The Dog Days of Summer

Happy Wednesday, my friends! Is it just me, or is everyone else just about finished with summer around the middle of August? I love the warm weather, but in August, it’s just a little too warm for me (even though it has been a bit cooler this year).

I always thought the “dog days of summer” meant it was hot and everyone wanted to be like dogs and just lie around and sleep. But Donna, our “Challenge Hostess” for our August local demonstrator gethering, gave us the Dog Days of Summer as our challenge, and she told us the origins.

The phrase is actually a reference to the fact that, during this time, the Sun occupies the same region of the sky as Sirius, the brightest star visible from any part of Earth and part of the constellation Canis Major, the Greater Dog. Typically, this is from about the early part of July until early August or September (depending on who you ask).

I love that we not only were given a great challenge, but also got a little education as well! Here are some of the challenge entries from the meeting. There are more, but they were from Zoom participants, so I don’t have pictures yet.

This is Donna’s entry. She went with the “dog” idea as well as summer. I love her card. The stamp set retired, but the punch is still available. If you don’t have the set, it is so easy to draw around the outline, add a nose, an eye, and some fur using the writing tip of a Stampin’ Write Marker, or even a Stampin’ Blend. I love how the little dog is looking at the flowers. (Confession – I thought these were fireworks. But flowers make more sense.)

Donna is not only a spectacular artist, but she is also a fabulous cookie baker. She often brings cookies or other baked goodies to our meetings that coordinate with her challenge card. This month, her sunflower cookies were a huge hit!

Christy used the Sending Sunshine Paper Pumpkin Kit for her cards. These just make me want to smile! Such a fun kit, and gorgeous colors.

And this is my card. I used the “locking gatefold” idea with the Timeless Tropical Stamp Set and In the Tropics Dies. (You can see the instructions for the lock in this post.)

I love how all of us used “hot” colors – like yellows and oranges. When I get the rest of the challenge cards, I’ll post the others.

Thanks for stopping by Stamping with Buffy. Have an amazing day! (Bet you want a cookie now, don’t you? I do!)