.

The Balmy Blue circle has been scrunched and carefully separated to create two circles.

On the focal circle, I recreated the image from the Catalogue using the Sprig Punch. The sprigs are coated with Wink of Stella to make them sparkle.
Layering Circles Dies. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs The length of the twine from the Flowers for Every Season Ribbon Combo is separated into the three different parts. Using the Misty Moonlight and White pieces first, the silver length is then wrapped around. As this bit has a mind of its own, I found it easier to not fight it!

Using a sentiment from the Quite Curvy Stamp Set this sits across the bottom.

Finally, Metallic Pearls are added. Layering Circles Dies. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

For this project, the attendees had lots of choices of how to create theirs. From clean lines to grunge, scrunching, arrangement of the circles, use of the twine and more.

Why not join me at one of my classes and create your own projects. Head to my Class Timetable for more 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 Offers & Promotions Book a Class

Special Christmas Cards – Poinsettia Dies

December 5, 2020December 1, 2020 ~ Karen Young

My final project for my recent Special Christmas Cards class uses the Poinsettia Dies.

It’s become tradition for me to include a Poinsettia project in this class, so this year couldn’t disappoint!

This stunning project is made in Real Red, Old Olive, and Very Vanilla, with Bumblebee flowers and Gold Foil Sheets.

The fabulous Poinsettia Dies not only cut, they emboss a beautiful pattern too.

Each section is firstly made up of two pieces. These are then layered together using Dimensionals to make the Poinsettia.

Using Gold Foil Sheet for a layer co-ordinates with the gold leaf pieces and the loop of Metallic Edge Ribbon.

The centre is filled with Metallic Pearls, there are handy little indentations that the pearls sit in perfectly.

Plus a few pearls are scattered around the poinsettia too.

All the projects in this class had a matching handmade box to make too. This one has an Old Olive base and Real Red top. I’ve decorated mine and the attendees were able to do the same with theirs too.

Here are all of the projects from the class. Do you have a favourite?

Remember to place any orders by the end of 9th December for pre-Christmas delivery.

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 – Well Written Dies

November 30, 2020November 26, 2020 ~ Karen Young

For last week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa project, I reached for the Well Written Dies.

This set of dies has crept to the back of my dies box and it was time to bring them to the front.

A range of different blues, Pool Party, Balmy Blue and Misty Moonlight work really well together with the Whisper White.

It is a bit of a fiddly project, but the finished card is worth the effort.

My Take Your Pick Tool Brush attachement came in useful for removing all the little bits from the Well Written Dies cut outs.

The project being with lengths of Pool Party Shimmer Riboon creating a stripey background.

Then, the centre leaves and flower pieces are attached.

By drawing around the ‘birthday’ shape, a layer is cut out for it to sit on. If you have the die, you can draw around the edge of that instead. Either way is fine.

Raising the birthday above the centre pieces gives the project more depth.

I chose to use a ‘wishes’ sentiment to go with birthday, stamping it in the darker blue of Misty Moonlight.

Before the smaller flowers are added with glue dots, these are given a coat of Wink of Stella. This co-ordinates well with the shimmer of the ribbon.