Stamping With Friends – Tic Tac Toe meets Joyful Squares

Today I’m hopping with my Stamping With Friends group — it has been a few months, and I’m hoping to be back with them on a more regular basis in 2026. Our challenge today is to make a project with 3 squares from a Tic Tac Toe board. I’m continuing my week-long use of the Joyful Squares bundle. As always with a Blog Hop, be sure to hop along with us by checking out the Roll Call at the bottom of this post so you can carry through and see the other creations of my talented stamping friends.

Here is the Tic Tac Toe board – and the row I’m using:

And, here’s my card!

I have lots of layers, die cuts, and of course, my signature creative element: designer series paper (or patterned paper) – rarely do I make a card without it!

Now let’s see what my friends chose to do for this month. Be sure to click through the Roll Call below to see all of my stamping friends’ creations!

Happy stamping! Kelly

Roll Call:

NC Demos Hop – Blinging in 2026 with Joyful Squares

It’s the last Sunday of the month, which means it’s time to hop with my NC Demos group. You might have already stopped by the talented Frances Wagner and her blog, but if you are just popping in with me first, our theme this month is all about blinging in the new year! Our project could be anything as long as it has sparkle and bling. For my project, I’m using the new Joyful Squares bundle coming out in the new January-April 2026 Mini Catalog. Let’s take a look:

This card uses the Joyful Squares bundle to cut the square, the gold accent pieces, the frame stamp and the circle. 2026 is from the retired Playful Alphabet die set, and the sentiment “Good days ahead” which is from the Sunshine & Tulips stamp set. The background gold foiled DSP is from Pleasant Patterns 12 X 12 Specialty DSP from the Easter Joy Suite Collection. I finished it off with some Adhesive-Backed Sparkle Gems and Gold Striped ribbon from my stash. Unfortunately, I can’t link the new products below on a shopping link because they aren’t live yet, so be sure to visit my Online Store after January 5th to shop the supplies!

Let’s take a closer look at this blinged out Joyful Squares card:

I hope you like it – and happy almost 2026!

Now, let’s see what the others have done with blinging in the new year. Visit the roll call below, or click the next arrow below to head over to Laurie Meier’s Blog:

Happy Stamping! Kelly

Roll Call

Tina Lesson  
Toni Campana 
Amanda Rhodes  
Frances Wagner 
Kelly Taranto – The Late Night Stamper
Laurie Meier 
Tracie Evans Langley – the Sassy Stamper

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Again, new products: Joyful Squares Bundle, Sunshine & Tulips stamp set, Pleasant Patterns DSP, are not linkable yet — Visit my Online Store January 6th to purchase! Here are supplies used you can purchase now:


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NC Demos Hop – It’s Time for Tags!

It’s the last Sunday of the month, which means it’s time to hop with my NC Demos group. You might have already stopped by the talented Laurie Meier and her blog, but if you are just popping in with me first, our theme this month is all about tags! We were to create a tag (or more) for ANY occasion – Christmas, Hanukkah, Birthday, Weddings, Baby Showers or any other occasion.

I decided to use the Gingerbread Man bundle to make these adorable gingerbread tags.

In addition to using all the very fun accessories, I also pulled these felt fun items from my stash. I’m talking OLD Stampin’ Up!

The Stitched Felt Winter Wishes pack have been in my stash since who knows when (the old packaging was mid-2000’s maybe?). Anyway, I thought they would be a fun way to add a little zip to these tags. Let’s take a closer look at each:

Aren’t they fun? And of course, with every tag, you need a To: From: on the back. For this, I used the Traditional Labels stamp set:

Now, let’s see what the others have done with tags! Visit the roll call below, or click the next arrow below to head over to Tracie Langley’s Blog:

Happy Stamping! Kelly

Roll Call

November Blog Hoppers
Tina Lesson
Toni Campana
Frances Wagner
Laurie Meier
Kelly Taranto – The Late Night Stamper
Tracie Evans Langley – the Sassy Stamper

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AWOW – This or That with Embossing Folders

The Around the World on Wednesday (AWOW) team and I are hopping today — here on our blogs, and on Instagram. Before I go on, let me first introduce the AWOW Team–here’s who we are and where we are in the world:

For our eighth month of CAS(e)ing team member, we are CAS(e)ing our American team member, Sharon Hashimoto Burkert. Sharon has been a design team member for several blog challenges over the past two decades. She is talented with her classic and clean cardmaking style. I was drawn to two things when looking at her projects. First, many of her cards use black and white, with a color pop, and almost every card has an embossing folder used somewhere in the project.

