Countdown to Christmas 2025 – Week 3

October 18, 2025October 17, 2025 ~ Karen Young

The project for week 3 of my Countdown to Christmas 2025 series is this fabulous monochrome design.

You will know that I love a monochrome design, so this Christmas Card in Balmy Blue and Basic White meets that brief.

I’ve used the new Traditional Labels Stamp Set and Dies Bundle from the new Mini Catalogue.

First, I’ve created a background flare using a Blending Brush. You’ll know that I enjoy creating these flares too, so that’s another tick in the box for this design! They are a quick and easy way of adding colour to a background.

Next, the sentiment was stamped using the Traditional Labels Stamp Set and that and the other shapes were cut out using the coordinating Dies from the Bundle.

A length of the White Woven Ribbon, currently in the Last Chance Products category is coloured using Stampin’ Blends. This is wrapped across the project.

The various layers of shapes are then stuck together before being raised above the ribbon using Dimensionals.

Finally, some Rhinestones are added for a touch of festive bling.

I really enjoy this type of design as you could quite easily make one in every colour in no time at all.

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 – Terrific Toadstools Stamp Set & Punch

September 15, 2025September 11, 2025 ~ Karen Young

At last week’s Card & Cuppa class, I chose to create a monochromatic-style project.

I like creating designs that are in shades of the same colour, in this case, blue.

My colour combination was Azure Afternoon, Blueberry Bushel, Misty Moonlight and Night of Navy. These colours are next to each other on the Colour Coach, a great tool available from Stampin’ Up!

First, the background was given a touch of colour using a Blending Brush and Azure Afternoon ink. This was in the area behind where the toadstools would sit.

Next, the toadstools and stalks from the Terrific Toadstools Stamp Set were stamped onto a separate piece. They were then cut out using a combination of fussy cutting and the Terrific Toadstools Builder Punch.

A sentiment from the Blooming Phrases Stamp Set, from the Online Exclusives range was then stamped onto a long strip.

This was stuck to an Azure Afternoon strip across the project.

The toadstools were all assembled and the three larger ones were stuck to the project using a Dimensional at the head end and glue at the base. Glue Dots were then used to attach the smaller two.

Finally, three Iridescent Pearls were coloured in a Stampin’ Blend and stuck to the project.

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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June Card Making Class – Project 3

June 25, 2025June 18, 2025 ~ Karen Young

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

This month’s theme was ‘It’s all new to me!’ and some products that are new to me are the Tags of Thanks Bundle and Blooming Phrases Stamp set from the Online Exclusives range.

The monochromatic design is inspired by this project on the Stampin’ Up! website.

Using the Blooming Phrases Stamp Set, the background flowers were stamped tone-on-tone in Pool Party. A touch of Wink of Stella was added to a few of the flowers

For the tags shape, I used the Labeled with Love Punch and stamped the sentiment from the Tags of Thanks Stamp Set. The holes were then punched out using one of the coordinating punches from the Hole Punch Assortment.

A length of white Baker’s Twine from the Essentials Combo Pack was coloured using Pool Party Stampin’ Blends before being tied in a bow to join the two tags.

Finally, some Rhinestones were added to the project for some extra bling.

This is a great design that could be replicated in any colour and with any sentiment.

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

Countdown to Christmas 2023 – Week 6

November 11, 2023November 10, 2023 ~ Karen Young

How is it already week 6 of my Countdown to Christmas 2023 series?

For this project, I used the new Christmas Everywhere Kit. The kit includes all the items you need to create 9 cards (3 each of 3 designs). It also includes a stamp set and mini ink pad in Pretty Peacock too.

As you can see, rather than using the cards in the kit, I have used the stamp set to create my own design.

This is a monochrome Christmas Card in Night of Navy and Basic White.

First, the star background is stamped. Next, a circle is cut using the Online Exclusives 2″ Circle Punch. Two trees are then stamped onto the circle, with another stamped onto a separate piece.

The trees are coloured using a light Night of Navy Stampin’ Blend marker with the separate one cut out and stuck in front.

This is then mounted onto a Night of Navy Circle, again cut out using a Circle Punch. The trees are then stuck to background.

What is great about this stamp set is the combination of words to allow you to create your own sentiment.

For my sentiment, I was able to pop it all onto my clear block and stamp the whole greeting at once.

I’ve raised this over the top of the trees using Dimensionals.

Finally, a few Rhinestones are dotted around for some festive sparkle.

I intend to make up the kit and use the cards as instructed, but as soon as I saw the stamp set, I knew that it would be great for my own designs too.

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 – 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.

