Happy Birthday...

Hi everyone.... I'm back again to join one of my teamies Sam Simpson with her Sketch Week, a week long sketch challenge... Sam's designs are perfect and you can go as fancy smansy or as simple... here's No 2...

P.S. I'll update this later as I'm late for a dinner date!  I wanted to get this to Sam's post asap...

~Sandy

You are a Gem...

Hi everyone.... I'm excited to join one of my teamies Sam Simpson with her Sketch Week, a week long sketch challenge... I am late coming to the party but hope to get the daily challenges done... so here's No 1...

You are a Gem...

I used a 5x7 cardstock in bright blue with a designer paper background,  Gem quote from Scribbles Designs popped up onto a ribbon accent.

This is the challenge sketch from Sam...

Entered You are a Gem into...

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Life Goes On...

I found myself really tired after our bike trip but yet energized too... I hope to accept and complete the challenges from my teamie Sam Simpson with her Sketch Week challenge... her sketches are great CAS (Clean and Simple) designs...
I will get to the hummingbird photos as promised... I'm meeting up with my bestie and her niece for hopefully a round of fun golf if the weather holds out... if it rains it might be drinks and snacks! It will be fun no matter which!
Expect me to pop back to this as I need to update a few things but need to get it posted! LOL

Aloha...

It's time again for the

 Sentimental Sundays 

challenge. 

This week's challenge is:
Ombre Hair

(plus a sentiment)

Aloha

What a fun challenge... Ombre Hair is so 'in' right now!  It was fun to color and it was even better with the sweet image of Ani from Saturated Canary...colored with copics on a double matt base with a collection of waves and hibiscus die cuts and the 'Aloha' rub on letters...

all on a 5x7 folded card....

This week's Sponsor is:

Saturated Canary Challenge Blog

Saturated Canary Store

Donating: 2 images, winner's choice 

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Life Goes On...

It's been again a busy week as Boyd and I had a week off for a little motorbike vacation... we travelled to a couple of points east of us here and had great weather - only a couple of hours one day was with some showers.  We were in Nelson, Kaslo, Slocan, New Denver,  Mica Dam, Kamloops & Sun Peaks, Revelstoke... had a couple of ferry rides and cold beers and natchos... a real good get-away... and even had some time with Carol & Rob & the Aladdin Cocker Spaniels.  That was a good 'dog fix' as Ali's mommy, Jette gave me tons of puppy kisses. 
 Like she knew that she needed to comfort me with loosing Ali...
Oh and the bike ride?  Well, I got I think my very first wasp bite while riding... bugger hurt!  And in the picture below you'll one of the sloshy bug splats on my helmet - UGH!  DOUBLE UGH!

UGH - big yellow bug splat!

One of the stunning waterfalls...

This is me (I am wearing a bathing suit top!  LOL) and my OMBRE hair...

So... this is my post for today... I'll have another shortly...

thought for the day....

"Enjoy Life's tiny delights..."

~Sandy

PoP Midway...

Please join us on the...

Path of Positivity 

A unique challenge blog designed to inspire, nurture 

and provide support for the soul by creating a positive path to follow...

Challenge #5 Optimism....

We're mid-way on this challenge and would love to have you join us...

I decided to complete two cards for the mid-way... 

The first card is the Fish 1 image from Ike's Art with both the image and sentiment (from Lisa D) (there is a free sentiment available there too!) directly printed onto marker card stock.  Colored with copics and just a few stickle dots along with the bubbles...

The second card is a simple CAS layered onto card stock with a direct print of the sentiment also from Lisa D (there is a free sentiment available there too!); colored with copics and a simple pass of washi tape to coordinate with the colors.  The image is Thinking of You, Girl in the Window from Fresh Brewed Designs....

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Life Goes On...

I'm late in getting this post out... we're supposed to be on our bike trip starting today but we had a little brake pad issue so it delayed our leaving by one day.... We've been enjoying having an extra day to visit with family and also to get a couple of rides in and around the city after the new brake pad was installed... except for some clouds and nasty wind at moments, it's been a great couple of days...

I'm going to keep this post short as I am starting to weed thru and choose the photos from over 400 taken of the hummingbird... I will post this shortly, hopefully today!

My thought for the day...

"good friends leave impression in our heart"

Always...

~Sandy

Happy Birthday, Girlfriend!

It's time again for the

 Sentimental Sundays 

challenge. 

This week's challenge is:
One Layer Card

(plus a sentiment)

Happy Birthday, Girlfriend!

I had the wonderful opportunity to use BFF Duo Cake from Just Some Lines... printed directly with a Happy Birthday sentiment directly onto card stock.  Colored with copics and added some metallic gel pen accent and a bit of bling...