Take a look at some of her designs:

Today’s hop has a bonus theme. In addition to CASEing Sharon, it’s also a This or That Challenge focusing on “all wrapped up with gratitude”. Given that, I was also inspired by the sketch design in Sharon’s last project above (the one with the dreamy coffee drink) and used that sketch for my “This or That.”

Let’s take a look at my creations!

Coneflower and Sunflower 3D Embossing Folder

The card uses the Sunflower 3D Embossing folder, and the Coneflower Celebrations. For a full shopping list, see below. (PS I’m realizing now that I had “Embossing Folder” in the title…as I got creating things shifted a little bit – but I still used an embossing folder!)

These cards are exactly the same, but I’ve switched the base layers under the cone flower. Which one do you like better?

THIS?

Coneflower and Sunflower 3D Embossing Folder

or THAT?

Coneflower and Sunflower 3D Embossing Folder

Now let’s see what my friends around the world did with this challenge — starting with the woman of the hour – Sharon Hashimoto Burkert! Click the next button below to follow along to Sharon’s Blog, or follow along the hop using the Roll Call Below.

Happy Stamping! Kelly

Roll Call

Jan Clothier – NZ
Leonie Stuart – AU
Rochelle Laird-Smith – AU
Cheryll Miller – AU
Danielle Kassing – NL
Marga Bultena – NL
Aurélie Fabre – FR
Kelly Taranto – US — You are here!
Sharon Hashimoto Burkert
Chris Smith – US
Teri West – US

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AWOW – Sketch Challenge and New Christmas Product

The Around the World on Wednesday (AWOW) team and I are hopping today — here on our blogs, and on Instagram. Before I go on, let me first introduce the AWOW Team–here’s who we are and where we are in the world:

For our seventh month of CAS(e)ing team member, we are CAS(e)ing our American team member, Chris Smith. Chris is a Splitcoaststampers Dirty Dozen design team alumni. She is talented with her classic, elegant cardmaking and creativity. I love so much about Chris’s creative style, especially her interesting style of layering.

What do I mean by that? Well, take a look at some of her designs:

See what I mean? Clean and simple designs, but adding just enough of a twist to turn it into a WOW project. Love it! Here are two sketches that really stood out for me, and I’m CASEing these today:

If you follow me at all, you know my favorite Stampin’ Up! product is the designer series paper. I am always looking for a fresh way to use it. These two projects by Chris give that DSP a punch! And, the creative juices are flowing. I made two projects, using the same sketch, showcasing our new products from the Holiday Mini Catalog:

What a fun sketch to CASE! Let’s take a closer look:

This project is using the new Peaceful Garden Suite of products, that includes the Peace on Earth bundle, beautiful Peaceful Garden DSP, and pretty embellishments.

Let’s take a look at the same sketch, using the Christmas Tags & More 6 x 6 Mix & Match Specialty DSP:

The sentiments used on this card are from the stamp set called Wishing You Well. For a full shopping list, see below.

Now let’s see what my friends around the world did with this challenge. Click the next button below to follow along to Chris Smith’s Blog, or follow along the hop using the Roll Call Below.

Happy Stamping! Kelly

Roll Call

Leonie Stuart – AU
Rochelle Laird-Smith – AU
Cheryll Miller – AU
Marga Bultena – NL
Aurélie Fabre – FR
Annette Ball – CA
Kelly Taranto – US
Chris Smith – US
Bree Renwick – US
Lori Willcox – CA
Teri West – US
Cheryl Hamilton – US

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NC Demos Hop – We’ve Got Your Back

It’s the last Sunday of the month, which means it’s time to hop with my NC Demos group. You might have already stopped by the talented Laurie Meier and her blog, but if you are just popping in with me first, our challenge this month is to create a project using stamps and a technique to create a unique background. We could use ANY kind of stamp big or small, but can’t use DSP or specialty paper (my go-to for making backgrounds!) Okay, I must confess….I’m cheating…warning: DSP is used! (I can’t help it, sorry!) But, at least my background a little outside the box (which I think is the intention of this hop theme, so hopefully the ladies forgive me!)

I decided to use the Sweet Jar punch to make my background. I’m sure you’ve seen these before — you take any punched shape and using different DSP line them up to fill a background layer. A few weeks ago I collaborated with a demonstrator on the west coast and we had an all-day stamping retreat using the Sweet Jar bundle. What a BLAST! Well, I made this card as an extra idea card for our attendees:

For this hop, I decided to do this same design but make a Christmas version using the coordinating stamp set Jar of Joy. Here you go!

