Last Week’s Card & Cuppa – Flowers of Beauty

March 31, 2025March 26, 2025 ~ Karen Young

At last week’s Card & Cuppa class we made this simple project that is great for any occasion.

You will recognise this layout as it is one of my ‘go to’ designs, plus it is quick and easy to create.

All of the stamping is in Gray Granite. The flowers are from the Flowers of Beauty Stamp Set with the sentiment from the Simply Said Stamp Set.

The sentiment and layer are cut out using the Circle Punches from the Online Exclusives product range.

Once the flowers were stamped randomly across the background, they were coloured using Watercolo(u)r Pencils and a Blender Pen.

I chose one of the In Colors, Shy Shamrock as my accent colour. This meant that the attendees could use any colour they wanted from the Watercolo(u)r Pencil packs for their flowers.

A length of Bordered Ribbon is stuck across the centre, with the sentiment sitting above it on Dimensionals.

Finally, some coordinating Resin Dots are added 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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Last Week’s Card & Cuppa – Introducing Summer Splash

July 22, 2024July 17, 2024 ~ Karen Young

At last week’s Card & Cuppa Class, the project introduced the final new In Color for 2024-2026, Summer Splash.

This fun bright colour worked really well with the new Labeled With Love Bundle. If you haven’t seen this bundle in the new Catalogue then make sure you check it out. You can choose to pair the Stamp Set with a Punch or Dies, depending on your preference. As I prefer a punch, I chose the Stamp Set and Punch Bundle.

Along with Summer Splash, Pretty Peacock, Pool Party and Basic White completed my colour combination.

First, the background presents were stamped. These were then given a flare of colour using Pool Party and a Blending Brush.

On a separate piece of cardstock, the sentiment and focal present were stamped. The sentiment was cut out using the coordinating Punch and the present was fussy cut.

Two lengths of Summer Splash Bordered Ribbon were then added to the background to mirror the parcel wrapping.

With the parcel stuck to the sentiment, this was then attached to the project using Dimensionals.

Finally, coordinating Resin Dots were then added to the project.

This is a quick and simple project and an easy design to create in a range of colours.

If you are a fan of Summer Splash, here is comparison of it to other current Stampin’ Up! colours. Which is your favourite new In Color?

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 & (Your) Cuppa – Intricate Leaves with a Colour Twist

November 22, 2021November 22, 2021 ~ Karen Young

For last week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa project, I revisited this previous design.

Last Week's Card & (Your) Cuppa - Intricate Leaves with a Colour Twist. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

I was asked for an autumn project, and also a request for blues, so I combined the two!

This version of the cards is landscape.

My colour combination is Bermuda Bay, Night of Navy and Coastal Cabana, with Very Vanilla.

The Stitched Greenery Die creates the leafy background. This is given a hint of Bermuda Bay using Blending Brushes.

Last Week's Card & (Your) Cuppa - Intricate Leaves with a Colour Twist. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Next, leaves from the Intricate Leaves Dies from the July-December Mini Catalogue, plus some leaves from the Stitched Leaves Dies are cut out and stuck to the project.

A length of Linen Thread is also looped into a figure of 8 and stuck onto the leaves.

My sentiment is from the Artistically Inked Stamp Set. Some smaller leaves are attached to the back of it. This then creates a layered effect as it is raised up on Dimensionals.

Last Week's Card & (Your) Cuppa - Intricate Leaves with a Colour Twist. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Finally, some coordinating Playing with Patterns Resin Dots complete 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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A Box of Birthday Balloons

November 21, 2020November 20, 2020 ~ Karen Young

For my Niece’s recent lockdown 18th, I made this box of birthday balloons.

I haven’t made a pop-up box for a while, so I thought it was the perfect occasion.

These lay flat for postage with the box flaps up, then, when the recipient opens it, the flaps fall down and the box takes shape.

My colour combination is from the dotty Playing With Patterns DSP I have used. It’s Calypso Coral, Coastal Cabana, Crushed Curry, Purple Posy and Whisper White.

Coastal Cabana is the main colour for the box. Using the Detailed Trio Punch, I rounded the corners of the box and the DSP.

The balloons, cut using the Balloon Bouquet Punch are embossed. Tasteful Textile and Wrapped in Texture Embossing Folders create the fun patterns.