Fun and a little sassy... perfect!

This week's Sponsor is:

Just Some Lines
Just Some Lines Store
Donating: $12 gift voucher to the store

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Life Goes On...

We've had some beautiful weather here in the Okanagan... it's been in the 30ºC (which is 100ºF) range for a better part of two weeks.  I'm loving the warmth and enjoying a little bit of humidity which is not common for us as we are such a dry area... 

Here are a few pictures of the area that Boyd and I live...

Downtown Kelowna...

Vineyards...

City Park & Knox Mountain Park in the background...

It was 10 years ago that we had a devastating forest fire which enveloped the southern section of our city.  250 homes were lost and no loss of life, which was incredible.  The whole mountain side was ablaze at times and it was surreal.  We were getting large cold embers landing on our deck which was 2 - 3 km away from the fires.  The last picture here above, Boyd & I live on the other side of the top ridge in a area of the city that is surrounded by park and trees... it is nature and the city at our back door... yesterday we went for a 3 hour (5km) hike/walk... it was hot & dry (we had water to drink, whew) and we were quite spent by the time we got home.  It was a fabulous trek! 

We're, well lets say I am... looking forward to having some dog time at our friends & breeders Carol & Rob and the Aladdin Cocker Spaniels... I'm thinking that some dog hugs and kisses might be in order.  No news on the puppy side yet which is okay too.  It's is good thing and it gives us time to honor Ali.

Oh and the hummingbird update?  No return of Babe or Momsy... nature has a way of taking care of itself, I guess.  I don't think we'll get a second nesting but hopefully a hummingbird will use the nest next season, providing it stays intact.  We'll get our photo collection edited down and hope to post soon...

Thought for the day...
"You know something bad is about to happen when someone says...
 'Hold my beer and watch this...'  "

Hugs...
~Sandy

Optimism..

Welcome to Path of Positivity 

A unique challenge blog designed to inspire, nurture 

and provide support for the soul by creating a positive path to follow...

Challenge #5 Optimism....

Optimism

inspires, energizes, and brings out our best.

It points the mind towards possibilities and

helps us think creatively past problems.

~Price Pritchett~

Loving the cute little chick with it's help from the balloon to fly... 

the image is Chick's First Flight from Fresh Brewed Designs

colored with copics (and I was busy doing my gel nails and needed to color some images... so with my left hand 'free' I colored the image - not bad for my left hand...LOL)

then placed on a color block DP with matching flags and flowers...

the quote is from Lisa D of PoP & Decosses Dynamite Doodle's

Join the PoP challenge here....

This month's sponsors...

Three digital images from Fresh Brewed Designs, for a person
chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.

Ten digital images for the person out of the top seven
who receives the most votes during voting week

Three digital images for the post or project
that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.

One digital designer paper  for one lucky voter who leaves a comment 

One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge

Entered into...

613 Avenue Create Challenge #31 Anything Goes w/a Twist - add a sentiment

Challenge 4 Everybody, Challenge #26 Anything Goes

Life Goes On...

I've had some time off (usual in my work schedule) so it's been nice to just be... spend some time for me and stay in my studio for most of the day.  I've been busy creating more digital images so that in itself is very therapeutic.  I have a Bamboo drawing tablet (that Boyd bought for me) and I'm LOVING it!  It has sped up my drawings three-fold.

Oh, and the update on our Babe hummingbird... well... Babe was busy in it's next, spreading and trying out it's wings, cleaning & poking its beak everywhere... very active... so we were thinking it will be time soon for Babe to leave the nest.  We had a bad wind storm last night and Babe was getting tossed about pretty crazily and almost came out of the nest.  In our wish to help Babe out, Boyd went outside and wanted to secure the nest/wind chime base down as much as possible to help the tossing of Babe.  He got everything set up and came close to the nest and Babe flew off... oh no!!!!  Babe had always 'froze' when I came out to talk to him/her and Boyd & I thought Babe would do the same even in the windy conditions.  Babe flew away and across we hope to the neighbors roof or tree.  Mom Hummingbird came by to feed and look for Babe twice and Babe didn't return.  We hope that Babe has survived its first day.  We'll see how many hummingbirds show up at the feeder...  Boyd was so sad as all he was trying to do was help and I was sad and sad for him...I knew one day Babe would fly away, although I had hoped I would have gained its or Mom's trust enough to feed from my handheld nectar container.  Maybe next time...

We can finally compile the photo collection in the next day or so...

Life does indeed go on...

My thought for the day...

Never look back unless you're planning on going that way...

