The little things that make me happy here on Bliss Road~~Emily Keaton

Saturday, November 20, 2010

SCS Inspiration Challenge Samples

Hi and Happy Saturday, everyone!

I was so excited to be asked by SmylinStef on SCS to make sample cards for this week's Inspiration Challenge!! This was an SCS first for me. I really enjoyed getting two cards ready, and couldn't wait to share them with all of you.

This week’s inspiration site is Plaid Pony Vintage, a small independent company selling vintage clothing, accessories, and housewares for vintage obsessed guys and gals. Can I just tell you how fun it was to browse this site? I kept coming across things that my family owned and used while growing up, which, I have to say, was kind of scary. Since when have things from my own lifetime become "vintage?" I don't feel old enough for that! (Although my driver's license may tell you a different story . . . )

OK, enough rambling (time enough for that at the end of this post). Let's meet today's cards!
Because I was born and raised in Ohio, I was immediately drawn to this Ohio souvenir plate. I’ve seen all of those places! In fact, I think my mom may actually own a plate just like this one, so it was a nice trip down memory lane. But more than the nostalgia factor, I was drawn to all of the great design possibilities. See those cardinals in the center medallion? (You can click the plate to enlarge it.) Cardinals are Ohio's state bird, that's where I got my inspiration for the focal point of my card. Then I stamped the design on the large circle myself to imitate the rest of the pattern on the plate. I used four different stamps from my four favorite stamp companies: the cardinal is from Mark’s Finest Papers, the primrose is from Flourishes, the toile-like vine is from The Angel Company, and the pattern on the photo corners was punched from a chrysanthemum from {ippity}. My card measures 5” x 5” square.

This CAS Christmas card was inspired by this awesome vintage Holly and Poinsettia Apron. Last month I bought a small collection of various designer papers for Christmas, and among them was a great holly and poinsettia pattern with updated flair from Cosmo Cricket. I decided to go CAS on this one to let the DP really shine.

The Noel sentiment is from Mark’s Finest Papers and is punched with the new decorative label punch from Stampin’ Up! I highlighted the edge of the label with gold lame Smooch (available from MFP). I added red rhinestones and some SU real red grosgrain ribbon, and that’s all! The time it took for the Smooch to dry was longer than it took to make the whole rest of the card. :)

No other challenges for today's first creation aside from the SCS Inspiration Challenge IC259. I was so wrapped up in really capturing my inspiration plate in this card that I didn't even think to try to look for other challenges to spark my creativity. Everything I needed was right there in the souvenir plate!

I am entering the second card in these challenges:

OK, before I go I wanted to share a few other items I found on the Plaid Pony Vintage website. I just thought it was so funny to see listings for this Uncle Wiggly game and this Dungeon Dice game, too. Not only did my family have both of these games when I was growing up, they ended up with me after I was married, and we still play them with our kids today. Isn't that a hoot? We play "vintage" all the time. OK, now that I think about, I am starting to feel old . . .

Thanks so much for stopping by to share my little slice of bliss for today. Have a great weekend!

Cardinal Card Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers Greetings of the Season, Flourishes Calendar Set 1, The Angel Company Vine, {ippity} Now & Always
Paper: MFP natural vanilla bean fleck CS, SU basic black CS
Ink: Marvy LePlume II black marker, Palette noir black
Accessories: CM circle cutting system, Spellbinders Lacey Circles, SU photo corners punch, foam tape, black pearls, Offray sheer petal rose

Noel Card Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers Musical Holiday
Paper: MFP natural vanilla bean fleck CS, The Paper Company red CS, Cosmo Cricket Mitten Weather DP
Ink: Marvy LePlume II pine marker
Accessories: SU decorative label punch, SU scallop trim border punch, gold lame Smooch (from MFP), foam tape, red rhinestones, SU real red grosgrain ribbon

22 comments:

Benzi said...

Emily, congrats on getting to sample today for the SCS inspiration challenge. Your cards are awesome. All that vintage talk is scaring both of us, though. LOL Thanks for coming by my blog to give me congrats, too. Wish I could join the IC today but going out of town for the weekend. See ya Monday.

Meg said...

Wow, fabulous cards, Emily! The CAS Christmas one is scrumptious, but oh....the black and white cardinal one!!!! How absolutely stunning and sophisticated and vintage and elegant is that?!?! I think my favorite bit is the chrysanthemum stamped on the photo corners--I definitely thought it was patterned paper, and you certainly put a clever way to use stamps in my head!

Marisa said...

Two fabulous cards, Emily! Love your take on the first insp. piece. The bird is gorgeous. Wonderful CAS Christmas card too - that DP is fabulous.

Anonymous said...

gorgeous cards!! you nailed your inspiration pieces and congrats for being asked to showcase your beauties.

Anonymous said...

These are both beautiful, Emily. I love the simplicity of the second card but the black and white one is fantastic! I love the way you combined different stamps, and the pearls and ribbon detail are beautiful.

Vicki Dutcher said...

Your circle card is just stunning!! Thanks for playing with Speedy's Friends!

Stacy Morgan said...

Very cool in the black and white, perfect take on that piece. I like the simplicity with your noel, very pretty.

Harriet Skelly said...

Emily I absolutely love your cards - but most especially the black and white cardinal one - I could tell what inspiration piece you used right away! (BTW, I am a Ohio State graduate). Thanks for playing with Speedy's Friends!

Becky said...

These are gorgeous! I just love the black and white.

Mona Pendleton said...

BEAUTIFUL cards Emily and great take on both of the inspiration pieces! Love the B&W card - so classy and elegant and the second is so fun & festive :) TFS

Joanne Travis said...

You are so creative and talented, Emily. Both samples are so different and so beautiful!!

Colleen Dietrich said...

Emily, I can't believe what a terrific job you did copying a plate onto paper! It's spot-on! And the Christmas card paper is soooooo pretty. It, too, is a good match for your inspiration photo. Glad you let it shine.

I never heard of Dungeon Dice, and I think I'm older than *you*!

Anita said...

Emily, both cards are absolutely gorgeous. Of course the first one is my fav since it's patterned from the Ohio plate. Isn't it fun to look through vintage catalogs, etc and remember growing up with so many of those things?

marsha said...

Both cards are just stunning and I love the colors in your second card! Thanks for joining us for this week's Critter Sketch Challenge and we hope you will come back and play again next week!
Hugs,
Marsha
CSCB-DT

ChristineCreations said...

What a great job you did with both of these cards Emily! Great use of your inspirations!

Silke Ledlow said...

Two absolutely gorgeous cards for the holidays Emily!!! I truly love them both!!! Thank you for joining us at the FTTC :)!!! Hugs ~S~

Lynn McAuley said...

What awesome cards for the Inspiration Challenge, Emily!! Sensational!!

Betty Wright said...

Wow! Both of these are just gorgeous, Emily! I was really impressed with the top card and your inspiration picture! Beautiful use of these stamps and your design is fabulous! Wonderful Christmas cards! Thanks so much for playing Flourishes FTTC Challenge!

Jane said...

Gorgeous card, absolutely beautiful! thanks for joining us at Simon Says Stamp, hugs, Jane xxx

Colleen said...

Such a pretty, clean card. Thanks for joining us at Critter Sketch Challenges!

Joanne (jojot) said...

all are fab, but that black and white one had me gazing and admiring for a longgggg time...a real stunner....thanks for playin with Speedy's Friends this week

Mary Marsh said...

wanted to drop by to wish you a happy thanksgiving emily-and I was treated to 2 beautiful cards as well. congrats on gettingto sample with scs -it's exciting I know!!