Vine Design Bundle Sympathy Card

April 7, 2021April 6, 2021 ~ Karen Young ~ Leave a comment

I sadly needed to make a sympathy card for a friend recently.

Vine Design Bundle Sympathy Card. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs The Vine Design Stamp Set and Dies Bundle, from the January-June Mini Catalogue, provides intricate delicate pieces and flower shapes to create beautiful projects.

I chose to use a soft colour combination of Soft Sea Foam, So Saffron, Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla.

Using the Very Versailles Stamp Set and both Crumb Cake and Soft Sea Foam inks, I stamped the branch image multiple times to create a faded background effect.

Vine Design Bundle Sympathy Card. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Next, I added the delicate circle of leaves and attached some die cut So Saffron flowers to it. There are already flowers in the die cut piece, but I wanted mine to be in a different colour.

Using a Sponge Dauber, I darkened the edges of the flowers slightly, before adding a small dot of Wink of Stella in the centre of each one. Vine Design Bundle Sympathy Card. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Finally, I raised the ‘Thinking of You’ sentiment with Dimensionals over the flowers.

For details of my classes, where we make a wide selection of cards, head to my Class Timetable.

Happy crafting

Karen Young HIPPOFROG Designs

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

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Hippo Birthday to my Husband

March 26, 2021March 23, 2021 ~ Karen Young

As you may have guessed, with a name like HIPPOFROG Designs, there is a leaning towards both creatures at Chez HIPPOFROG! I’m obviously the frog fan, and my Husband likes hippos.

Hippo Birthday. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs It was the hippo fan’s Birthday last week, so it only seemed right that I should use the Stamp Set and Dies in the Hippo Happiness Bundle to wish him a Hippo Birthday. Surprisingly, it’s favourite set in the Catalogue!

As HIPPOFROG is grey and green, I chose a colour combination of Gray Granite and Mossy Meadow, with White.

I stamped the sentiment from the Hippo Happiness Stamp Set multiple times in both colours, before darkening the centre slightly using a Sponge Dauber.

Layers for the central hippo to sit on are cut from the Hippo & Friends Dies. The sentiment shape is from the Tasteful Labels Dies.

Hippo Birthday. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Strings are stamped in readiness for the three die cut balloon shapes.

As I stuck the layers together, I used a length of Mossy Meadow Braided Linen Trim and a short length of Gray Granite between them.

Hippo Birthday. Project designed by Karen at HIPPOFROG Designs

Finally, a few small Pearls, coloured using Stampin’ Blends in Mossy Meadow add a touch more texture.

NB: I’ve used Whisper White in my project, which has now been replaced with Basic White. See this post for full details while I work through my supply.

Join me for a future class. 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

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In Bloom Bundle meets In Color

March 17, 2021March 12, 2021 ~ Karen Young

Have you seen the fabulous new Bundles in the January-June Mini Catalogue.

For this project, the new In Bloom Bundle meets In Color, to create a pretty floral card.

My colour combination is Seaside Spray and Rococo Rose In Colors, with Pear Pizzazz and Very Vanilla.

As these cards were for Mothering Sunday, I made two. One in Seaside Spray and the other in Rococo Rose, with accents in the other colour.

Another new product in the Mini Catalogue is the pretty Stitched With Whimsy Dies. This is the wavy embossed outline shape you can see on the Very Vanilla background piece.

In the background, I used a Sponge Dauber and ink in the opposite colourway. This adds a slight hint of colour for the leaves and flowers to sit on.

The Pierced Bloom Dies are a set of 25 Dies. Some co-ordinating with the In Bloom Stamp Set as part of the Bundle. Other dies in the set work on their own, such as the bow shape.

Each flower centre and the bows have a light coating of Wink of Stella that sparkles when it catches the light.

With all the leaves and flowers layered, apart from the centre flower, it was time to add the sentiment, along with the bow and tiny flower.

One of the sentiments in the Stamp Set was perfect for the cards, again cut out using one of the Dies from the Bundle.

By using Dimensionals to attach the central flower, this creates extra depth.

Finally, Pearls are added to the centre of each small flower.

Which colour combination do you prefer, blue or pink?

Why not join me for one of my classes where you can make projects like this one. 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

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Pantone Painted Poppies

December 22, 2020December 22, 2020 ~ Karen Young

Earlier this month, Pantone announced their Colour of the Year for 2021. There are two for 2021 – Ultimate Gray and Illuminating.

