Pretty as a Positive Thoughts Collage

September 6, 2021September 4, 2021 ~ Karen Young

As last week was a Bank Holiday, I don’t have a Card & (Your) Cuppa project to share with you. Instead, I’ve dusted off a Stamp Set and Dies combo for today’s project.

Pretty as a Positive Thoughts Collage. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

It uses the Positive Thoughts Stamp Set and the matching Nature’s Thoughts Dies. I was searching through my Dies and decided to give them a bit of love, as they have been neglected with all of the new goodies.

My inspiration is the project on Page 77 of the Annual Catalogue and is this pretty collage.

Pretty as a Positive Thoughts Collage. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

A colour combination from the Subtles Collection of Blushing Bride, Pool Party and Pear Pizzazz works well with Pale Papaya. I’m sure if Pale Papaya was one of the standard colours, it would be in with the Subtles.

The background piece is given texture using the Tasteful Textile 3D Embossing Folder.

With the frame cut using the dies, I stamped and cut out the various pieces. Each is then stuck onto the Basic White piece.

Beauty of Friendship provides the sentiment. This sits on top of a swoosh of Pool Party Striped Grosgrain Ribbon.

Pretty as a Positive Thoughts Collage. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Finally the butterflies, each with some Wink of Stella sparkle are added.

As you know, I’m not a fan of pink, but I’m really pleased with how this project has turned out.

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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Team Member Congratulations

November 24, 2020November 23, 2020 ~ Karen Young

Last month a Team Member celebrated a year as a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator. Of course, this was a perfect opportunity to make and send a card.

As they are a fan of pink, I chose a Magenta Madness and Blushing Bride combo.

The stamping is from the Positive Thoughts Stamp Set, with the butterfly cut using the co-ordinating Nature’s Thoughts Dies.

I used a touch of Wink of Stella on the focal butterfly.

For the sentiment, this is from the Many Mates Stamp Set. It’s cut using a Circle Punch and layered onto a Timeless Label Punch shape.

These are both then raised on Dimensionals above a loop of the matching Magenta Madness Ribbon.

Finally, a few Rhinestones are dotted around for some extra bling.

Sending Team Member Congratulations is one of the many things I love about being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator.

If you want to know more about joining my team as a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, then click for more details, or contact me for a chat.

Happy crafting

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

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BYO Stamps – Feathers and Splats

July 29, 2020July 29, 2020 ~ Karen Young

The second of my recent BYO Stamps class projects is this card with both feathers and splats. If you remember from yesterday’s card, the theme was all about using ‘splat’ images and drawing the eye.

Feathers and Splats. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

This any occasion project begins by masking a strip and stamping the splats from the Forever Fern Stamp Set.

My colour combination is So Saffron, Petal Pink and Pool Party from the Subtles Collection. Rather than using Whisper White, these are teamed with Very Vanilla and Sahara Sand to give a more muted look.

Next, a few feathers from the Positive Thoughts Stamp Set are stamped in second generation down the splats, taking care not to overlap the edge. The masking is then removed to reveal a delicate strip down the page.

A length of Linen Thread is wrapped around the card to tone with the Sahara Sand layer.

Feathers stamped in each colour are cut out using the co-ordinating Nature’s Thoughts dies. These are arranged onto the layered circles and the whole piece is raised on top with Dimensionals.

Feathers and Splats. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Finally, the bow is tied and a triangle of three Pearls are added for a finishing touch.

Head to my Class Timetable to join us for a future BYO Stamps session.

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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BYO Stamps – Very Versailles with an added twist

June 20, 2020June 19, 2020 ~ Karen Young

Here’s another project from my recent BYO Stamps Class. All the projects I designed we around various spotlight techniques. This cards uses Very Versailles with an added twist.

Very Versailles is a DistINKtive Stamp Set which have more detailed etching. I love the detail in the leaves.

Using Blushing Bride, Sahara Sand and Soft Suede, I created a vintage theme. By combining these with Whisper White, instead of Very Vanilla, I kept it more modern.

