Life Is Better In Flip-Flops Card - RRCB92

I recently came across the Retro Rubber Challenge blog where you must use a stamp that is at least a year old on your challenge entry cards.  Sounded perfect for me as I have quite a few retro stamps in my stash!  The current challenge, number 92, is 'Life's a Beach!' and they're asking for a summer themed card.

Hmmm, I remembered I had a Woodware 'Flip Flops' stamp set in my stash and so I dug that out.  I'm not exactly sure how old the stamp set is, I know I've had it in my stash for over two years and it could well be longer than that.  It has sat neglected and unused until now - shocking! I've also used a Hero Arts 'Woodgrain' background stamp that I've had since 2009.

One of my favourite things to do is mix my old stash items with my new crafty purchases.  For this card I used my brand new 'Nesting Rectangles Wonky Stitching' die set along with my old stamps.  I die cut the rectangle using SU! Balmy Blue CS and stamped the 'Woodgrain' image on it using Balmy Blue ink.  I know the stamp is 'Woodgrain' but I thought the lines gave a good impression  of water!

To get an authentic beach feel and look I tore a piece of very fine sandpaper, die cut just a portion of it, stamped the speckle stamp from the set over the sandpaper using Soft Suede ink and glued the sandpaper to the Balmy Blue rectangle.  The blue rectangle was mounted onto a Lovely Lipstick mat layer and I glued that to the front of a white A6 sized card base.  I paper pieced the flip flops, (the Daffodil Delight 'Polka Dot Parade' DSP is also very retro, I think that's been in my stash for 5 - 6 years!) fussy cut the elements, popped up the flowers and attached the flip flops to the panel - popping up the second flip flop.  I also popped up the 'Life is better in flip-flops' sentiment.  The finishing touch for the card front was to add a rhinestone jewel to the centre of the flowers.

I used the Daffodil Delight dotty patterned paper and Lovely Lipstick CS to decorate the inside of the card and the front of the envelope.

This was a lovely, happy card to make - it's raining and grey today so some cheery brightness was definitely called for!

EDITED TO ADD:

I'm very happy to say my card was chosen as the Top Pick for this challenge, woohoo!

Supplies:
Stamps: Woodware 'Flip Flops' set, Hero Arts 'Woodgrain' background stamp
CS: PaperMania A6 white card blank, SU! Balmy Blue, Lovely Lipstick & Whisper White
Patterned paper: SU! 'Polka Dot Parade' DSP
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black, SU! Soft Suede
Tools: Creative Dies Plus 'Nesting Rectangles Wonky Stitching' die set
Embellishments & accessories: very fine sandpaper, SU! rhinestone jewels, Dimensionals
Ruth