Attaching the balloons to the strings I made from the Hippo & Friends Dies was made easier by sandwiching them between the embossed ballon and a plain balloon shape.

This also means that when it lays flat, the balloons don’t stick to each other.

I popped three strips across the inside of the box. This not only gave me something to attach the ballons too, but provided some extra rigidity.

As I attached the balloons to the strips, I was carefully checking they wouldn’t foul each other, or overhang the edge too far when folded.

Once I was happy with the positions, I sandwiched the bottom of the strings in with another piece of Coastal Cabana Cardstock.

There had to be an ’18’, so using Silver Foil Sheets, this and the sentiment were cut out. Playful Alphabet Dies for the ’18’ and Well Written Dies for the sentiment.

Finally, a length of matching Playing With Patterns Combo Ribbon is stuck around the box, along with some Playing With Patterns Resin Dots.

I also made an envelope too, but didn’t take a picture of that!

Happy crafting

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

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Blossoms in Bloom Bundle in Blues for Mum

November 18, 2020November 17, 2020 ~ Karen Young

Today I’m sharing another card for another November Birthday.

This time, it’s this fabulous Blossoms in Blooms Bundle in blues I made for my Mum.

I don’t use this fabulous bundle enough! This project uses the Many Layered Blossoms Dies from the Bundle, with the sentiment from the Stamp Set.

With a colour combination of Coastal Cabana, Night of Navy and Whisper White, I cut the inner group of flowers in the darker shade.

Next, I stuck a piece of Coastal Cabana onto a piece of Adhesive Sheet and cut the outline piece.

This makes it so much easier to attach to the inner piece.

If you’re going to use Wink of Stella in the centre of your flowers, I would recommend doing this before you stick the pieces together.

With the pieces stuck together, I then stuck the whole piece onto the Whisper White layer.

As you can see, it overlaps the edges slightly, but I like this look for this die.

I then stamped the sentiment and layered that onto a piece of each colour.

A small flower, again cut from the dies is then attached.

In the centre of the flower is a Playing with Patterns Resin Dot coloured with a Night of Navy Stampin’ Blend Marker.

Finally, some more of the dots, this time in Coastal Cabana are placed around the flower.

I love how this die creates a ‘wow’ factor as it is so large.

Why not grab one for yourself. Head to my store for full details.

If you’d like to use items such as this, book yourself onto one of my classes. My Class Timetable has all the information you need.

Happy crafting

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

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Last Week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa – Stitched Rectangle Dies

November 16, 2020November 15, 2020 ~ Karen Young

For this week’s project, we went a bit Mondrian-esque.

As the attendees liked the colours from the week before, I used the same ones.

For this project, the main pieces are from the Stitched Rectangle Dies.

To begin, lengths of the Daffodil Delight Ruched Ribbon and Flowers for Every Season Ribbon Combo are stuck across the project.

Next, each rectangle is arranged with pieces overlapping.

My sentiment is from the Beautiful Autumn Stamp Set and has a Small Bloom Punch Flower and Sprig Punch leaf attached.

The flower is coated with Wink of Stella for a touch of sparkle.

Finally, a Playing With Patterns Resin Dot is added to the centre of the flower.

With only a handful of Card & (Your) Cuppa Classes left for 2020, make sure you book your place. Head to my Class Timetable for full details.

Don’t forget to grab one of my Trio of Cute Christmas Cards Home Activity Pack. Limited numbers available.

Happy crafting

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

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Mostly Men – Dinosaur Fun

October 31, 2020October 22, 2020 ~ Karen Young

This cute critter was one of the projects from my recent Mostly Men Papercrafting Class.

I though it would be good to include a bit of dinosaur fun. It’s perfect for those who haven’t quite grown up!

A bright colour combinaton of Granny Apple Green and Mango Melody with Whisper White adds to the fun element.

Artistry Blooms DSP has been cut out with the Dino Dies to create the body and scales. Don’t forget that today is the last day to take advantage of the DSP 15% off sale – this paper pack is part of the sale.

Layering Ovals Dies and Layering Circles Dies provide the shapes for the background.

Stitched Dies provide the Whisper White circle for the dinosaur to sit on. This is attached with Dimensionals.

An appropriate sentiment from the Itty Bitty Birthdays Stamp Set has the end cut using the Banners Pick a Punch.

