Think Outside The Box Challenge: Simple Summer Pleasures by Rebecca Grinder

Summer is a spectacular time of year! As a child, my summer days were filled with simple pleasures… long afternoons swimming at the pool… grasping tightly to my two quarters as I ran to meet the ice cream truck... playing hide and seek during warm summer evenings. Those everyday activities became some of my fondest memories! And today, I still look for ways to slow down my hectic schedule and enjoy the simple pleasures of summertime.

Savoring summer doesn’t have to take a lot of money, just a little imagination. Here’s a list of some of my favorite summer pastimes:

> Spread a blanket at the local park to read a book
> Go for a bike ride
> Check out a local music festival
> Chase butterflies and dragonflies
> Pack a picnic lunch
> Tour the local lavender farms
> Pick berries
> See a movie in the park
> Have a water balloon or squirt gun fight
> Visit the farmers’ market
> Take a hike
> Savor an ice cream cone at the local DQ
> Be a tourist for a day in my own town

This week's Think Outside The Box Challenge:

How do you slow down and enjoy the summer months? Create a layout depicting a simple summer pleasure.

To jump start your creative juices, take a look at these amazing designers’ simple summer pleasures! A great big thank you to all of the following talented ladies for letting us features their summertime layouts! If these pages wow you, be sure to link over to their blogs to see even more fabulous inspiration.

Blueberries by Dani Johnston

Prism Cardstock - Shelby's TanOctober Afternoon - Lunchbox Alphabet Stickers- Picnic Table GreatScott Etsy Shop - Book Page from 1957 Frozen Food Hints book schOOLLOcker Etsy Shop - Brown Ticket schOOLLOcker Etsy Shop - blue and white bakery twineMade by Stace Klug for Vintage Plum - Handmade Dictionary FlowersIvory LaceWhite Cupcake Liners (Used for masking and folded behind the photo)Vintage Plum - Pacific Avenue Diner Paper (All the above Products are from Vintage Plum's July kit "Cherry Pie") Making Memories Yellow StaplesTattered Angels Turquoise Blue Glimmer Mist Tim Holtz for Ranger Weather Wood Distress Ink Color Box Yellow Citrus Chalk InkpadSakura Black Jelly Roll Pen

Yummy by Akiko Kuroki

Cosmo Cricket papers and ribbon, Crafting Kit, Ready Set Chipboard, & misc. stickers

Not Quite by Frances Sylvia

designed for the So Sketchy! using the July #1 Sketch, created by Allison CopeBazzil Cardstock, October Afternoon Cherry Hill, Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday, DMC floss, American Crafts Thickers Sprinkles, Bazzil Die Cut Strips, My Little Shoebox Tiny Alphas, Starbuck's corrugated cardboard coozy, DYMO, and all buttons and brads from personal stash

Sweet Summer by Norma Kennedy

Pattern Paper: My Little Shoebox Cardstock: Core'dinatons Embellishments: October Afternoon Cherry Hill Stickers Alpha: American Craft Thickers Twine: Martha Stewart Baking Twine


Flower Girl by Gudrun Loennecken

Patternd paper: 3ndypapir, design Lene Solhaug Cardstock: Bazzill criss-cross white heavy woolen Felt & Craft Felt: Panduro Letters: Thickers & black pen by American Crafts & Buttons, DMC embroidery floss

Create Well: Take the time to enjoy a simple summer pleasure. And don't forget to take your camera because before you know it, summer will be gone!

Article written by Rebecca Grinder. Rebecca has been guest designer on Create Well...Create Often before. To visit her feature go to this post.

All photos used by permission.