Top Tips

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Making a Ribbon Swoosh

~ Karen Young

For this week’s Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques video, I’m sharing how to make a ribbon swoosh for your projects.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Making a Ribbon Swoosh. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG DesignsClick on the link below to watch my video on this subject

My colour combination is Flirty Flamingo and Very Vanilla, with two In Colors, Evening Evergreen and Soft Succulent.

I’ve used the Forever Fern Stamp Set and coordinating Forever Flourishing Dies from the Annual Catalogue.

The background splats are stamped and the leaves are stamped and cut out using the Stamp Set and Dies.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Making a Ribbon Swoosh. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

A length of the Evening Evergreen Open Weave Ribbon creates the swoosh.

Using the sentiment from the Stamp Set, this is cut out using the Double Oval Punch and attached with Dimensionals.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Making a Ribbon Swoosh. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Finally, some In Color Jewels are dotted across the project.

Join me at one of my online classes. Head to my Class Timetable for full details.

Happy crafting

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

FOREVER FERN CLING STAMP SET (EN)FOREVER FLOURISHING DIESDOUBLE OVAL PUNCHFLIRTY FLAMINGO A4 CARDSTOCKFLIRTY FLAMINGO CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADEVENING EVERGREEN A4 CARDSTOCKEVENING EVERGREEN CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADSOFT SUCCULENT CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADVERY VANILLA A4 CARDSTOCKEVENING EVERGREEN 3/8" (1 CM) OPEN WEAVE RIBBON2021–2023 IN COLOR JEWELSMULTIPURPOSE LIQUID GLUESTAMPIN' DIMENSIONALS

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Starburst Technique

~ Karen Young

For this week’s Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques video, I’m sharing how to create projects using the starburst technique.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Starburst Technique. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Click on the link below to watch my video on this subject

My colour combination is Fresh Freesia, Highland Heather and Gorgeous Grape.

Using strips of cardstock and turning them into triangles, the exploded version of this technique takes shape.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Starburst Technique. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

A swoosh of the coordinating Sheer Ribbon is then added.

The sentiment is from the Lovely You Stamp Set and cut out using the Tailored Tag Punch.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Starburst Technique. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Finally, the sentiment is raised up over the ribbon using Dimensionals.

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

LOVELY YOU CLING STAMP SET (EN)TAILORED TAG PUNCHGORGEOUS GRAPE A4 CARDSTOCKGORGEOUS GRAPE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADFRESH FREESIA A4 CARDSTOCKHIGHLAND HEATHER A4 CARDSTOCKGORGEOUS GRAPE 3/8"(1 CM) SHEER RIBBONMULTIPURPOSE LIQUID GLUETEAR & TAPE ADHESIVESTAMPIN' DIMENSIONALS

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Less is More

~ Karen Young

For this week’s Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques video, I’m showing how less is more.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Less is more. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Click on the link below to watch my video on this subject.

My colour combination is Gorgeous Grape and Very Vanilla.

I’ve used the Quiet Meadow Stamp Set from the Annual Catalogue and stamped it multiple times in Basic Gray.

These are then coloured in using Watercolor Pencils and finished with a Blender Pen.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Less is more. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

There isn’t a die-cut or punched shape, ribbon or embellishment on this card, just stamping and a bit of colouring.

Finally, a sentiment is stamped, cut out by hand and added.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Less is more. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

I hope you’ve enjoyed this Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques Video. Pop back next week for the in the series.

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

QUIET MEADOW CLING STAMP SETBASIC GRAY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADGORGEOUS GRAPE A4 CARDSTOCKGORGEOUS GRAPE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADVERY VANILLA A4 CARDSTOCKVERY VANILLA A4 THICK CARDSTOCKWATERCOLOR PENCILS ASSORTMENT 2BLENDER PENSSTAMPIN' SEAL

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Alternatives to Basic White and Very Vanilla

~ Karen Young

For this week’s Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques video, I’m sharing a tip on using alternatives to Basic White and Very Vanilla.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Alternatives to Basic White and Very Vanilla. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Click on the link below to watch my video on this subject

My colour combination is Crumb Cake, Soft Suede and Early Espresso for this project.

I’ve used the Flowers of Friendship Stamp Set and Flowers & Leaves Punch Bundle from the Annual Catalogue.

The background flowers are given a touch more colour using a Blender Pen. Their centres are given a touch of sparkle using Wink of Stella.

Corners are then rounded using the Detailed Trio Punch.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Alternatives to Basic White and Very Vanilla. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

A length of the Gold Shimmer Ribbon goes across the project. It works really well with the colour combination.

Using the sentiment from the Flowers of Friendship, this is cut out using the Tasteful Labels Dies and attached with Dimensionals.

Separate flowers and leaves are then added to this.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Alternatives to Basic White and Very Vanilla. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Finally, some Brushed Metallic Dots, in coordinating Gold are dotted around 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.