The stamping is a variety of first, second and third generation using images from the Very Versailles Stamp Set. I wanted to create a collage background. Once I was happy with the stamping, I then added the twist.

First I created a stencil using the butterfly shape from the Nature’s Thoughts Dies. Next, using a Sponge Dauber, I inked over the top of my background to add the butterflies. You could use any shape for this, but make sure you use a shape with a distinctive outline and not too much detail.

The sentiment is on a shape from the Label Me Fancy Punch. Another of these shapes is punched in a different colour, cut in middle and stuck to either end to create a layer.

A length of the very versatile Crinkle Seam Binding is wrapped around the project and a bow added. Using Dimensionals, the sentiment sits on top.

Finally, a scattering of Champagne Rhinestones add touch of golden bling.

I am so pleased this stamp set has carried over to the new Annual Catalogue. Take a look at the Catalogue to see all of the DistINKtive Stamp Sets.

If you want to join one of 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

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BYO Stamps – Monochrome using Positive Thoughts

June 17, 2020June 16, 2020 ~ Karen Young

As a big fan of monochrome projects, I just couldn’t help but design one for a BYO Stamps Class. So, here’s some monochrome using Positive Thoughts and the matching Nature’s Thoughts Dies. These are both in the new Annual Catalogue.

This is such a simple project to create by just using one stamp and one ink pad, plus the dies to cut out one of the stamped images.

Rococo Rose from the In Color 2019-2021 Collection along with Whisper White is my simple colour combination.

For the bottom section, part of the Whisper White piece is masked off and the butterfly is stamped in a random pattern. You could even use a piece of Designer Series Paper for this, instead of stamping if you wanted.

Next, a strip of co-ordinating cardstock is glued across the masking line.

A circle, again in Rococo Rose, is layered over the top of the strip. Then, the butterfly is added with Dimensionals.

Finally, three rhinestones, one in each size from the pack are added in a line on the strip.

I really like this project as you can use any stamp set or any colour.

Why not join us at a future BYO Class. You provide your stamp sets, inkpads, punches etc, I provide the designs, kits and online tuition for you to make three cards.

Find out more by heading to my Class Timetable.

Happy crafting

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

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Mystery Pack – Leaves, Circles and a Feather

April 16, 2020April 17, 2020 ~ Karen Young

One of my Social Isolation Class offerings during this time is a Mystery Pack. These are a selection of stampin’ up! cardstock, die cut shapes, punched shapes, embellishments, ribbons etc.

The pack recipients are then challenged to make a card by a specified deadline, using as many of the items as they like.

This pack contained leaves, circles and a feather, along with the other items shown below. Scissors and adhesives, a sentiment, plus Wink of Stella were also allowed to be used for this challenge.

And here is the project I made using some of the items. You can also watch a short video I put together showing how I made my project.

My colour combination is Soft Sea Foam, Flirty Flamingo and Mossy Meadow, with Whisper White.

I’ve taken the Painted Petals Die shape and cut out the centre of it to thread the leaves through. As these pieces are quite delicate, I chose to use Fine-Tip Glue to stick those to the project. For everything else, I used SNAIL.

A coat of Wink of Stella was added to the feather and a bow using the Baker’s Twine. This is then stuck onto some layered circles to create one piece.

The whole piece is then raised up using Dimensionals to add some depth. The slit I made to cut out the centre is hidden by the circles and feather.

A few of the other circles are dotted around to create some more background interest.

The Nature’s Thoughts Dies and the Painted Label Dies are currently unavailable, so you won’t see them listed below at the moment. However, there are still lots of other fabulous products, including the new pre-release suite to help you keep crafting.

If you want to receive one of my Mystery Packs, head to my Class Timetable for full details and booking information.

Happy crafting

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

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More Positive Thoughts

March 21, 2020March 20, 2020 ~ Karen Young

Today I’m sharing the card I sent to another friend who is going through a tough patch.