Today I’m sharing a project in the Stampin’ Up! equivalent colours of Basic Gray and Daffodil Delight.

Here’s my SU version of Pantone Painted Poppies…

Using the Painted Poppies Stamp Set and co-ordinating Painted Labels Dies, this is a great any occasion project.

The background uses first and second generation stamping in Basic Gray, with Daffodil Delight highlights added using a Sponge Dauber,

Both the flowers and leaves are stamped in Basic Gray onto the Basic Gray and Daffodil Delight Cardstock. These are then cut out with the dies.

The centre of each flower is given a touch of sparkle with some Wink of Stella.

These are then arranged on top of the background using Dimensionals.

I love how these colours work so well together. The brightness of the yellow seems to lighten the grey, whereas the grey appears to knock back the brightness of the yellow.

I have a feeling these colours might be making more appearances here in 2021!

Don’t forget to take a look at the current special offers, plus my classes for 2021.

Happy crafting

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

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

Countdown to Christmas #5

October 30, 2020October 24, 2020 ~ Karen Young

For Countdown to Christmas #5, it was time to revisit the fabulous Snowman Season Stamp Set and Snowman Builder Punch. I’m so pleased they came across to this year’s Annual Catalogue.

You all know how much I love a monochrome project. Well, this begins life as one, then more colour is added for each of the snowmen.

My main colours are Seaside Spray and of course Whisper White.

Using a Sponge Dauber and then stamping with the snowflake stamps, the background comes together.

I like the way it’s not too precise, and gives a touch of colour.

Next, two of the snowmen, along with the sentiment are stamped and punched out using a Circle Punch.

The main snowman is stamped and punched out, plus another circles for it to sit on.

All of the snowmen are then coloured with Wink of Stella to add some shimmer.

They are also coloured with Watercolor Pencils, all with Pumpkin Pie carrot noses.

A Basic Black Hat and two Soft Suede arms are also punched and attached to the back of the snowman using Dimensionals.

Finally, the main snowman is stuck onto the project.

This is a fun project, great for old and young alike.

Don’t forget to pop back for Countdown to Christmas #6.

If you’d like to join me for my Online Evening Christmas Card Class, then head to my Class Timetable for full details. Booking closes in a few days.

Happy crafting

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

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Meowing at the Moon

October 13, 2020October 12, 2020 ~ Karen Young

It’s the 13th (not a Friday), but it seems like an appropriate day to share this project.

This lucky black cat, meowing at the moon is a purrfect (sorry) project for Halloween.

This project is Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black and Whisper White.

First, the wall pattern is made by using the Brick & Mortar Embossing Folder in my Cut & Emboss Machine.

Using a Sponge Dauber and Whisper White Ink Pad, highlights are added to show some of the brickwork.

This is then stuck to the black layer, cutting off any excess from the edges.

Next, a Sponge Dauber and Pumpkin Pie Ink create the moon on a Whisper White shape cut using the 2 1/4″ Circle Punch.

I chose to create my moon using a Sponge Dauber and Ink to give an effect of darker and lighter areas.

Finally, the cat is created using the Cat Punch and sat on the wall using Dimensionals.

I really love this silhouette, and the white highlights on the wall which look like it’s glistening in the moonlight.

It’s not too late to get your hands on some of these items in time for Halloween crafting.

Why not join me at one of my classes. Head to my Class Timetable for full details. My Christmas Classes are closing soon.

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

Taking A Peek At Halloween

October 12, 2020October 11, 2020 ~ Karen Young

As I took a week off last week, there isn’t a Card & (Your) Cuppa project to show you.

Instead, I’m taking a peek at Halloween projects for a few days.

This project makes use of lots of offcuts, so is a great one for using up some scraps.

I began with the eyes. The bloodshot background is the circle from the Waterfront Stamp Set. These are in Poppy Parade Ink in third generation stamping.

The pupils are from the Blossoms in Bloom Stamp Set in Tuxedo Black.

Both eyes are cut out by hand, leaving a thin white edge around them.

They are then stuck onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock.

Next, strips of Whisper White, with Smoky Slate Sponge Dauber inking added are stuck across the piece of Basic Black.

I placed strips around the eyes first, then added the other pieces. Overlapping randomly at various angles.

