Last Week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa – Monochrome with Strawberry Builder Punch

August 16, 2021August 11, 2021 ~ Karen Young

As you know, I’m a fan of monochrome projects, so it was lovely to design one for last week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa Class.

Monochrome with Strawberry Builder Punch. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

The new FREE SAB Beautifully Penned DSP provides the background and the petals.

Using the Strawberry Builder Punch, the strawberries are cut out to create petals. The smaller flower and leaves are cut out using the punch too.

Monochrome with Strawberry Builder Punch. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Each of the strawberries are arranged to create the flower. Strawberries aren’t just for eating!

A coating of Wink of Stella is added to the smaller flower before it creates the centre of the flower.

The leaves are scored down the centre and folder slightly, before they are attached to the back.

A length of the fabulous Black and White Gingham Ribbon is atttached. Then the flower sits on top of it.

My sentiment is from the Art Gallery Stamp Set and tucks in behind the flower. Monochrome with Strawberry Builder Punch. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Finally, some Silver & Clear Epoxy Essentials are placed in the centre of the flower and around the card.

I really like how the different patterns of black and work on this project. You could easily add a splash of colour if you wanted.

Don’t miss out on getting your hands on this fabulous SAB item. Find out more at my SAB page.

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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Double Masking – the papercrafting way

July 13, 2021July 12, 2021 ~ Karen Young

You may hearing quite a lot about double masking at the moment, but this is a happier papercrafting version.

Double Masking. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

This monochrome ‘thanks’ card is in Daffodil Delight and Basic White.

My first piece of masking was for the strip across the middle of the project to create a blank space for my sentiment.

The next piece of masking was using one of the Plenty of Patterns Decorative Masks and a Blending Brush to create an ombre effect. I chose to go darker in the centre and paler towards the edges.

Double Masking. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

When my masking was complete, I added the sentiment from the Biggest Wish Stamp Set. If you haven’t got this £16 stamp set, I would definitely recommend it. It’s a must for your collection.

Next, I added some lengths of Baker’s Twine from the Essentials Pack across the edges of my centre strip.

Finally, using a Stampin’ Blend, some Rhinestones were given a Daffodil Delight colouring.

Double Masking. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

This is a really quick and simple project. It would also be great in lots of different colours and sentiments 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.

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

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

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

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Generations of Stamping & Stamping Off

July 1, 2021June 30, 2021 ~ Karen Young

For this week’s Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques video, I’m explaining what 1st, 2nd and 3rd Generation and Stamping Off are.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Generations of Stamping & Stamping Off. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Click on the picture below to watch my video about these techniques. It also contains some handy hints on generational stamping too.

This monochrome project uses Blushing Bride and Very Vanilla.

The image and dies are from the discounted Artistically Inked Bundle (Artistically Inked Stamp Set & Artistic Dies).

Various generations of stamping create the background. Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Generations of Stamping & Stamping Off. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

A strip of coordinating Blushing Bride cardstock sits across the background. ‘Happy Birthday’ then sits on top of this.

Leaves are cut from the large die in the set, I’ve cut them down into individual or double leaves. These provide a pretty surround for the central flower.

The flower and leaves are raised up on Dimensionals.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Generations of Stamping & Stamping Off. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Finally, a few Basic Pearls finish off the design.

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

If there’s a top tips, trick or technique you would like to see me feature, then please get in touch.

Why not join me at one of my online classes. 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

Gorgeous Grape Biggest Wish

June 29, 2021June 28, 2021 ~ Karen Young

This Gorgeous Grape Biggest Wish Stamp Set project is a remake of this previous project.

Gorgeous Grape Biggest Wish. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

It uses the opposite stamps, with the script and block text swapped around.

As with the previous project, it can be used in either portrait or landscape orientation.

Gorgeous Grape Biggest Wish. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

For this version, I have kept the monochrome design but used Gorgeous Grape.

Gorgeous Grape Biggest Wish. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Using my Stamparatus and the hinge-step technique, the ‘happy’ forms a line with alternating first and second generation stamping.

Gorgeous Grape Biggest Wish. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

A length of coordinating Gorgeous Grape ribbon creates a line between the ‘happy’ and ‘birthday’ greetings

Gorgeous Grape Biggest Wish. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs Finally, Pastel Pearls in Gorgeous Grape bookend the ‘birthday’ sentiment.

I love the fabulous stamps in this set as they do a lot of the work for you.

Don’t forget the January-June Mini Catalogue leaves us tomorrow. Make sure you don’t miss out on any retiring items.

Why not join me for 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

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

Butterfly Cover Up

June 18, 2021June 17, 2021 ~ Karen Young

Today’s project happened by accident.

Butterfly Cover Up. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

I’d stamped a pretty background using the Artistically Inked Stamp Set in Rich Razzleberry for another project.

Then, I managed to drip water on it. The main water stain was too big for me to use it for what I wanted. Can you spot the other small stain too?

Butterfly Cover Up. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

It wasn’t all bad news though, hence the butterfly cover up reference, as that’s exactly what I did.