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Finishing Up Friday – For You in Balmy Blue

November 4, 2022November 3, 2022 ~ Karen Young

This week’s Finishing Up Friday uses a pre-embossed piece and some punched pieces I had in my crafting stash.

For this monochrome card I chose Balmy Blue alongside Basic White.

I cut the pre-embossed piece from the Painted Texture 3D Embossing Folder into three, and added some ink around the edges of each piece using a Blending Brush.

Then I used the Double-Stitched Ribbon in coordinating Balmy Blue and White and separated it. As the thin blue ribbon is stitched to the white ribbon with a clear thread, I carefully unpicked the stitching to create two ribbons.

The white part of the ribbon is then stuck across the project before adding the punched shapes. These are cut using Bough Punch.

Next, it was the turn of the thinner blue ribbon to create a ribbon swoosh. Head to this Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques video for a demonstration on how I create mine.

A sentiment from the Soft Seedlings Stamp Set is then cut out using the Beautiful Shapes Dies and layered onto a circle cut from the Stylish Layers Dies.

Finally, some Solid Faceted Gems, also in Balmy Blue are dotted across the project to maintain the monochrome look.

Which pre-made items are you going to use from your desk?

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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Countdown to Christmas 2022 – Week 4

October 29, 2022October 28, 2022 ~ Karen Young

We are now at week 4 of this year’s Countdown to Christmas series.

For this project, I chose a monochrome look with Starry Sky and Basic White.

The images are from the Mountain Air Stamp Set and the Penguin Place Stamp Set, one festive and one non festive. Penguin Place is a returning favourite from last year and can be found in the July-December Mini Catalogue.

First, a background of stars is created from the Penguin Place Stamp Set, along with the Christmas sentiment in the bottom corner.

Next, the Starry Sky strip is stamped both tone-on-tone and with White Ink for a forest scene. The trees are from the Mountain Air Stamp Set. A few more stars are added to this piece.

This is then stuck across the background piece.

More trees and stars are stamped onto a circle cut from the Stylish Shapes Dies.

All of the stars are given a touch of Wink of Stella, along with the trees to give the appearance of frost.

Finally a few Rhinestones are added for a touch of extra sparkle.

Why not see if you can make a Christmas Card using non-Christmas products.

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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Finishing Up Friday – An Artisan Butterfly

September 16, 2022September 16, 2022 ~ Karen Young

This week’s Finishing Up Friday uses leftover items from two previous Card & (Your) Cuppa projects.

The previous projects are here and here.

I chose to create a monochrome project with Mint Macaron and Basic White using the leftover pieces.

First, I stamped my sentiment from the Art Gallery Stamp Set in the top right corner.

As one of the pre-cut items in my stash was the ornate piece from the Artisan Additions Dies, I stuck this over Mint Macaron cardstock to create the pretty bottom section for the card.

A length of the Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon then covers the join.

Another item from my stash was the detailed pre-cut butterfly from the Brilliant Wings Dies. This sits on a solid butterfly shape, only glued down the centre to show the wings.

Finally, the butterfly is raised up on Dimensionals for a more 3D effect.

I’m continuing to make a dent in my pre-cut butterflies!

Which pre-made items are you going to use from your desk?

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 & (Your) Cuppa – Monochrome Perfectly Penciled DSP

July 25, 2022July 24, 2022 ~ Karen Young

Last week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa project just used black and white for this monochrome design.

It uses the Perfectly Penciled DSP for the background piece.

A sentiment from the Artistically Inked Stamp Set is then stamped on a separate piece of cardstock to sit across the project.

Basic Black and Basic White strips are then cut and stuck behind the sentiment. The edges are cut at an angle and they are set are different lengths.

Once the sentiment piece is stuck down, with any overhang cut away, two lengths of Basic Black Baker’s Twine then sit at the top and bottom.

Finally, some Classic Matte Dots are added.

This design is a great scrap buster and perfect for masculine 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.

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

Saying Hello – In Color 2022-2024: Tahitian Tide

May 29, 2022June 11, 2022 ~ Karen Young

The final In Color from the new Annual Catalogue is Tahitian Tide.

Tahitian Tide. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

This colour is another of my favourites.

I have again used the same design as I did for the Orchid Oasis, Parakeet Party, Starry Sky and Sweet Sorbet projects.

Tahitian Tide. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Using the 6×6 DSP, this creates a diagonal backround, with a length of In Color Metallic Woven Ribbon covering the join.

Sweet Songbirds, a new Stamp Set and Punch Bundle from the Annual Catalogue provides the cute bird. This sits on a cloud cut out using the Cloud Punch.

It reminds me of a certain social media network!

Tahitian Tide. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs