Finishing Up Friday – Picture This with Nuts About Squirrels

This week’s Finishing Up Friday uses a pre-cut piece of Basic White cardstock from my ‘use me’ pile.

There is a definite feel of autumn in the air, so with my pre-cut piece from the Picture This Dies, I chose to team it with the cute Nuts About Squirrels Stamp Set.

The images were stamped onto cut outs from the Picture This Dies.

As the squirrels I see out of my craft room window are grey, I chose Basic Gray for my outline stamping. The squirrels were then infilled using Smoky Slate.

Crumb Cake provides the colour for the acorn.

For the leaves, the veins are stamped first generation, with the outer in 2nd generation.

Here I used Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive and Cajun Craze to continue the autumnal feel.

The sentiment has each word stamped separately to allow it to fit into the circle.

Finally, each piece was stuck into it’s relevant hole, like a jigsaw puzzle.

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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NUTS ABOUT SQUIRRELS PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SETPICTURE THIS DIESBASIC GRAY A4 CARDSTOCKBASIC GRAY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADSMOKY SLATE A4 CARDSTOCKSMOKY SLATE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADCRUMB CAKE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADCAJUN CRAZE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADOLD OLIVE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADPUMPKIN PIE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADBASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCKMULTIPURPOSE LIQUID GLUE

Finishing Up Friday – Aspen Tree Dies

This week’s Finishing Up Friday uses pre-cut pieces from this Card & (Your) Cuppa project.

The tree cut out and embossed leaves are from the Aspen Tree Dies from the July-December Mini Catalogue. Other leaves are cut from the Forever Flourishing Dies and Poppy Moments Dies.

Splats from the Quiet Meadow Stamp Set are stamped tone-on-tone onto the rear Crumb Cake piece to create a background.

I then used a Sponge Dauber and added some colour to the trees and also to the leaves.

When sticking the tree piece to the background piece, I only used glue around the edges. This then shows more depth through the trees.

Three of the leaves are tied together with a piece of coordinating Baker’s Twine from the Essentials pack, with the other two leaves stuck to the side.

A sentiment from the Nuts About Squirrel Stamp Set is again stamped tone-on-tone and this is attached to the leaves.

Finally, the whole leaves and sentiment pieces is raised up on Dimensionals.

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

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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ASPEN TREE DIESNUTS ABOUT SQUIRRELS PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SETQUIET MEADOW CLING STAMP SETFOREVER FLOURISHING DIESPOPPY MOMENTS DIESCRUMB CAKE A4 CARDSTOCKCRUMB CAKE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADGARDEN GREEN A4 CARDSTOCKMOSSY MEADOW A4 CARDSTOCKOLD OLIVE A4 CARDSTOCKBASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCKBASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCKSPONGE DAUBERSBAKER'S TWINE ESSENTIALS PACKMULTIPURPOSE LIQUID GLUESTAMPIN' DIMENSIONALS

Last Week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa – Best Label Punch Rainbow

For last week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa class, I designed a rainbow from just one shape.

Using the Brights collection, I chose Melon Mambo, Poppy Parade, Mango Melody, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Pacific Point and Gorgeous Grape. If you use one colour collection, you can use the mixed cardstock packs.

A Thick Basic White basecard and a Basic Gray layer allow the colours to pop.

Each piece, cut using the Best Label Punch, was stuck to the project in a diagonal line for each colour. Multipurpose Liquid Glue was my adhesive of choice. It gives me a little bit of wriggle room to slide things around.

In every row, one of the pieces was left unstuck. More on that later.

I found drawing a line for the centre row gave me a good starting point to ensure the rows were spread evenly across the project. Also, starting by sticking the centre row first and working towards the top and bottom was easier for me.

Another tip is to not glue each piece. Pop a line of glue onto the Basic White layer for the row you are working on, sitck the pieces down and then move onto the next row.

When all of the pieces were stuck, the overhang was cut away to allow it to be mounted onto the layer.

In each row, where one piece had not been stuck down, there was a gap. These were filled by attaching each missing piece in place using Mini Dimensionals. This gives the rainbow some extra depth.

Using a birthday sentiment from the Nuts About Squirrels Stamp Set, this is stuck straight onto the card.

Finally, some Festive Pearls, in silver are dotted across the project for a touch of bling.

This card is easy to replicate and great for all ages. I might have to make one in shades of one colour, such as blue or green.

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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BEST LABEL PUNCHNUTS ABOUT SQUIRRELS PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SETBRIGHTS A4 CARDSTOCKMELON MAMBO CARDSTOCK A4POPPY PARADE A4 CARDSTOCKMANGO MELODY A4 CARDSTOCKDAFFODIL DELIGHT A4 CARDSTOCKGRANNY APPLE GREEN A4 CARDSTOCKPACIFIC POINT A4 CARDSTOCKGORGEOUS GRAPE A4 CARDSTOCKBASIC GRAY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADBASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCKBASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCKFESTIVE PEARLSMINI STAMPIN' DIMENSIONALSMULTIPURPOSE LIQUID GLUE

An Autumnal Squirrel

Autumn has well and truly arrived, so it was time for this cute autumnal squirrel to come out to play.

Autumnal Squirrel. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

We have lots of grey squirrels in our garden and don’t get any reds in our area, so I thought I would create my own!

I stuck to the Regals colour collection for this project, using Cajun Craze, Old Olive and Crushed Curry as my main colours. Soft Suede has snuck in there too for the acorn.

Nuts about Squirrels from the July-December Mini Catalogue provides all the stamps for this card.

To begin, a background of falling leaves is created.

Autumnal Squirrel. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Next, the circles are cut out using the Layering Circles Dies and the cute squirrels sits in the middle.

A length of Linen Thread wraps around the project for the squirrel layers to sit on.

The squirrel sits over this using Dimensionals.

Autumnal Squirrel. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Finally, a sentiment stamped onto a separate piece of cardstock is stuck to the bottom corner.

This is a fun project to create and great to send to all ages.

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

NUTS ABOUT SQUIRRELS PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SETLAYERING CIRCLES DIESCAJUN CRAZE A4 CARDSTOCKCAJUN CRAZE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADOLD OLIVE A4 CARDSTOCKOLD OLIVE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADCRUSHED CURRY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADSOFT SUEDE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADBASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCKLINEN THREADSTAMPIN' SEALSTAMPIN' DIMENSIONALS

SAB Birthday Circles

The fabulous Textures & Frames Stamp Set makes another appearance with this simple Birthday card.

SAB Birthday Circles. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

It uses just two stamps from the Stamp Set to create the background in Misty Moonlight and Mossy Meadow. Combined with Very Vanilla, this colour combination is great for those more masculine projects.

The central piece is cut using the Layering Circles Dies, with a sentiment from the Nuts About Squirrels Stamp Set. As I wanted the sentiment on two rows, I used a Stampin’ Write Marker to ink up each part separately.

Find out more about inking up stamps with Stampin’ Write Markers at my Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques Series.

SAB Birthday Circles. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

As I was using circles, I used the Detailed Trio Punch to round the corners to match.

A length of the Baker’s Twine Essentials Pack in coordinating Very Vanilla is wrapped around the project.

SAB Birthday Circles. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Finally, the sentiment piece is raised up using Dimensionals.

I really love this stamp set and am going to miss it when Sale-A-Bration is over. Make sure you don’t miss out on getting your hands on one.

Why not earn this stamp set for FREE and make your own versions in lots of different colours. Remember, items are only available until the end of September, 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

TEXTURES & FRAMES PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SETNUTS ABOUT SQUIRRELS PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SETLAYERING CIRCLES DIESMISTY MOONLIGHT A4 CARDSTOCKMISTY MOONLIGHT CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADMOSSY MEADOW CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADVERY VANILLA A4 CARDSTOCKVERY VANILLA A4 THICK CARDSTOCK2020–2022 IN COLOR STAMPIN' WRITE MARKERSDETAILED TRIO PUNCHBAKER'S TWINE ESSENTIALS PACKSTAMPIN' SEALSTAMPIN' SEAL+STAMPIN' DIMENSIONALS

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Ribbons & Embellishments in Every Colour

For this week’s Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques video, I’m showing a technique on how to have ribbons and embellishments in (almost) every Stampin’ Up! colour.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Ribbons & Embellishments in Every Colour. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG DesignsClick below to watch my video.

My project uses a colour combination of Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry and Basic White.

The Flowers of Friendship Stamp Set and Flowers & Leaves Punch Bundle provide the stamping and floral shapes.

Using the multiple flower stamp, this creates the background images. These are coloured using a Blender Pen.

Each punched flower, stamped tone-on-tone, has a touch of Wink of Stella added.

Tasteful Labels Dies provide the shape for everything to sit on.

A swoosh of ribbon, coloured using the technique in today’s video sits behind.

Finally, a few Rhinestones are added. Again, these are coloured to coordinate with the project.

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

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

FLOWERS OF FRIENDSHIP BUNDLE (ENGLISH)TASTEFUL LABELS DIESMELON MAMBO CARDSTOCK A4MELON MAMBO CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADRICH RAZZLEBERRY CARDSTOCK A4RICH RAZZLEBERRY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADBASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCKMELON MAMBO STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACKWHISPER WHITE 1/4" (6.4 MM) CRINKLED SEAM BINDING RIBBONBLENDER PENSRHINESTONE BASIC JEWELSWINK OF STELLA CLEAR GLITTER BRUSHSTAMPIN' SEALGLUE DOTSSTAMPIN' DIMENSIONALS

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Two-Step Stamping

For this week’s Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques video, I’m briefly explaining about Two-Step Stamping.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Two-Step Stamping. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG DesignsClick below to watch my video.

My project uses a colour combination of Basic Gray and Smoky Slate for the squirrels. Plus Old Olive, Early Espresso and Soft Suede for the leaves, branches and acorn.

Nuts About Squirrels from the new July-December Mini Catalogue provides all of the stamps used here. Two-Step stamping is used for a lot of the images on this project.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Two-Step Stamping. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

I chose to use grey for my squirrels as that is what visits my garden quite a lot. We aren’t lucky enough to have red ones in our area.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Two-Step Stamping. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

The sentiment sits on a swoosh of Faux Suede Trim.

Finally, a few of the Matte Decorative Dots are added.

While I was recording my video, I could see a squirrel out of my window. Perhaps it knew!

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

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

NUTS ABOUT SQUIRRELS PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SETOLD OLIVE A4 CARDSTOCKOLD OLIVE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADEARLY ESPRESSO A4 CARDSTOCKEARLY ESPRESSO CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADBASIC GRAY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADSMOKY SLATE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADSOFT SUEDE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADBASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCKEARLY ESPRESSO 1/4" (6.4 MM) FAUX SUEDE TRIMDECORATIVE MATTE DOTSSTAMPIN' SEALTEAR & TAPE ADHESIVE