Last Week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa – Well Written Dies

November 30, 2020November 26, 2020 ~ Karen Young

For last week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa project, I reached for the Well Written Dies.

This set of dies has crept to the back of my dies box and it was time to bring them to the front.

A range of different blues, Pool Party, Balmy Blue and Misty Moonlight work really well together with the Whisper White.

It is a bit of a fiddly project, but the finished card is worth the effort.

My Take Your Pick Tool Brush attachement came in useful for removing all the little bits from the Well Written Dies cut outs.

The project being with lengths of Pool Party Shimmer Riboon creating a stripey background.

Then, the centre leaves and flower pieces are attached.

By drawing around the ‘birthday’ shape, a layer is cut out for it to sit on. If you have the die, you can draw around the edge of that instead. Either way is fine.

Raising the birthday above the centre pieces gives the project more depth.

I chose to use a ‘wishes’ sentiment to go with birthday, stamping it in the darker blue of Misty Moonlight.

Before the smaller flowers are added with glue dots, these are given a coat of Wink of Stella. This co-ordinates well with the shimmer of the ribbon.

Finally some Silver Metallic Pearls are added to the centre of the tiny flowers.

Happy crafting

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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

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Doggy Duo Saying Happy Birthday

June 25, 2020June 24, 2020 ~ Karen Young

I recently shared two of the three Birthday cards I was asked to make for a regular class attendee. Well, here’s the final one for this special commission, and it’s this cute doggy duo.

The other projects can be seen here and here.

Doggy Duo saying Happy Birthday. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

As they are a huge dog lover, I just knew I had to include them on one of the cards. I’ve made these dogs, cut from the the Dog Builder Punch to look like the doggy duo they have at home.

This punch has carried over to the new Annual Catalogue, so if you’re a dog lover, you would be barking mad not to have it (sorry!) It is also a great companion punch to the new Playful Pets Suite too.

The white dog has a mottled effect by using Sponge Daubers with Soft Suede and Smoky Slate ink. The collars are from Rhinestones.

Doggy Duo saying Happy Birthday. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Using colours from the Brights Collection, the balloons are cut with the Balloon Bouquet Punch. These are then glued together in bunches with a length of Linen Thread from the bottom balloon to the tails.

Rather than tying the other end to the tails, I made separate bows and added them afterwards.

The Happy Birthday sentiment is cut from the Well Written Dies and very carefully added across the balloons with Fine-Tip Glue. This, along with the background layer use Silver Foil Sheets.

Doggy Duo saying Happy Birthday. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Using Dimensionals, everything is then added to the card.

As this is a square card, so I also made a matching envelope using Designer Series Paper.

Why not join me for one of my classes. Head to my Class Timetable for full details and booking information.

Happy crafting

Karen Young HIPPOFROG Designs

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

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Special Commission for a Birthday

June 13, 2020June 13, 2020 ~ Karen Young

During this lockdown, it’s been lovely to be asked to make cards for people. Here is a special commission for a Birthday.

It uses a combination of dies, punches and an embossing folder.

I know the recipient likes their garden, so I started with a garden wall using the Brick & Mortar Embossing Folder.

Next, I used the Ornate Borders Dies in Purple Posy, Highland Heather and Gorgeous Grape for the flourish across the wall. This is one of the many products in the Ornate Garden Suite from the new Annual Catalogue.

To create ‘mum’, I used letters from the Well Written Dies words and put them together. This is backed by a piece of Whisper White Crinkle Seam Binding coloured with Highland Heather Stampin’ Blends.

For the butterflies, these are stamped in Melon Mambo, punches out and coloured with more Stampin’ Blends in various shades of pink.

The finishing touches are Wink of Stella and some small Pearls in the centre of the flowers.

I’m pleased to report the recipient was happy with their card.

Head to my Class Timetable for full details of my classes, or take a look at my cards for sale.

Happy crafting

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

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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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Mystery Pack – Leaves, Circles and a Feather

April 16, 2020April 17, 2020 ~ Karen Young

One of my Social Isolation Class offerings during this time is a Mystery Pack. These are a selection of stampin’ up! cardstock, die cut shapes, punched shapes, embellishments, ribbons etc.

The pack recipients are then challenged to make a card by a specified deadline, using as many of the items as they like.

This pack contained leaves, circles and a feather, along with the other items shown below. Scissors and adhesives, a sentiment, plus Wink of Stella were also allowed to be used for this challenge.

And here is the project I made using some of the items. You can also watch a short video I put together showing how I made my project.

My colour combination is Soft Sea Foam, Flirty Flamingo and Mossy Meadow, with Whisper White.

I’ve taken the Painted Petals Die shape and cut out the centre of it to thread the leaves through. As these pieces are quite delicate, I chose to use Fine-Tip Glue to stick those to the project. For everything else, I used SNAIL.

A coat of Wink of Stella was added to the feather and a bow using the Baker’s Twine. This is then stuck onto some layered circles to create one piece.

The whole piece is then raised up using Dimensionals to add some depth. The slit I made to cut out the centre is hidden by the circles and feather.

A few of the other circles are dotted around to create some more background interest.