Online Shopping Club Code      Join my team      Current Products      Offers & Promotions      Book a Class

FLOWERS OF FRIENDSHIP BUNDLE (ENGLISH)TASTEFUL LABELS DIESDETAILED TRIO PUNCHCRUMB CAKE A4 CARDSTOCKSOFT SUEDE CARDSTOCK A4SOFT SUEDE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADEARLY ESPRESSO A4 CARDSTOCKEARLY ESPRESSO CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADBLENDER PENSGOLD 3/8&QUOT: (1 CM) SHIMMER RIBBONWINK OF STELLA CLEAR GLITTER BRUSHBRUSHED METALLIC ADHESIVE BACKED DOTSSTAMPIN' SEALGLUE DOTSSTAMPIN' DIMENSIONALS

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Using Sponge Daubers

~ Karen Young

For this week’s Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques video, I’m sharing tips on using Sponge Daubers.
Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Using Sponge Daubers. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Click on the picture below to watch my video demonstrating how to use these very useful little tools.

If you’re wondering why the toadstools have made an appearance in this project, it’s because it was National Mushroom Appreciation Day earlier this week!

They, and the leaf are from the Iconic Dies in the Annual Catalogue.

My colour combination is Pear Pizzazz, Real Read and Crumb Cake, with Basic White.

The tops of the toadstools are coloured with a Sponge Dauber, and the leaf is given extra depth too.

Using the Gorgeous Leaves Stamp Set to create the background splats, the edges are then softened with some more green, again using a Sponge Dauber.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Using Sponge Daubers. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

A piece of Crumb Cake is cut using the Layering Circles Dies and then embossed with the Bark Embossing Folder to give some extra texture.

These all sit over several lengths of coordinating Baker’s Twine from the Essentials Pack.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Using Sponge Daubers. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

This project would be great for a fun guy (sorry, couldn’t resist!)

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

ICONIC DIESGORGEOUS LEAVES CLING STAMP SETLAYERING CIRCLES DIESBARK 3D EMBOSSING FOLDERPEAR PIZZAZZ A4 CARDSTOCKPEAR PIZZAZZ CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADCRUMB CAKE A4 CARDSTOCKREAL RED CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADBASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCKBASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCKSPONGE DAUBERSBAKER'S TWINE ESSENTIALS PACKSTAMPIN' SEAL+GLUE DOTSSTAMPIN' DIMENSIONALS

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Using your leftovers/scraps/‘it didn’t quite work’ pieces

~ Karen Young

For this week’s Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques video, the topic is all about using your leftovers or those pieces that you started and didn’t quite finish.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Using your leftovers/scraps/‘it didn’t quite work’ pieces. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Click on the picture below to watch my very short video about this topic.

Today’s project uses the Brilliant Wings Dies to cut out an ombre piece of cardstock. This is a leftover piece from a previous project I made in another Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques video.

The Stitched Greenery Die makes  a great background for the butterflies to sit on.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Using your leftovers/scraps/‘it didn’t quite work’ pieces. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Just a sentiment from the Art Gallery Stamp Set is all that is needed to finish the project.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Using your leftovers/scraps/‘it didn’t quite work’ pieces. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

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

ART GALLERY PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SETBRILLIANT WINGS DIESSTITCHED GREENERY DIEGORGEOUS GRAPE A4 CARDSTOCKGORGEOUS GRAPE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADDAFFODIL DELIGHT CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADMANGO MELODY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADMELON MAMBO CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADPOPPY PARADE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADBASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCKBASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCKBLENDING BRUSHESMULTIPURPOSE LIQUID GLUESTAMPIN' DIMENSIONALS

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Random Stamping

~ Karen Young

For this week’s Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques video, the topic is random stamping.

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

Click on the picture below to watch my video all about this technique.

Today’s project uses the Forever Fern Stamp Set Evening Evergreen, Soft Succulent and Pear Pizzazz, with Very Vanilla.

Once the background is created, it’s just a matter of adding the relevant sentiment on top.

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

I chose to round the corners of my project using the Detailed Trio Punch.

This mirrors the layers for my sentiment that are cut using the Layering Circles Dies.

The sentiment then sits on top of a length of coordinating In Color Ribbon.

A few In Colour Jewels are added as a finishing touch.

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

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

FOREVER FERN CLING STAMP SET (EN)LAYERING CIRCLES DIESDETAILED TRIO PUNCHSOFT SUCCULENT A4 CARDSTOCKSOFT SUCCULENT CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADEVENING EVERGREEN A4 CARDSTOCKEVENING EVERGREEN CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADPEAR PIZZAZZ CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADVERY VANILLA A4 CARDSTOCKEVENING EVERGREEN 3/8" (1 CM) OPEN WEAVE RIBBON2021–2023 IN COLOR JEWELSSTAMPIN' SEALSTAMPIN' SEAL+STAMPIN' DIMENSIONALS

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Using Blending Brushes

~ Karen Young

For this week’s Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques video, I’m sharing how to work with Blending Brushes.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Using Blending Brushes. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Click on the picture below to watch my video all using them.

