Beautiful Autumn meets Rooted in Nature

September 18, 2020September 17, 2020 ~ Karen Young

For this Birthday Card, a favourite Stamp Set combines with a new favourite Stamp Set. This project is Beautiful Autumn meets Rooted in Nature.

My colour combination is Sahara Sand, Pumpkin Pie, Mint Macaron and Very Vanilla. I think the Very Vanilla helps to keep this a warmer mix of colours. Also, using a Thick Very Vanilla basecard, the colours are not fighting with each other.

Using the Rooted in Nature Stamp Set, the tree section is stamped in Sahara Sand.

Next, I’ve used the Beautiful Autumn Stamp Set and Punch Bundle to create the tiny leaves and acorn. For each one, the stamping is tone-on-tone.

They are all scattered across the project to create a falling effect and each stuck using Multipurpose Glue.

A sentiment from the Itty Bitty Birthdays Stamp Set provide the Birthday message. One end is given a banner shape, using the new Banners Pick a Punch. On the other end, an acorn is added.

The sentiment piece is then attached using Mini Dimensionals, to raise it off the page.

Don’t forget to take a look at all the available products from Stampin’ Up!, including the Standard Cut & Emboss Machine. Check out the Special Offers too.

If you want to join one of my classes, take a look at 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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In Color Introduction Class – Mixing it up

July 14, 2020July 9, 2020 ~ Karen Young

Today I’m sharing my final project from my annual ‘In Color’ Introduction Class. Each colour has a project to introduce it, but my final project is always about mixing it up.

Every year, the five new colours in the Annual Catalogue add more colour combinations.

Using strips in all of the colours, the attendees can decide how they wish to arrange them. Sometimes the layout of the colours just works better in a particular order than others. The fun is trying out all the possible ways!

With pretty Whisper White ribbon from the Flowers for Every Season Ribbon Combo Pack and Linen Thread, there are so many possibilities.

My project is quite simple and a more generic card, suitable for anyone.

I have used a sentiment from the Rooted in Nature Stamp Set and Basic Gray Ink. I’ve then carefully trimmed close to the edges to give it a narrow border.

With this type of project, the sentiment you use and how you use the ribbons brings it to life.

Here are all six projects from the class. Which is your favourite?

If you’ve enjoyed my projects, why don’t you join me for a future class. I’ve planned by classes up to the end of 2020 and they are all online, with posted class kits. 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 – Covering the Gap

June 24, 2020June 23, 2020 ~ Karen Young

This is the final project from a recent BYO Stamps Class about gaps. Covering the gap was the purpose of this design.

With shades of blue and the Rooted in Nature Stamp Set, this project is great for those who aren’t fans of floral or butterflies.

First, a piece of cardstock was placed where the sentiment was going to go. This is the first part of covering the gap as it acts as a guide for stamping the leaves. We want the leaves to be poking out from beneath the gap the sentiment covers.

My colour combination is Pacific Point for the large leaf, Night of Navy for the background leaves and Seaside Spray for the leaves that are filling the gaps. Build up the leaves in layers, a few at a time, you can always add more.

After the stamping, the sentiment was stuck onto a strip of co-ordinating Seaside Spray cardstock. This was then glued to the Very Vanilla piece and the excess pieces trimmed away.

Two lengths of Braided Linen Trim are added at the top and bottom edges of the sentiment. This is then added to the Night of Navy layer and Seaside Spray base card.

This is a really quick and simple card, and the design can be used with different stamp sets, colours and sentiments.

Here are all three projects together (from left to right) creating the gap, filling the gap and covering the gap.

To join us at a future class, head to my Class Timetable for full details and to book your place.

Happy crafting

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Card & Cuppa Plus – Leaves from Rooted in Nature

April 20, 2020April 19, 2020 ~ Karen Young

Today I’m sharing the final project I haven’t yet shown you from my face-to-face classes. Everything after this point will be from virtual sessions.

This is from my Card and Cuppa Plus class and used the leaves from Rooted in Nature.

I decided that this project should have a more masculine feel to it, so opted for to use the leaves from Rooted in Nature and the co-ordinating Nature’s Root Dies.

My colour combination is Mint Macaron, Pacific Point and Crumb Cake, with Very Vanilla. I wasn’t sure about the combination to begin with as I thought the Pacific Point would overwhelm the project. However, by only using the colour for the largest leaf, it works really well.

A masked area was inked using a Sponge Brayer and Crumb Cake to create the ombre effect. For some extra detail, this was then stamped onto with the leaves and a variety of different generations of stamping.

One the mask was removed, a couple of pieces of Linen Thread were wrapped around the top and bottom to highlight the section.

The leaves in the centre are embossed and cut using the Nature’s Root Dies. The embossing was then enhanced by using a Sponge Dauber and Crumb Cake ink.

These were then attached to the project using Dimensionals to make them stand out.

Finally, a sentiment from the fabulous Label Me Bold Stamp Set was added.

I think this project would look great in other colour combinations, from subtle through to brights.

To see the classes I’m offering during the pandemic, take a look at my current virtual classes and be sure to book your place.

Happy crafting

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

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Last Week’s Card & Cuppa – Beautiful Butterfly Gala

February 24, 2020February 23, 2020 ~ Karen Young

For last week’s Card & Cuppa project, I returned to the Annual Catalogue and a stamp set we hadn’t used for a while. Here’s the project using the beautiful Butterfly Gala Stamp Set.

Beautiful Butterfly Gala. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

I chose a colour combination of Rich Razzleberry and Melon Mambo, a very popular combination with the attendees.

An ombre background was created using Rich Razzleberry and a Sponge Brayer. The brayer was also used to ink up the Crackle Paint Background Stamp on the Stamparatus.

Butterfly outlines were stamped using Smoky Slate and were coloured using the infill stamps in Melon Mambo.

These were then cut out with the Butterfly Duet Punch. Corners were rounded with the Detailed Trio Punch.

I find adding the butterfly bodies once they have been punched much easier. The antennae were then stamped in position before attaching everything together.

More punching was a Scallop Circle that was then scrunched to create the background for the punched circle sentiment from the Rooted in Nature Stamp Set.

A length of both Whisper White Seam Binding and Baker’s Twine were attached across the project before the sentiment and butterflies were added.

Finally, three Rhinestones were added for a touch of sparkle.

I’m one of those people who manages to get covered in Melon Mambo ink just by looking at it! Are there any colours that you do that with?

Why not join me at a future class? My Class Timetable has all the information you need.

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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Whisper White 1/4" (6.4 mm) Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon

Special Christmas Cards: This year’s poinsettia

December 25, 2019December 24, 2019 ~ Karen Young

Merry Christmas!

It has become tradition at my Special Christmas Cards Class for me to design a poinsettia project. This is the final project from the Class.

Here is this year’s poinsettia. Click for my 2018 design.

This year's poinsettia. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

It uses the leaves from the Rooted in Nature Stamp Set and some punched circles.

A lot of leaves were stamped and fussy cut. You could use the matching Dies to cut them out, but, as this was a class with lots of people, it was quicker and easier to cut by hand.

Using a Bone Folder, you can score down the centre of each petal to give a bit more definition and depth.

The petals are then built into several sandwiches. These are then stuck together slightly offset in their sizes to create a large layer and a small layer. For the top small layer, a disc of Crushed Curry forms part of the sandwich.

Using some Dimensionals, these are then layered together for even more depth.

Three green leaves are then added to the back of the poinsettia using Glue Dots.

A strip of the fabulous Gold Ribbon is looped in the background, before the poinsettia is attached to the card using Tear & Tape. The Tear & Tape gives it extra strength as the poinsettia is quite heavy.

Finally, a Gold Faceted Gem is added to the centre for a spot of bling.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my Special Christmas Cards. Pop back later in the week for the final Stamp-a-Stack Christmas project.

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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Mostly Men Class – Just For You Card with Rooted in Nature

October 12, 2019October 11, 2019 ~ Karen Young

The penultimate project from my Mostly Men Class is this gorgeous Just For You Card.

Just For You card. Designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

It’s a combination of Old Olive, Soft Suede, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie and Very Vanilla.

The tree ‘cookie’ is stamped off several times to create a softer tone. Then the tree is stamped over the top.

On a separate piece the leaves were stamped and fussy cut. We could have used the matching dies for this, but the die cutting machine was in use for other projects. Plus, the shapes are fairly easy to cut by hand.