Isn’t it fun? The DSP is from the new Christmas Tags & More 6 x 6 pack. Some really great traditional colors, yet a little country with the added Crumb Cake, which I thought went well with the Jar products.

Now, let’s see what the others have done with new products! Visit the roll call below, or click the next arrow below to head over to Tracie Langley’s Blog:

Happy Stamping! Kelly

Roll Call

Tina Lesson 
Toni Campana 
Laurie Meier 
Kelly Taranto – The Late Night Stamper 
Tracie Evans Langley – the Sassy Stamper 
Frances Wagner 

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AWOW – Remember When

The Around the World on Wednesday (AWOW) team and I are hopping today — here on our blogs, and on Instagram. Before I go on, let me first introduce the AWOW Team–here’s who we are and where we are in the world:

For our sixth month, we are CAS(e)ing our US team member, Bree Renwick. Bree, like me, is on her second year as an Artisan Team Member (my 2-year anniversary with this group is September 13!) Bree is incredibly talented with her cardmaking and Paper Pumpkin alternatives. She also shares amazing scrapbooking pages. I love so much about Bree’s creative style, especially her use of layers and textures. They simply make her projects from ordinary to extraordinary!

Bree is also the wife of a firefighter and the mom of twin boys (who I think are also firefighters maybe?) Anyway, since this hop is happening the day before September 11th, and the theme is “Remember When,” I decided to focus on remembering September 11, 2001. While I was reflecting back, the word “peace” kept coming to mind. I thought of the day before, September 10, 2001, and even my drive into work the morning of September 11th (I lived in Boston), and how we didn’t know yet the world was about to change.

Then, the days that followed… In Boston, all flights were grounded for days after. Traffic into the city was almost nonexistent. The two flights that were flown into the World Trade Center were from Logan Airport, and our city was grieving. Everything was still and frozen for days, and all we were doing was praying for peace.

Let’s take a look at the project that this remembering, and Bree’s creativity, inspired:

This is a fun fold that shows off Stampin’ Up!’s gorgeous designer series paper. If you follow me, you know that DSP is my absolute favorite product. Some of my favorite projects showcase both the A side and the B side of the piece. Let’s take a look at the card opened up:

This project is using the new Peaceful Garden Suite of products, that includes the Peace on Earth bundle, beautiful Peaceful Garden DSP, Peaceful Garden 12 x 12 Glimmer Paper (LOVE!), and pretty embellishments, like the Hues of Blues Flowers that almost look like stars.

Measurements:

  • Back panel – 4 1/4 x 5 1/2
  • Layer (which I used the glimmer paper) – 4 x 5 1/4. NOTE: Do not let the middle of this layer go to waste! I die cut all the sprigs and the label layer on the front from the Secret Sea glimmer paper before adhering things. Since it’s a layered piece, you might as well get the most out of it!
  • DSP piece:
    • 5″ x 12″ (be mindful of direction if your pattern is directional!)
    • Score at 2 3/4, 5 1/2, 8 1/4
    • Optional panels: 2 1/4 x 4 1/2 (up to 3 of these)
  • I added labels on the front for the sentiment and on the inside for writing a little note. Decorate.

I hope my project conveyed my feelings of “remembering when” well.

Now let’s see what my friends around the world did with this challenge. Click the next button below to follow along to Chris Smith’s Blog, or follow along the hop using the Roll Call Below.

Happy Stamping! Kelly

Roll Call

Jan Clothier – NZ
Leonie Stuart – AU
Rochelle Laird-Smith – AU
Cheryll Miller – AU
Danielle Kassing – NL
Marga Bultena – NL
Kelly Taranto – US – You are here!
Chris Smith – US
Bree Renwick – US
Teri West – US
Cheryl Hamilton – US

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Stamping With Friends – Sketch Challenge with Love & Courage

Today I’m hopping with my Stamping With Friends group and our challenge is to use the same sketch for a Sketch Challenge. As always with a Blog Hop, be sure to hop along with us by checking out the Roll Call at the bottom of this post so you can carry through and see the other creations of my talented stamping friends.

Here is the sketch we are using today:

I decided to use the new Love & Courage stamp set for this challenge.

Love & Courage stamp set is new in the September – December Mini Catalog, and is a Making a Difference product. For every stamp set sold, Stampin’ Up! will donated $3 to breast cancer organizations. My mother is a breast cancer survivor, so anything I can do to help this cause, I’m there.

NOTE: anyone that purchases this stamp set through me will receive a free make & take in the mail from me with a project that shows a versatility in using this set (i.e. not pink, and not breast cancer related). Also, I will donate my entire commission on your entire order that contains this stamp set to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation! All you have to do is place an order through my online store (make sure I’m identified on your order as the demonstrator!) and that way I know you placed the order.

Okay, let’s see this stamp set in action!

I love the sunflower/inspirational word stamp – it’s my favorite in the set.

I hope you like what I did with the sketch, and thank you in advance for your support if you decided to add this stamp set to your stash!

Now let’s see what my friends chose to do for this month. Be sure to click through the Roll Call below to see all of my stamping friends’ creations!

Happy stamping! Kelly

Roll Call:

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NC Demos Hop – Upcycle with Sweet Jar

It’s the last Sunday of the month, which means it’s time to hop with my NC Demos group. You might have already stopped by the talented Laurie Meier and her blog, but if you are just popping in with me first, our theme this month is Upcycle! Our project can be ANYTHING, with the only rule that we had to upcycle something when creating it that would otherwise be thrown away. I’m using the Sweet Jar bundle and these amazing jars you get when eating Oui! yogurt.

I am loving this bundle and the Jar of Joy add-on stamp set. I’m having my first ever day-long retreat mid-September featuring these products so have been playing with both, quite a bit. Let’s take a look:

This product is so incredibly versatile and the little cookies in the Sweet Jar set made me immediately want to make a little jar of sweet treats for a friend. Yogurt jars to the rescue! Here’s a closer look at the cookie jar:

Then, since I had another one of these jars, I decided to make a little Christmas gift. Who doesn’t need tags at Chrstimas? Isn’t this a sweet gift for a friend, or a hostess gift?

Now let’s take a closer look at the tags:

The tags are cut out using the new Patterned Tags dies — a sneak peak of something in the new Sept-Dec Mini Catalog! This catalog goes live on Tuesday. There is a plain tag (that I used on the two tags on each jar, and to cut the pre-printed DSP from the new Christmas Tags & More 6 x 6 paper pack. The bottom row shows the other three tags in the die set: evergreen, candy cane stripes, and quilt-like snowflakes. Note: don’t through the evergreen negatives out — That’s what I used on the front of my jar tag:

Now, let’s see what the others have done with new products! Visit the roll call below, or click the next arrow below to head over to Tonya Bower’s Blog:

Happy Stamping! Kelly

Roll Call

Tina Lesson 
Jo Anne Hewins 
Toni Campana 
Tracie Evans Langley – the Sassy Stamper 
Laurie Meier 
Kelly Taranto – The Late Night Stamper 
Tonya Bowers 

AWOW – This or That Feminine vs Masculine

The Around the World on Wednesday (AWOW) team and I are hopping today — here on our blogs, and on Instagram. Before I go on, let me first introduce the AWOW Team–here’s who we are and where we are in the world:

For our fifth month, we are CAS(e)ing our Aussie team member, Rochelle Laird-Smith. Rochelle is known for her layers, layers and layers (and her love of DSP…girl after my heart!) She is also very talented with making double cards as in one feminine and one masculine using the stamp set/bundle, hence the This or That theme this month as well.

On Rochelle’s home page, she has her top five favorite things, and one of them is the Everyday Happiness DSP. I also love this paper. It is sold as part of a scrapbooking kit so comes with some die cuts and stickers, and could definitely be feminine or masculine depending on your paper and die cut choices. Let’s take a look:

Here is a card from Rochelle that I’ve CASE’d:

I love LOVE all of the textures and layers, as well as the layout. Let’s take a look at my take on her design, making a feminine and masculine version:

Let’s take a look at each.

THIS – Feminine:

Close-up:

THAT: Masculine:

Close-Up:

Now let’s see what my friends around the world did with this challenge. Click the next button below to follow along to Chris Smith’s Blog, or follow along the hop using the Roll Call Below.

Happy Stamping! Kelly

Roll Call

Leonie Stuart – AU
Rochelle Laird-Smith – AU
Cheryll Miller – AU
Marga Bultena – NL
Aurélie Fabre – FR
Kelly Taranto – US – You are here!
Chris Smith – US
Bree Renwick – US
Teri West – US
Cheryl Hamilton – US

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