S & S Midweek Throwdown Challenge - Summer Fun

This week's Midweek Throwdown Challenge over at OWH Stars & Stamps blog is to make a card for our heroes with a "Summer Fun" theme.  One of my very favorite things to do during the summer is to walk on the beach, especially during the sunset hour.  So, here is my card  with the summer fun theme:

This is a square card (4.5') that will still fit into the A2 sized envelope.  I started with SU Glossy White card stock, 3 SU re-inkers, and a baby wipe.   I used SU Creamy Caramel, Summer Sun, and Cameo Coral inks.

Have you heard of the baby wipe technique?  There is a simple tutorial at Splitcoast Stampers that you can check out here.  I much prefer this method to the brayer for several reasons.  First - it is much less messy because you can throw the wipe away when you are finished.  Second - you can get the variations that occur in nature without having to own a special ink pad.    Not only do the colors blend together right on the wipe but you can change the depth of color based on how hard you press but still remove some of the color with an uninked part of the same wipe.  Third - I can add texture to the sand by dabbing the wipe rather than dragging it.  Try it - and be sure to drop me a note with a link to see how it turns out for you.  :)

The background only took a few minutes to dry and then I used my Jet Black Stazon ink pad to stamp the girl, extra weeds, and the sentiment.  I used a black Sharpie marker to fill in the girl to make her appear as a silhouette.  I have seen this done before, frequently with this particular image, but had never tried it for myself.  I wasn't disappointed - and I'll do many more changing up the background colors maybe.  I layered the card with SU Creamy Caramel and the card base is Basic Black - which I will line with white.

I have to admit that I made this card for another challenge as well.  This weekend there was a stamping event at Splitcoast Stampers called a Virtual Stamp Night.  It was my first time participating in something like this and it was fun.  The challenge this card met called for a water vessel or beach scene.

Happy stamping and may God bless you!