Oh my goodness have you seen the Hippo Dies that you can get for free right now with a $60 order? I got mine at the same time as the coordinating Hippest Hippos Stamp Set (another of the free choices with a $60 order). Obviously I planned to use them together, well it made sense really, but after making today’s card I may have to change that plan. You see while the set cuts out the three hippo images, there’s another 16 dies to use in so many other ways.

LAYERING DIORAMA

As soon as I saw the Hippest Hippos Stamp Set I knew I would eventually make a card with some kind of scene. Instead of patterned paper for the background I decided to create simple layers using the Layering Diorama Dies. There’s seven of these dies in the set and they divide up quite nicely into two sets of two and a set of three. Today I chose the #4 die (counting from the smallest up) to create a pool from a 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ piece of Soft Sea Foam Card.

Yes you read that correctly, I chose a very pale green colour for the top layer and die-cut the shape from the centre. Then I put the centre back inside the ‘frame’ so I could add some additional colour to the surface of both pieces. For this I chose Pool Party ink and applied it using a Blending Brush.

Next I decided to cut a card base from Soft Sea Foam Card. Using my Paper Trimmer I cut and scored the card, then folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder. With that done I used the Blending Brush to add Pool Party ink over the front of the card base too.

Finally I rested the ‘frame’ section onto the card front and made sure the edges were properly lined up. Then with Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) I placed the cut-out section inside the ‘frame’ and fixed it to the card base. I wasn’t yet ready to attach the frame though, so I set it aside while I got on with the rest of the card details.

SNORKELING HIPPO

Obviously this project was all about the hippo and so that’s where I turned next. From the Hippest Hippos Stamp Set I chose the one that appeared to be running. Then using Tuxedo Black ink I stamped him onto a scrap of Thick Basic White Card. While I was stamping I also decided to use this image as my coordinating feature. So I stamped him peeking in from the corner of a Basic White Medium Envelope. Then I did the same thing on a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Basic White Card.

To colour the images I decided to keep it simple using Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers. I chose light and dark Gray Granite first, with a little light Flirty Flamingo inside his ears and mouth. Once all the images were coloured I glued the Basic White layer inside the card base.

At last it was time to pull out the Hippo Dies and have some fun.

I began by cutting out my hippo from the scrap of Thick Basic White Card. Then using the glued diorama layer as a guide I glued him onto the front of the card base.

Next I found the snorkel and mask dies in the set and cut them both from Crushed Curry Card. Then I glued these into place. Finally I chose the ‘grass’ die and cut three of these from Parakeet Party Card. However before fixing these to the scene I used my Blending Brush to add some Garden Green ink.

While I liked how things were coming together, there was something bugging me about the goggles. So I found a scrap of Vellum Cardstock and cut the goggles from that. This time it was the centre of the goggles I needed, and with a little glue inside the yellow goggles I pressed the vellum piece into place. Now it made sense!

I was almost done but wanted to add a little ‘movement’ to the scene and for that I needed the ‘water splash’ die. So I cut this from the scrap of Vellum, giving me three small water drops. I could have simply glued them freehand but instead I placed the negative part of the Vellum above the snorkel. Then I put a little glue inside each hole and pressed the water pieces into place using the frame as my guide.

Only the sentiment remained, and for that I went back to the Hippest Hippos Stamp Set and my diorama ‘frame’ layer. Using Tuxedo Black ink I stamped “you really are the best” in the bottom right corner. Then I covered the back with Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals and attached the frame to the card front. Finally my snorkeling hippo scene was complete.

While I love this card, it really made me look more closely at the Hippo Dies. I’ve realised that there could be so many other uses for the majority of these dies. So even if the Hippest Hippos Stamp Set isn’t for you, don’t overlook the dies. You never know when they’ll provide that perfect little detail for a future project.

If you like this project, check out the hippo card shown in my blog post The hippest hippos ever.

PRODUCT LIST

The Hippest Hippos Stamp Set and coordinating Hippo Dies are only available to customers until August 31st (while stocks last). However, like all products in the Sale-A-Bration Brochure these will not be available to buy, but can be earned for free simply by placing a qualifying order. The stamp set and dies are available individually, each one requiring a $60 spend (before shipping and taxes). So if you want both, simply place two $60 orders or one $120 order and select them when prompted during checkout.