Hippo Holidays Card

 Hello, hello, crafty friends!!!

I'm thankful that you have joined me here to see the Hippest Hippos stamp set in action, just in time for Christmas in July! Today's card was born from inspiration and as part of this week's TGIF Challenges #377.

I've seen SO MANY adorable projects and cards using the Hippest Hippos stamp set and needed to use them on my own. And I must admit that it's too much fun creating something with them! I've even seen them transformed into cows and you gotta admit that is TOO cute!!!

PLEASE NOTE: this is an exclusive stamp set that can only be earned for FREE when you purchase $50 or more in Stampin' UP! products, during Sale-a-Bration (ends August 31st).

I am very pleased with the final product and hope you enjoy it too!

As I brainstormed on how to incorporate the dancing hippo into a Christmas or holiday theme, I knew I wanted to put her into skates. I went on a search for something that would look like a skate and found the ideal die from another exclusive die set from the Sale-a-Bration brochure - Tree Lot dies. 

See the circled die piece below in red.

I would prefer to create a video for the steps I used in creating this card, but unfortunately don't have the time so I will have to provide you with a few tips as follows:

Cardmaking Tips:

• Begin with your background piece in Shimmery White Cardstock that measures 4-1/4" x 5-1/2". You will trim it down 1/8" after you've completed the background.
• Half-way down the cardstock, use the curvy dies from the Window die set to cut the slits, as shown, being careful not to cut beyond the edge of the cardstock. Be sure to slide the dies over towards the middle so you won't cut your cardstock in half. 
• Using Versamark ink, stamp the snow image from the Window Wishes stamp set, randomly over the cardstock piece. Heat emboss with White embossing powder.
• Use the 3rd smallest Layering Diorama die to cut out a piece of Masking paper to create the "Ice skating rink". Use a Blending brush and some Pool Party ink to create the look of snow and ice. I used some Wink of Stella to add some shimmer to the "skating rink" along with random spots of snow.
• For the top half of the background piece, use Balmy Blue ink and Fresh Freesia ink and some blending brushes to create the sky. 
• Use the Window Wishes set to stamp the large trees in Grey Granite ink. I stamped-off the tree on the far left. For the small trees, stamp the large tree onto some Shaded Spruce cardstock then cutout using the coordinating dies.
• The skating hippo was colored in with Stampin' Blends: Calypso Coral, Smoky Slate, Granny Apple Green and Polished Pink. Her "skates" were cut from Polished Pink cardstock and adhered to her toes using liquid adhesive.
• The Hippo's hat comes from the Penguin Place stamp set and used Granny Apple Green and Polished Pink stampin' write markers.
• The "hippo holidays" sentiment was created using the Alphabest stamp set and then trimmed around the letters as shown.
• I had to trim the White frayed ribbon so that it would fit behind the sentiment with just a little hanging off. 

Cardmaking Supplies:

Thank you so much for stopping by and taking a look at this week's creation! 

Until Next time ... 

4th of July Sampler & matching card

Happy 4th of July!!!

I've got some fun 4th of July projects for you today as we celebrate 246 years of independence in America!

I was inspired by a fellow Stampin' UP! demonstrator, Michelle Haney, to create a 4th of July sampler frame using some retired products and lots of fun and new products from the 2022-2023 Annual Catalog by Stampin' UP!. This was perfect for a birthday gift that I plan on giving to my dear friend for her milestone 4th of July birthday!

I will share her sampler project as soon as she gives me the "okay".

As I worked on putting together my own, I chose to work on a different set of colors to make it bright and sparkly: Poppy Parade (red), Pacific Point (blue), Basic White and white glimmer paper. 

I wish you could see this frame in person because this picture does not do it any justice! There's lots of sparkle throughout as I tried to incorporate the white glimmer paper and rhinestones. I do LOVE the finished product and am so excited to gift it to my friend!

Frame Making Tips

• The frame itself is from the Celebrate Today Magnet Board Kit, which is  12"x12".
• The Poppy Parade squares measure 3-1/2".
• The Pacific Point squares measure 3-1/4".
• The Basic White squares measure 3-1/8". 
• In order to place your squares evenly on the frame, use an erasable marker to mark 3/4" margin around the frame-base as a guide. Place the 4 outside corner pieces first, then the 4 outside-edge pieces, then the center piece last.   

Here's a closer look at each piece:

Top Left
Striped paper from Sun Prints DSP (3" x 2-1/8"), 
sentiment from Cottage Rose stamp set.
Heart was punch out using Heart Punch Pack.

Top Middle
Stamp the cork image from
Bottled Happiness stamp set onto back
of Specialty Cork Paper (retired) then cut out.
"Bottle" is filled with Effervescent Elements.

Top Right
Swirly Stars cut from White Glimmer Paper 
using the Stitched Stars dies (retired).
Poppy Parade strips are 1/4" x 3-1/8".
"USA" from Alphabest Bundle.

Middle Left
Background uses Painted Texture embossing folder.
Bear image from Happier Than Happy bundle and
stamped using Crumb Cake ink.
candle from Sentiment Silhouette dies.
"July 4" from Alphabest bundle.

Center
White Glimmer Paper square - 3"x3".
White Glimmer Paper banner and
White stitched square is cut using Stylish Shapes dies.
Sentiment uses the Alphabest Bundle.

Middle Right
Background uses Merry Melody embossing folder.
Stitched circle is from Stylish Shapes dies.
White Glimmer Paper shapes and sentiment
from Charming Sentiments Bundle.

Bottom Left
Background uses Rays of Light Stamp.
White Glimmer Paper stars from 
Stitched Stars dies (retired).
Sentiment from Charming Sentiments Bundle.

Bottom Center
This uses the Cheerful Basket Bundle and the
Charming Sentiments Bundle. 
Hearts were colored using Poppy Parade Stampin' Blends.

Bottom Right
 The stitched square uses the Stylish Shapes dies.
The stitching was cut out from square.
Flower image is from Bottled Happiness stamp set.
Sentiment is from Alphabest stamp set.

Frame making Supplies

Other than a couple of the retired products and the basic tools and adhesive, below is a list of supplies I used for this project.

40th Birthday Card

I couldn't make the framed sampler without making my friend a matching birthday card and just had to CASE fellow Stampin' UP! demonstrator, Tammy Wilson, for this fun and festive card. She has an AMAZING talent for layers and design! You can view her creation, here.

Below is my version of the same card:

Considering the time it took me to create the sampler frame, it felt like this card came together pretty quickly! I wish I would've distressed the paper like Tammy did in her card but I believe it still looks cute, don't you think?!

Card Making Tips:

• The card base is an A2 size from Thick Basic White Cardstock.
• The background piece measures 4-1/8" x 5-3/8" and was embossed using the Timeworn Type embossing folder.
• The Sun Prints DSP piece measures 3-3/4" x 5".
• Use Shimmery White paper that measures 3-3/4" x 5" to blend some Pacific Point ink in the center using a Blending Brush. I followed Tammy's instructions on the background.
• The Glimmer white pieces except for the swirl is from the Sentiment Silhouettes dies. The swirl is leftover from the top right piece of the framed sampler.
• The Poppy Parade twine is retired from the 2022 Jan-June Mini Catalog.
• The clear epoxy dot embellishments are retired from the 2022 Jan-June Mini Catalog.

Card Making Supplies:

All other current supplies except for basic tools that were used are listed below.

Thank you so much for joining me today and I do hope that you enjoy your 4th of July holiday with some extra time to do some crafting!!!

Feel free to share with me your comments and thoughts on today's projects in the section below along with what you do to celebrate the 4th!

Until next time ...