Finally, a Playing with Patterns Resin Dot creates a perfect eye.

Who wouldn’t love to receive this.

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

Happy crafting

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

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Card & (Your) Cuppa for Children – A Lot of Scrunching

August 1, 2020July 30, 2020 ~ Karen Young

This week was our first Card & (Your) Cuppa for Children session of the summer. These classes are slightly different this year as they are online. However, that didn’t stop us from having lots of fun!

The project I designed involved a lot of scrunching of cardstock. I provided all of the items the children needed (apart from scissors, glue and adult supervision).

Isn’t this project cute?

Creating the waves was fun. Taking alternate pieces of Bermuda Bay and Coastal Cabana cardstock, they were ripped to create the wave shape. Then, the fun bit, scrunching the cardstock to give extra texture and a water effect.

Starting at the top, each piece is layered, with some Tulip Builder Punch seaweed added along the way. My seaweed is Mint Macaron, Highland Heather and Soft Sea Foam.

The whale is a little bit fiddly to put together, but I think the two-tone finish looks great. Balmy Blue and Misty Moonlight are my colours here. I gave the children a whale in both colours so they could decide if they wanted a darker or lighter whale. Some chose to use both.

An eye from the Playful Palette Resin Dots just finishes it off nicely.

Finally, the whale is attached with a mix of regular and Mini Dimensionals.

If you want to book a place on a future Children’s Class, head to my timetable for full details, including booking deadline dates.

Happy crafting

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

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In Color Introduction Class – Misty Moonlight

July 11, 2020July 9, 2020 ~ Karen Young

I think you’ll agree this Misty Moonlight project is whaley great! Isn’t he cute? This project is one of six from my recent ‘In Color’ Introduction Class.

A colour combination of Misty Moonlight, Balmy Blue, Soft Sea Foam and Purple Posy work well together. I couldn’t not include Soft Sea Foam as part of this project!

The seaweed is from the Smooth Sailing Dies with the back one glued down completely first. Then the co-ordinating Baker’s Twine from the Flowers for Every Season Ribbon Combo Pack is added. The next piece of seaweed is glued at the bottom and in a few places at the top to make it look like it is still has some movement.

Using the fabulous new Whale Builder Punch, pieces are cut in Misty Moonlight and Balmy Blue. He is put together to create a two-tone effect, with another fin on top.

An eye from the Playing with Patterns Resin Dots just adds a touch of character before he is stuck on with Dimensionals. A Mini Dimensional for under the tail, and regular ones for the body.

Finally, three Enamel Dots in Misty Moonlight create some bubbles.

This punch is really cute and it comes as part of a 10% discounted Bundle with a Stamp Set in the new Annual Catalogue. Not only could you get 10% off, you could also earn a Bonus Days coupon if you shop during July.

Why not join us for a future class? I’ve got online classes planned until the end of the year, visit my Class Timetable for full details.

Happy crafting

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

This Month’s Hostess Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

Last Week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa – Playing with New Punches

June 29, 2020June 26, 2020 ~ Karen Young

For last week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa project, I reached for some of my new punches from the Annual Catalogue.

This project uses a combination of Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Crushed Curry and Whisper White. As it uses a few items several times, the attendees were able to combine their pieces in lots of different ways.

The pretty background is from the Ornate Floral Embossing folder, it gives a lovely textured design. For items with texture, it’s best to use Tear & Tape to attach them, to avoid using pressure and crushing the pattern.

Using cardstock shaped at the top with the new Fancy Tag Topper Punch, I put my Pool Party piece in front. A length of the new Sheer Pool Party Ribbon is looped through both shapes. Pictures of this ribbon don’t do it justice, it’s a ribbon you need to see and feel to really appreciate.

On top of my tags, a shape from the Label Me Lovely Punch is added. I’ve put the straight edges of the shape against the straight edges of my tag.

The Lovely Labels Pick a Punch provides the two strips across the tags. One cut in half and popped behind the first tag, overhanging the edges as long as needed, with the second stuck on top.

Two Crushed Curry and one Whisper White flower are cut from the Small Bloom Punch. This is another fab new punch that carried over from this year’s SAB offering.

For the centre of the white flower, one of the Playing with Patterns Resin Dots is added.