Stampin! with Jaydee

Hi Everyone.  I have TWO cards for you tonight.  Yep... two for the price of one visit :-)

I made a promise to myself that I would use up the card kits that I buy - both from the SU catalog, from My Paper Pumpkin and from Simon Says Stamp.  I really do like getting a little surprise in my postbox each month but found that I was generally making one or two cards and then stacking them away.  I decided that was a complete waste of money and vowed that I would make several cards with the SSS kit before putting it away - and that I would complete all of the projects from My Paper Pumpkin!

Anyway, I used the Simon Says Stamp June card kit for the two cards tonight.  I really do think this is one of my favourite kits from SSS.  You can read more about the kit here.  I love the fact that it comes with a "smile" die as well as a stamp set, washi tape and paper.  I made very good use of these goodies and made several cards on Sunday.  These cards will all be going to the Splitcoaststampers June Cards for a Cause.  You can read more about that here.  I am always happy to create cards for children and this is the second time that I have supported this particular cause.

Anyway, on to the cards!   Firstly, let's look at the card for As You See It

I started by die-cutting the "smile" using three different colours of card stock that I had chosen to match the background DSP.  I love how bright and sunny the colours are together.  The kit also comes with a sheet of embellishments - and I used the three flower elements as the colours perfectly matched the colours I had chosen for the "smile".

Here's my card:

Of course, I had to create an envelope to go with it!

The sun and the "smile" are 3 stamps from the "Happy and Smile" stamp set that comes with the kit - but is also available separately!

Now.... on to another card made using the elements from the kit, this time for CasethisSketch

I began with placing the Washi tape (that comes with the kit) onto the card base - making sure that I had sufficient room for the stamped sentiment.  Once again, I made sure the colours were nice and bright - perfect with the washi tape.   Here's my card:

I hope you will visit both the the challenge sites and check out the fabulous design team and submission cards.

On a personal note:

Well, it rained AGAIN today!  Yep... Again!  I think we can now officially say that our part of the world is no longer in drought.  I'm hoping that some of this rain - and the rain from Texas - will be heading the way of California!

Our Redheaded Woodpecker is still hanging around!

We really do hope that the two of them have found somewhere to nest.  If they nest successfully, there is a good chance that we will get a couple more pairs in the area as they breed in a "cluster".  It would be fabulous if that was the case.  Increasing our known number from 0 to 6 would be incredible!

I was on the deck today and noticed a flash of colour and managed to locate it!  Yes, the Great Crested Flycatcher is back, too!

It's a decent enough photo - pity he didn't have his crest up!  You can read about the Great Crested Flycatcher here

I'll be back with another card tomorrow and a couple more wildlife photos.  In the meantime, warm hugs and prayers for those of you who need a little lift tonight.

Hugs

Jaydee

Card recipe:

• Stamp set:  Happy and Smile (Simon Says Stamp)
• Die:  Smile Circle (Simon Says Stamp).  
• Accessories:  Flower stickers- Doodlebug- Summer Shapes
• All contents from the Simon Says Stamp June card kit