Hugs..

~Sandy

5, 4, 3, 2, 1....

It's time again for the

 Sentimental Sundays 

challenge. 

This week's challenge is:
Child's Play

(plus a sentiment)

5, 4, 3, 2, 1...

I had fun with this card and kept it CAS with the papers doing all the work!  On a 5 1/2" x 6" folded card, I used the Blast Off image from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps colored with copics.  Adding a glossy accents window, all cut out & outlined in the same background cardstock color.  The sentiment from the same set on a simple die-cut flag with a brad accent.  Inside, I added another of the included sentiments along with a spot to write your personal birthday wishes...

This week's Sponsor is:

Sweet N' Sassy
Sweet N' Sassy Shop
The Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge Blog 
Donating: 3 digital images, winner's choice 

Entered in

2 Creative Chicks, Challenge #5 Anything Goes for Kids

Card a Day - Use a Die-Cut (flag sentiment)

Digi Galore Birthday Blog Hop

Just for Fun - Anything Goes

Natalie & Amy's Challenge - Celebrate (Birthday)

One Crazy Stamper - Birthday

Digitally 'Sweet' Challenges - DSC#47 Anything Goes

Inspire Me Fridays 114 - Anything Goes

Sister Act Card Challenge #18 Anything Goes

Craftin' Boutique Challenges Challenge#1 - Anything Goes

Cute Card Thursday - Challenge #280 Anything Goes

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Life Goes On...

Hi!  Its been a good week... we've had some hot hot weather around here for the month of July and now this weekend its cooler - a bit - and some rain - although with the rain we have the chance of lightning - which then could lead to forest fires... we live in what they call an 'interface' area - meaning that the forest is just outside our door.  One must keep that in mind and we have our 'evacuation' list ready to go.  It is amazing in a time of  'panic' to evacuate what one will take - what is precious to oneself... I have some very precious items on my list and I know I would take much much more... anyways... that's not happening - so no panic everyone!  LOL  It just reminds me that I should re-acquaint myself with the list so I know where things are that are on it!

We still have a babe hummingbird... I hope that we'll get the chance to photograph its first time out of it's nest.  It must be getting closer as the little one has grown... I know! I know!  You're waiting on photos... I promise I will get them on here once we've compiled (and edited) the sequence of events.  It will be neat to see it all together...

Thanks for all the well wishes for Boyd & I - know that it means alot to us...

And my 'thought' for this post...

When in doubt, wear RED...

and this is also a new image sentiment soon to be on the store blog!  Funny how that happens, LOL

Till next time...

~Sandy

Celebrate Everything....

Celebrate Everything....

This post includes a fun scalloped shaped card with scalloped die cuts with the Celebrate Everything sentiment from Scribbles Designs... I added red & white paper flowers with sparkle-bling centers... and bling accents around the cut out.....and in my nation's colors - Canada's red & white....

This is the current challenge at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog 

which is to create a card or project to Celebrate your Nation, by way of your country's colors ... and there is even a freebie to use if you don't have a Scribbles Design's image!!! Yay! You can enter as many times as you like with a SD image - just put SD behind your name (see the updated challenge rules on the blog) and now you can also use any other designer's or companies image - although you are limited to 3 entries only.

This month Scribbles Designs Challenge is also sponsored by Bugaboo so there are some great prizes up for grabs with the challenge... 

hope you join them!  


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Life Goes On...
It's been a funky week... 4 hours early for a shift one day and then late arriving for the next day... Poor Boyd - and obviously myself - have no idea what my shift start times are - ugh!  It was hard to stay at home as it is amazing how our routine has changed with Ali not around.  Our days slip by quietly lately...and I'm still going thru things that circle around Ali... washing & putting away her food & water bowls, washing her favorite bed (towels), washing her toys... it's all an adjustment.   But... I will be okay... and among all of this is the dragonfly (my Mom) visits... she's been around a lot lately... comfort is found in the most unexpected moments.

We have a hummingbird who built a nest in our big wind chimes just outside Boyd's home office window.  We've been taking (numerous) photos and I will put them into this section when we get them sorted.  She (mom-hummingbird) had two eggs, both hatched, unfortunately only one survived.  The babe chick just opened his/her eyes yesterday and is feeding well from momsy.  Its quite a neat happening around our house, which has elevated some of the sadness... the universe works in wonderful ways...
And holy cow, Batman! If Pam, is reading this... I hope the bb-qued pork chops & rice-a-roni meal after your fire extinguisher event was fabulous!  I'm seeing a new motor-home in your future! LOL

"nothing is really lost. until your mom can't find it."

Later lovelies...
~Sandy