This was sent before the pandemic and the need to sent positive thoughts now seems even more appropriate.

I made and sent this at the same time as this project, so you’ll notice some similarities.

More Positive Thoughts. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

I’ve once again used the Positive Thoughts Stamp Set from the Mini Catalogue and the co-ordinating Nature’s Thoughts dies .

The recipient is a fan of pink, so I used Petal Pink as my main colour. Other colours from the Subtles collection completed my combination, along with Sahara Sand and Very Vanilla.

As this card uses subtle colours, I rounded the corners using the Detailed Trio Punch to create a softer look.

The leaves are stamped several times as a background, with the stamped die-cut flower and die-cut feather added in front.

You can’t see it very well in the pictures, but I added some sparkle to the butterflies and centre of the flower as a finishing touch.

I think this Stamp Set and Die duo are going to become a firm favourite.

I’ve recently noticed that for someone who doesn’t like pink, I’m using quite a lot of it!

If you are social distancing and can’t get to the shops to buy Birthday/Anniverary cards, or just want to let someone know that you are thinking of them, then why not take a look at my new ‘Handmade Cards to the Recipient’s Door‘ service and also help support a small business.

Happy crafting

Karen Young HIPPOFROG Designs

To order any of the supplies used, click on the product images below to go to my online store.

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Bugs, Beasts & Butterflies – Positive Thoughts in Rococo Rose and Rich Razzleberry

March 14, 2020March 13, 2020 ~ Karen Young

Earlier this week I held one of my monthly Papercrafting Classes. The theme was Bugs, Beasts and Butterflies and the attendees all made 6 cards.

Positive Thoughts in Rococo Rose and Rich Razzleberry. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

The first was a butterfly card using the Positive Thoughts Stamp Set and co-ordinating Nature’s Thoughts dies.

This combines Rococo Rose and Rich Razzleberry (a good tongue twister!) with Whisper White.

I really like this colour combination and think it would also work well switching the Whisper White for Very Vanilla.

The beautiful leaf image is stamped with a combination of first and second generation stamping with the butterfly cut out using the dies.

Then leaves from the Sprig Punch and Leaf Punch are cut out, along with two scallop circles for layering.

A strip of In Color Rococo Rose Scallop Ribbon is added before the leaves and scallops.

Next, the butterfly is added with a Dmensional to make it ‘fly’ off the card.

Finally, some Rhinestones are coloured using a Dark Rich Razzleberry Stampin’ Blend and added to the project for some sparkle.

I left this project sentiment free to be suitable for any occasion, but there is also space at the bottom right to add one if needed.

Don’t forget that the dies are available for this Stamp Set as part of the co-ordination release. If you want to get your hands on them, then make sure you act before the end of March. You can also earn FREE products during SAB too.

Why not join me at one of my next classes. Head to my Class Timetable for more information.

Happy crafting

Karen Young HIPPOFROG Designs

To order any of the supplies used, click on the product images below to go to my online store.

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Rococo Rose 1/2" (1.3 cm) Scalloped Linen Ribbon

Rich Razzleberry Dark Stampin' Blends Marker

Sending Positive Thoughts

March 7, 2020March 5, 2020 ~ Karen Young

A couple of friends are going through some tough times at the moment. To let them know I was thinking of them, I sent them a ‘hug in an envelope’.

Here is one of the cards I made using the Positive Thoughts Stamp Set.

Sending Positive Thoughts. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

The Positive Thoughts Stamp Set is from the Mini Catalogue and has some lovely sentiments. ‘Sending positive thoughts and feel-good wishes’ summed up just what I wanted to say.

My colour combination was Mint Macaron, Pear Pizzazz, So Saffron and Balmy Blue from the Subtles Collection. Plus Sahara Sand for the sentiment and Very Vanilla.

What is really great about this Stamp Set is the co-ordinating Nature’s Thoughts dies that are currently available. There is such lovely embossed detail on the So Saffron feather.