Using Multipurpose Glue allows a bit of wriggle room when placing the pieces.

When I was happy with the positioning of the strips, I cut off the excess from the edges.

Before sticking the piece onto the layer, I added some more inking around the edges.

Finally everything was stuck together to make this spooky peek-a-boo!

It’s a really easy project to make, especially with children during half-term. You can use googly eyes or punched shapes. The bandages can also be ripped along the edges or you can even use ribbon.

Don’t forget that I’m running my Card & (Your) Cuppa for Children session during the October half-term break, along with my other classes.

Head to 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 – Embossed Circles

October 5, 2020September 29, 2020 ~ Karen Young

For last week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa project, I made a non-stamping version of a recent project.

As you can see, this version uses embossed circles and die-cut leaves.

Pumpkin Pie, Poppy Parade, Blushing Bride and Early Espresso, along with Very Vanilla are once again my colour combination.

Sponge daubers and ink create a vintage look across the Very Vanilla cardstock. The attendees were free to use Sponge Daubers and their own inks for this. They also provided a sentiment of their choice.

Forever Flourishing Dies provide the Pumpkin Pie leaves as the first part of the various layers.

Next, the three embossed circles are stuck down. These have been given texture using the Wrapped in Texture Embossing Folders and Greenery Embossing Folders.

The sentiment, mine is from the Blossoms in Bloom Stamp Set, then has a strip of Scallop Lace Trim stuck to the back of it.

Using Mini Dimensionals, the sentiment is raised off the project.

Finally, three Champagne Rhinestones add some bling. They co-ordinate really well with the colours of the card.

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

Very Versailles and Circle Punches

September 7, 2020September 5, 2020 ~ Karen Young

Due to the Bank Holiday, there wasn’t a Card & (Your) Cuppa session last week, so I’m sharing this project made with Very Versailles and Circle Punches instead.

It’s loosely based on the projects on Page 114 of the Annual Catalogue.

My colour combination is Blushing Bride, Pumpkin Pie and Poppy Parade, with Early Espresso as the accent colour.

The stunning branch image is stamped on the background, with Blushing Bride and Early Espresso used with Sponge Daubers to distress the edges.

A combination of various generations of stamping for the other images create the different depths of colour. Circle Punches cut out these pieces. This trio of circles is then layered in size order.

A sentiment from the Butterfly Gala Stamp Set has a piece of pretty Scalloped Lace Trim stuck to the back.

This is then stuck onto the project with Mini Dimensionals.

Finally, a few Champagne Rhinestones add some sparkle. These co-ordinate really well with the Pumpkin Pie and Early Espresso colours.

As I haven’t played with Very Versailles for a while, it was nice to stamp with it again.

To join me at a future class, head to my Class Timetable for full details.

Don’t forget to take a look at the new Cut and Emboss Machine, plus the current Special Offers.

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

Birthday Blues for a Crossover Gatefold Card

August 5, 2020August 4, 2020 ~ Karen Young

Last week, it was the Birthday of one of my regular class attendees. This Crossover Gatefold card is the card I sent.

At my recent Fancy Folds Class, the attendees made a ‘standard’ Gatefold card, a post on that is coming soon. It is taken to a Crossover Gatefold through the addition of the interlocking (crossover) pieces at the front.

The recipient is a fan of blues, so I chose Misty Moonlight and Seaside Spray for my colours. Each one is from an In Color Collection.

Beautiful panels for the front are from the co-ordinating Flowers for Every Season 6×6 DSP. As they also like a bit of grunge, so I used a Sponge Dauber around the edges of the DSP panels to add some shading. The pretty DSP did a lot of the work, so I didn’t need to add too many extra items.

Both of the words for the sentiment are from the Well Said Stamp Set and stuck onto the top and bottom strips. The other strip is stuck on the opposite way. Do make sure you pop your adhesive in the right place, or you could end up with a card that doesn’t open!

To make the ‘lock’, a leaf made using the Forever Fern Stamp Set and Dies Bundle is stuck across both parts of the sentiment. A butterfly from the Butterfly Gala Stamp Set, cut using the Butterfly Duet Punch is stuck to the other strip. This then creates the crossover.

A light coating of Wink of Stella on the butterfly gives a touch of Birthday bling.

Why not become a class attendee. Head to my Class Timetable for full details and to book your place.

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