‘Just for You’ is stamped tone on tone onto Old Olive and punched out.

With all the pieces prepared, the next task is for assembling.

A length of Braided Linen Trim cut in half is attached with glue dots, before adding two of the leaves.

Finally, the sentiment and remaining leaf are added with Mini Dimensionals.

I really like this Just For You card. Using a Thick Very Vanilla base card gives the project a clean, simple and fresh look.

Check back soon for the final project from the Class.

Why not join us at a future class? Head to my Class Timetable for more details.

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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Card & Cuppa for Children – Ice Lollies for a Summer Holiday

August 10, 2019August 9, 2019 ~ Karen Young

Once again I ran Card & Cuppa for Children this week and the theme was ‘We’re all going on a summer holiday’. Who can resist these fabulous ice lollies.

Ice Lollies. Card & Cuppa for Children project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

First, the beach background was created using the clouds from Above the Clouds Stamp Set. The sea and beach were from the High Tide Stamp Set.

Balmy Blue, Bermuda Bay and So Saffron are the colours used.

To create the lollies, a piece of Pineapple Punch and Mango Melody cardstock had their corners rounded using the Detailed Trio Punch.

The chocolate sprinkles are from the Artisan Textures Stamp Set in Early Espresso. A cheeky bite is taken out of them using the 1 1/8″ Scallop Circle Punch.

Next, we created the striped lolly by using the Classic Label Punch and strips of various colours. These were attached to a piece of cardstock with the overhang then cut off.

Crumb Cake strips were used for the lolly sticks, with the pointed end removed.

A sun with a sentiment from the Rooted in Nature Stamp Set was added.

Finally, the ice lollies were attached, the striped one with Dimensionals to raise it above the others.

They look good enough to eat. Yum!

Next week is our final Card & Cuppa for Children session for this year. Make sure you pre-book your place.

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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Last Week’s Card & Cuppa – Rooted In Nature with In Color Blues

July 22, 2019July 21, 2019 ~ Karen Young

At last week’s Card & Cuppa, I created a Birthday card using the fabulous In Color blues.

Rooted In Nature with In Color blues. Card & Cuppa project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

I think I’m a little bit in love with this colour combination. The In Color blues are the new Seaside Spray and last year’s Blueberry Bushel. When they are combined with Sahara Sand and Whisper White, it creates a lovely fresh look.

Rooted in Nature Stamp Set and the co-ordinating Nature’s Roots Dies are used to create this project.

First, the tree is stamped off to create a softer image. Then, the leaves are stamped and cut out using the dies.

The sentiment is from the Itty Bitty Birthdays Stamp Set and cut out using the Stitched Rectangles Dies to create a lovely border.

There are three types of Ribbon on this project, each one co-ordinating with the colour combination. Linen Ribbon in Seaside Spray is across the centre of the project, with short lengths of Blueberry Bushel Ribbon and Braided Linen Trim as accents.

Finally, all of the die-cut pieces were stuck together to make one piece and attached with Dimensionals.

I really like the white space on this project, along with the softness of the colours. It’s perfect for anyone celebrating a Birthday.

Why not join us at a future class. Head to my Class Timetable for more information and to book your place.

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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Seaside Spray 1/2" (1.3 cm) Scalloped Linen Ribbon

Blueberry Bushel 1/8" (3.2 mm) Grosgrain Ribbon

Last Week’s Card & Cuppa – Time to Celebrate with Rooted in Nature

May 20, 2019May 19, 2019 ~ Karen Young

Card & Cuppa returned last week and we made this project using the fabulous Rooted in Nature Stamp Set.

Time to Celebrate with Rooted in Nature. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

I think this Stamp Set will take the place of the recently retired Lovely as a Tree for me.

The background uses the trunk section stamped in Crumb Cake before adding the leaves. All of the leaves were stamped off to use second generation stamping and give a more muted look.

For the first time, we used the Stamparatus at class and it was a hit! I’d pre-cut the trees using the matching dies and the Stamparatus helped to stamp the tree perfectly in Old Olive onto the shapes.

Old Olive and the Itty Bitty Birthdays Stamp Set, along with the Classic Label Punch gave us our sentiment. By positioning it on the tree trunk, I think it made it look like a way marker sign that you find on walks in the countryside.