Today’s project uses the Many Layered Blossoms Dies and the coordinating Blossoms in Bloom Stamp Set.

The five colours are all from the Brights Collection to make the rainbow effect. They are Daffodil Delight, Mango Melody, Poppy Parade, Melon Mambo and Gorgeous Grape.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Using Blending Brushes. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Once the background had been made using the Blending Brushes, the die cut shape was attached using Adhesive Sheets.

A length of the Essentials Baker’s Twine was then coloured using a Stampin’ Blend marker and this made a bow.

Finally, the sentiment from the Stamp Set was cut out using the Tasteful Labels Dies and raised up on Mini Dimensionals.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Using Blending Brushes. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

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

BLOSSOMS IN BLOOM BUNDLE (ENGLISH)TASTEFUL LABELS DIESDAFFODIL DELIGHT CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADGORGEOUS GRAPE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADMANGO MELODY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADMELON MAMBO CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADPOPPY PARADE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADBASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCKBASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCKBLENDING BRUSHESMELON MAMBO STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACKBAKER'S TWINE ESSENTIALS PACKADHESIVE SHEETSSTAMPIN' SEAL+MINI STAMPIN' DIMENSIONALS

Silvery Simply Elegant Thanks

~ Karen Young

The pretty DSP does all the hard work for me on this project.

Silvery Simply Elegant Thanks. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

This is a piece of the Simply Elegant Specialty DSP. It has gold, silver and copper foil running through it.

As Smoky Slate is quite close to silver, I chose to use that for my accent pieces, along with Basic White.

Silvery Simply Elegant Thanks. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Using the Hippo & Friends Dies, I used the Spotlight Technique to cut out a piece from the DSP, plus a layer piece from Smoky Slate.

A length of the coordinating Simply Elegant Trim in Silver sits across the project. This then has a triple loop bow attached with a Glue Dot.

Check out yesterday’s Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques video for a demonstration on tying multiple loop bows.

The Ornate Thanks Stamp Set provides the stamp set. This has ends shaped to mirror the die-cut pieces.

Finally, the sentiment is raised up using Mini Dimensionals.

Silvery Simply Elegant Thanks. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

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

SIMPLY ELEGANT 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) SPECIALTY DESIGNER SERIES PAPERORNATE THANKS PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (EN)HIPPO & FRIENDS DIESSMOKY SLATE A4 CARDSTOCKSMOKY SLATE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADBASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCKBASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCKSIMPLY ELEGANT TRIMMULTIPURPOSE LIQUID GLUETEAR & TAPE ADHESIVEMINI STAMPIN' DIMENSIONALS

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Tying Multiple Loop Bows

~ Karen Young

For this week’s Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques video, I’m sharing how to tie multiple loop bows.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Tying Multiple Loop Bows. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Click on the picture below to watch my video which shows how to tie the triple-loop bow I used on this card.

Today’s project uses the Gorgeous Leaves Stamp Set and Dies Bundle from the July-December Mini Catalogue. It is the final bonus card from September’s SSOTM Online Class.

This class also incorporated my annual Mostly Men class, so the projects have a more masculine feel.

My colour combination is Bumblebee, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive and Soft Suede, with Basic White.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Tying Multiple Loop Bows. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

After stamping the background, two shapes are cut from the Tasteful Labels Dies. The Basic White shape is stamped with the bark image from the Stamp Set and these are layered together.

A few lengths of Linen Thread are then stuck to the project.

Leaves and branches, cut from the Intricates Leaves Dies are added to the layered shape, with a triple-loop bow from today’s video stuck on with a glue dot.

Then, the project is finished with a few Matte Decorative Dots. These were my colour inspiration for the class projects.

Top Tips, Tricks & Techniques: Tying Multiple Loop Bows. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

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

Take a look at the other projects from this class, Project 1, Project 2, Project 3, Project 4, Bonus Project 1. Do you have a favourite?

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

GORGEOUS LEAVES BUNDLEDECORATIVE MATTE DOTSLINEN THREADTASTEFUL LABELS DIESBUMBLEBEE A4 CARDSTOCKBUMBLEBEE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADOLD OLIVE A4 CARDSTOCKOLD OLIVE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADSOFT SUEDE CARDSTOCK A4SOFT SUEDE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PADCHERRY COBBLER A4 CARDSTOCKBASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCKTEAR & TAPE ADHESIVEGLUE DOTSMULTIPURPOSE LIQUID GLUESTAMPIN' DIMENSIONALS