The Nature’s Thoughts Dies and the Painted Label Dies are currently unavailable, so you won’t see them listed below at the moment. However, there are still lots of other fabulous products, including the new pre-release suite to help you keep crafting.

If you want to receive one of my Mystery Packs, head to my Class Timetable for full details and booking information.

Happy crafting

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

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Last Week’s Card & Cuppa – In Color 2018-2020 meets Swirly Frames

March 2, 2020March 1, 2020 ~ Karen Young

For last week’s Card & Cuppa project I decided to use the In Color 2018-2020 colours.

In Color 2018-2020. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

The Swirly Frames Stamp Set from the Annual Catalogue is used to create an abstract pattern in the 5 different colours, with the Grapefruit Grove circle only used the once to highlight the sentiment.

Using the 2″ Circle Punch and the Classic Label punches, the sentiments were layered. A selection of sentiments from the Well Said Stamp Set and the Well Written Dies were available for the attendees to use.

They could also choose their contrasting colour, I’ve used Call Me Clover for the layer, circle, ribbon and sentiment stamping on mine.

An assortment of adhesives were needed, especially for the die-cut sentiment, as it requires Fine-Tip Glue.

I really like this project as it is perfect for a teenager, or can be easily changed for a ‘thank you’ or other ocassion.

Don’t forget that these In Color 2018-2020 colours will be retiring in June to make way for five new ones. I can’t believe that they have been with us for almost two years already.

Now is a great time to stock up on these colours, especially during SAB.

If you want to join us at a future class, then visit my Class Timetable for more information and booking 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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Classic Stampin' Pad Assortment In Color 2018-2020

Call Me Clover 1/8" (3.2 mm) Grosgrain Ribbon

Mixed Media with Painted Poppies for a Big Birthday

February 27, 2020February 24, 2020 ~ Karen Young

One of my Card & Cuppa attendees recently celebrated a big birthday, so naturally I had to make them a card.

A Big Birthday. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

They are a fan of mixed media and love poppies too, so I decided to combine these loves, it was a big birthday after all!

My main colour palette was Blushing Bride, Sahara Sand and Very Vanilla, with Pear Pizzazz for the leaves.

First, I stamped the background with an image from Gallery Grunge using Versamark ink and heat embossed it with Clear Embossing Powder. This created resist areas for when I used a Sponge Dauber over the top to add colour.

A combination of shapes and images and stamped and cut out using the Painted Poppies Stamp Set and the matching Painted Labels Dies. I can’t believe quite how much I’m using this fabulous Bundle from the Mini Catalogue.

For the sentiments, I used the Well Said Stamp Set and Well Written Dies. This is another one of those stamp and die combinations that I use quite regularly as they are really versatile.

The Classic Label Punch cut out the smaller part of the sentiment.

The length of ribbon is the Woven Threads Trim, again in Sahara Sand. I cut the bottom edge off to create the fringe.

Before I stuck everything together, I covered the ‘happy’ and the centre of the poppies with Wink of Stella. I love how Sahara Sand goes an almost gold colour under it.

If you’d like to join this and other attendees at Card & Cuppa classes, then head to my Class Timetable for more details 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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Sahara Sand 5/8" (1.6 cm) Woven Threads Trim

Last Week’s Card & Cuppa – A generic Birthday card

November 25, 2019November 24, 2019 ~ Karen Young

I’ll often ask the attendees to suggest cards they would like to make at Card & Cuppa sessions. A recent suggestion was a generic Birthday card, something suitable for both male and female.

A generic Birthday Card. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

This project is a combination of this card and this one. It’s a great idea to combine elements of projects you have already made.

For this generic project, I chose Mint Macaron, Soft Sea Foam and Whisper White as my colour combination.

The Gallery Grunge Stamp Set lends itself to projects like these, especially for some random background stamping.

Next it was the turn of the Well Written Dies to make the ‘Birthday’ greeting. ‘Happy’ comes from the co-ordinating Well Said Stamp Set. It is cut out using the Classic Label Punch and then the ends are trimmed to size. These are both attached to the layered circles.

A strip of Burlap Ribbon with the ends angled is then added.

Finally, three Pearls, coloured using the Dark Mint Macaron Stampin’ Blend completes the project.

Not only is this a great design that can be used over and over again, just changing the sentiment or colours to suit the occasion. It’s also a very quick and easy project to create.

Why not join us at a future Card & Cuppa 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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Mint Macaron Dark Stampin' Blends Marker

Welcome to my Stampin’ Up! Team

November 16, 2019November 15, 2019 ~ Karen Young

I’ve recently welcomed a new team member to my Stampin’ Up! Team – The Lilypad Crafters. Obviously being a crafting team, my new team member needed a handmade card.

Welcome to my Stampin' Up! Team. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

As I was creating several cards for different occasions, I used the same design as this project, with a few tweaks.

Don’t be afraid to use the same design over and over again. It saves you a lot of time thinking about what you want to do. More time saved = more time creating :-).

Using a combination of Highland Heather and Blushing Bride, I changed the orientation to landscape, added some ribbon and used a different die-cut sentiment. I also used a different punch for the background layers for the sentiment to sit on.

There’s still Wink of Stella and Rhinestones for a dose of bling!