Mystery Pack – Three Little Birds

May 7, 2020May 6, 2020 ~ Karen Young

Last week’s Mystery Pack contained three little birds, along with lots of other items with which to make a card.

As well as these items, the recipients could use Wink of Stella and a sentiment, plus scissors and adhesives.

I chose to use three colours from the In Color Collection 2019-2021 with Soft Suede and Very Vanilla.

Here is the project I made from some of the items. I’ve put together a video of how I made this project.

I’ve used the Itty Bitty Birds Stamp Set and Rococo Rose ink to co-ordinate with the other In Colors in the project. My thinking behind the sentiment was ‘they say it’s your Birthday’ is similar to ‘a little bird told me’!

The centre bird is covered with Wink of Stella, as well as raised up on Dimensionals to make it the focal point.

Some of these items are on the retiring list. Make sure you get your hands on your favourites before they disappear for good.

Why not order a Mystery Pack for yourself? Head to my Social Isolation Classes page for full details of the classes and packs I’m offering at this time.

Happy crafting

To order any of the supplies shown below, head 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

Breathtaking Bouquet with Stampin’ Blends

March 5, 2020March 4, 2020 ~ Karen Young

Have you skipped over the Breathtaking Bouquet Background Stamp in the new Mini Catalogue?

Breathtaking Bouquet. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

I know I did to begin with, but each time I flipped through, something about it drew me in.

Well, it arrived last week and I’m pleased it ‘accidentally’ fell into my shopping basket.

As you know, I’m a big fan of the monochrome-esque look, so here I’ve stamped it in Smoky Slate onto Whisper White cardstock. I’ve then really roughly coloured using the Petal Pink Stampin’ Blends Combo. I used the darker pen first to highlight certain areas, then I went over everything with the lighter pen to blend it together.

What is great about this stamp is that it’s very forgiving. You don’t need to be brilliant at colouring or absolutely precise, but, if you are, you’ll be able to take your time and create your own masterpiece.

Because the image truly is breathtaking, I didn’t want to cover it too much with a sentiment or extra embelishments. So, I’ve used a sentiment from the Very Versailles Stamp Set with a Circle Punch and Scallop Punch layer. These sit on a length of the Whisper White Seam Binding Ribbon, also from the Mini Catalogue.

I chose to stick with my monochrome-esque theme with a Whisper White basecard and co-ordinating Petal Pink layer.

At just £15, this stamp set it so versatile, and I’ve enjoyed colouring it using different mediums. It might take a while to move off my desk, so watch this space for future posts!

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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Petal Pink Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack

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

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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Card & Cuppa for Children – Bonanza Buddies

February 22, 2020February 21, 2020 ~ Karen Young

During this half-term holiday, I held one of my Card & Cuppa for Children classes and here is the project the young crafters made.

Bonanza Buddies. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

I decided to use the fun Bonanza Buddies Stamp Set and Dies Bundle.

There are several steps to this project as I teach the class in a round robin format. Then, when everyone has completed each step, we put everything together as a group at the same time.

Mango Melody and Coastal Cabana are my main colours, with Grapefruit Grove and Daffodil Delight as accents.

For the cute koala, it’s Smoky Slate and Basic Gray.

Timeless Tulips Stamp Set provides the sentiment that is stamped in Gray Granite.

Bonanza Buddies has some fun characters and as we’d already created a lion project at a previous Card & Cuppa for Children class, I chose the koala.

Shapes were punched using the Scallop Circle, Detailed Trio and Classic Label punches.

The banners were attached using Glue Dots – a lot easier than trying to use SNAIL on them.

Then we added the scallop circle and the presents, before adding the koala and his fun party hat.

Finally, the sentiment sits on the join of two of the presents to make it look like a large gift.

I’ve got more Card & Cuppa for Children classes planned for Easter, Whitsun and the Summer Holidays.

Check out my Class Timetable for full details and to book a 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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Timeless Tulips Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

Special Christmas Cards: Snowman Season Bundle

December 19, 2019December 18, 2019 ~ Karen Young

As well as my Christmas Stamp-a-Stack, I also run a Special Christmas Cards Class. The attendees make three Christmas Cards and envelopes that are for those special people in their life. These are the cards you give by hand.

One of these is a card suitable for children (or big kids!) and it’s this cute hanging card.

Snowman Season Bundle. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

I knew it had to be snowmen, so the Snowman Season Bundle was the perfect choice.

As I’d pre-made the hanging sections by using pieces of Coastal Cabana Cardstock joined together using the Circle Tab Punch, the attendees could have fun creating their snowmen for each section.

The punched snowmen were stamped in Smoky Slate, with Soft Suede arms. All the other stamping was in Blueberry Bushel. Stampin’ Write Markers in a variety of colours were used to colour the hats and carrot noses.

A ‘Let it Snow’ snowball used the 1 3/8″ Scallop Circle with the a Circle Punch layer.

An extra stamped piece is added to the front for when the hanging is closed. It’s then finished off with a length of ribbon to allow it to hang.

I realise that I haven’t taken a picture of what it looks like closed. I’ll try to do that and add it here.

An envelope made from the matching Let it Snow DSP was the finishing touch.

I really like this project as it’s something different. It can be hung from a door handle, message board or window. You could even add extra sections to make it longer.

Don’t forget to take a look at the Year-End Closeout to see if the items from this fabulous bundle are staying with us.

Check back for more Special Christmas Card projects.

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 5/8" (1.6 cm) Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon

Let It Snow Specialty Designer Series Paper

A Dino Days Birthday Card

November 7, 2019November 7, 2019 ~ Karen Young

Yesterday, one of my ‘honorary’ nephews turned 5. I just knew I had to make him a Dino Days Birthday Card.

Dino Days Birthday Card. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

This Bundle is perfect for children (of all ages!) and I love using the Brights colour family with it.

For this project, it’s a combination of Poppy Parade, Mango Melody and Granny Apple Green. One day, I’ll stop calling it Granny Apple Smith! I teamed it with Whisper White for a bright look.

The Pterodactyls (I think that’s what they are!) are second generation stamping. Another is then stamped directly onto a separate piece of card. Using the co-ordinating dies that go with the Dino Days Stamp Set, I cut out both dinosaurs and the scales.

I love how the shapes for the scales have a larger area to fix them in place behind the dinosaurs.

Footprints are stamped across the project and a Blender Pen then fills them in with some colour.

Next it was the turn of the sentiment from the Wiggle Worm Stamp Set. This is cut out with the Scallop Circle Punch and layered onto a Poppy Parade Circle.

I also used the Detailed Trio Punch to round the corners. This then mirrors the curves of the circles.

Finally, I added some fabulous Googly Eyes from the Autumn/Winter Catalogue to give the dinosaur a bit more of a fun look, before adding the dinosaurs with some Dimensionals.

Check out how cute these eyes are.

I can confirm that the now five year old loved his Dino Days Birthday card.

If you fancy making cards like this one, then make sure you take a look at my 2020 Class Timetable that will be going live in the next few weeks. My Stamp-a-Stack Classes always include a card suitable for children.

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 – Beautiful Butterflies

October 21, 2019October 20, 2019 ~ Karen Young

At last week’s Card & Cuppa Class, the attendees made these beautiful butterflies.

Beautiful Butterflies. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

The project uses the fabulous Butterfly Gala Stamp Set and co-ordinating Butterfly Duet Punch.

I chose a background of Soft Sea Foam as it is a lovely pale colour that works well with lots of other colours.

Background leaves and the sentiment are from the Very Versailles Stamp Set.

Corners are rounded with the Detailed Trio Punch and a Circle Punch is used to create the sentiment layer.

Gray Granite has been used to stamp these beautiful butterflies. They are then coloured using the Watercolor Pencils packs. Once coloured, they have been gently covered in Wink of Stella.

A strip of cardstock has been created behind the sentiment from two pieces punched using the Classic Label Punch. On top of this, a length of Baker’s Twine is added.

Finally a bow completes the project.

I loved how every single attendee made a project that was totally unique. Colours used, with or without Baker’s Twine, butterfly positioning etc were all different.

Why not join us for a future session. Book your place by 18:00 the day before.

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 – Nine Lives

September 23, 2019September 22, 2019 ~ Karen Young

As the previous week’s Card & Cuppa project was dog related, I decided to even things up. Last week’s card was a cat project made using the Nine Lives Stamp Set.

Nine Lives. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

For this cute ginger feline, I’ve used a Soft Suede outline and Pumpkin Pie stripes. It’s then cut out using the co-ordinating Cat Punch.

The sentiment is the same as the previous week and is from the Happy Tails Stamp Set.

For the food bowl, mouse and fish, I’ve used Smoky Slate. They are then coloured using the Watercolor Pencils in Pumpkin Pie and Calypso Coral (mouse ears). Meow is then stamped several times.

A Scallop Circle and Circle are punched for the layers.

Everything is then assembled onto a Thick Whisper White basecard.

If you’d like to join us at a future Card & Cuppa Class, head to my Class Timetable for full 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.

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

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.