Using the Brilliant Wings Dies, I cut out two shapes, one in Rich Razzleberry and one in Very Vanilla to continue the monochrome style.

I gently stamped onto the butterfly using the same image.

These are layered together using just the body to stick them together for the wings to be more 3D.

Butterfly Cover Up. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

A sentiment from the same stamp set cut out using the Tasteful Labels Dies is layered onto the project on the other side.

A length of Scalloped Lace Trim is looped for the butterfly to sit on. If you look closely, you’ll see it covers the small water stain on the right.

Butterfly Cover Up. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs After attaching the butterfly using Dimensionals, coordinating Artistry Blooms Sequins are dotted around the project.

Maybe this is a topic for a future Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques video. Did you check out yesterday’s video?

Why not join me at an online 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

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You Decide Your Biggest Wish

May 28, 2021May 27, 2021 ~ Karen Young

Well, not quite! You decide your Biggest Wish card orientation, portrait or landscape?

You Decide Your Biggest Wish. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Mr Hippofrog helped design this Evening Evergreen Monochrome Birthday Card. He’s very proud of it!

If you want to create quick and easy projects, the Biggest Wish Stamp Set from the Annual Catalogue is really useful.

For this project, the Stamparatus is your friend. Once you’ve lined everything up, it’s just a case of hinge-stepping ‘Happy’ down the slots.

The first is first generation stamping, with the next in second generation. This alternates down the page.

You Decide Your Biggest Wish. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Birthday is then stamped along the edge.

A length of coordinating Chevron Ribbon splits the two parts.

Finally, a small Pearl coloured with a Stampin’ Blend is added as the dot of the ‘i’.

You Decide Your Biggest Wish. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Which orientation do you prefer?

I can definitely see me creating this design in different colours, and with different greetings from the set too.

Why not join me at one of my Classes. The new In Colors will be making an appearance at regular classes very soon. 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

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

Last Week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa – Beauty of the Earth Suite Collection

May 24, 2021May 19, 2021 ~ Karen Young

The Beauty of the Earth Suite Collection made an appearance for last week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa project.

Beauty of the Earth Sute Collection. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

This collection, on pages 10-11 in the Annual Catalogue contains the Beauty of Friendship Stamp Set and Beautiful Trees Dies Bundle, Bark 3D Embossing Folder and the pretty Beauty of the Earth DSP.

I recently made this project using the Stamp Set and Dies Bundle. Today’s project uses all the items from the Suite Collection.

Beauty of the Earth Sute Collection. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

When I saw the 12×12 DSP, I knew it was just perfect for card fronts.

Using colours from the paper, I chose a combination of Cinnamon Cider and Merry Merlot for this design.

A bow is tied around the tree before the sentiment and tree are attached to the embossed piece.

Beauty of the Earth Sute Collection. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Now these are together as one piece, they are then raised with Dimensionals over the three lengths of Linen Thread .

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

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

Plenty of Patterns Decorative Masks

May 21, 2021May 19, 2021 ~ Karen Young

The new Plenty of Patterns Decorative Masks from the Annual Catalogue definitely appeal to my style. I saw the triangles and instantly knew the type of design I wanted to make.

Plenty of Patterns Decorative Masks. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

As I love monochrome projects, Night of Navy and a Blending Brush were the products I reached for. I also used my Stamparatus to hold everything in place.

It was my first time using a Blending Brush and it was so easy. My ombre design took no time at all.

Simply use the brush at the darker end when it has more ink and work to the lighter end. Reload your brush as many times as you like to make it even darker.

Plenty of Patterns Decorative Masks. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

You can use a Sponge Dauber if you prefer, but it was much quicker with the brush. The bristles are really soft and they have a larger surface area too.

Blending Brushes were a new item in the January-June Mini Catalogue and I have to admit I overlooked them to begin with. I’m pleased I have some now.

Using the mask to draw one of the triangle shapes, I cut this out before adding a sentiment from the Artistically Inked Stamp Set.

Plenty of Patterns Decorative Masks. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

If you watched my video from yesterday, you’ll know that I love to revisit, reuse and refresh previous projects. This is certainly a design I’ll be reusing lots of times in lots of different colours.

Don’t forget to take a look at my class timetable for details of all of my online classes.

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 – Just Black and White

May 17, 2021May 11, 2021 ~ Karen Young

As you know, I love a monochrome project, so I was delighted when a black and white project was requested.

Not wishing disappoint those regular Card & (Your) Cuppa attendees, I was happy to oblige with last week’s project.

Just Black and White. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

With just a Basic Black and Basic White colour combination, I chose to use the Dragonfly Punch.

Small dragonflies are stuck onto the white layer up to a preferred point. Any overhanging pieces are then cut away. The dividing line is then covered by 3 lengths of Black Baker’s Twine from the Baker’s Twine Essentials Pack.

Just Black and White. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Using both a black and white shape from the Label Me Fancy Punch, these were layered. By cutting the black shape in half, this provided a wider layer for the white piece.

The large dragonfly is then given a coating of Wink of Stella for a touch of bling. The whole piece is raised up using Dimensionals.

Just Black and White. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs