Classy Lavender: Larkspurs In Bloom - 2 Cards

 I'm here on a beautiful sunny spring afternoon with not one but two cards to share with you,
both in a lavender color scheme but different.

Have you ever noticed the color trends of spring?  Which flowers come out first?
The daffodils.  Yellow, to get the attention of sleepy pollinators (and to delight the gray-weary eye).
Next comes yellow's complement, purple.  Irises, crocuses, catmint, chive blossoms, sage.
More yellow comes after that in my garden with the heirloom winter kale going to seed.
So in spring, the first colors I think of are always these--yellow and purple.
Of the two, the purple flowers last longest and attract the first of the bees--
so as a lover of the all-important honeybee, I give special place to these purple blooms
in my bee-friendly yard and garden.

And also in my spring-themed card-making this year. 
Muse, The Card Concept and many others have lilacs and other purple spring blooms on feature.
So here are my two purple-spring flower cards today, each with different challenge inspirations.

I joined in the fun for my first card with larkspurs.

 

 

 

 

This one will play in the following challenges:

 

{PIN}spiration Challenge #164: Mothers / Women in our Lives

 

Cuttlebug Mania: Butterflies

Alphabet Challenge: Embossing Folders

Tuesday Throwdown #292: Welcome Spring

Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes

 Crafty Cardmakers #163 Pearls or Gems

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge:

 

I loved the crocheted lace in the sweet Curtain Call inspiration photo, so I included some handmade lace from a very nice vintage lace stash I picked up at an estate sale quite awhile ago.

Such a beautiful but--sadly--lost art, lace-making.

Here is a reference photo I used for coloring the larkspurs (aka delphiniums to some).  I've seen them more of a purple shade with whitish centers, but they can also be pink or pure white.

 

 

 

 

Materials Used on this Card:

Cardstock {Papertrey Ink}
Stamps {Larkspurs from Year of Flowers Collection - Papertrey Ink}
Ink and Clear Superfine Embossing Powder {Ranger}
Copic markers and Prismacolor pencils
Embossing folder {The Paper Studio}
Rub-ons {Basic Grey}
Butterfly {DCWV Die cut stack}
Vintage lace {stash}
Pearls {The Paper Studio}
Corner Rounder {EK Success} 

 

Okay, now on to the second card, in a classy style with another old Papertrey Ink set, In Bloom.

I'll be back a little later on today with a tutorial on how to do the watercolor-like technique using Prismacolors and baby oil.  It gives the finished colored flowers a nice vibrance and slight sheen.

 

Lots of swift-moving cumulus clouds are playing real tricks with the natural light today.

Sorry about that, folks.

I didn't use some amazing color-changing ink.

 

The Card Concept #54 Spring Flowers
Classy style this time (2nd card) - not Quite Shabby


Retro Sketches #213

 

 

Materials Used on this Card:

Cardstock {K & Company}
Patterned papers { }
Stamps and dies {In Bloom set - Papertrey Ink}
Dye Ink {Winter Wisteria and Ripe Avocado - Papertrey Ink}
Prismacolor pencils and baby oil
Sentiment sticker {Family Phrases - The Paper Studio}
Decorative trim {Robert Stanley}
Lavender satin ribbon {Ribbon Boutique}
Glimmer mist Gold {Tattered Angels}
Eyelet lace Edge punch {Martha Stewart}

 

 

So, there are the two cards for today.
Thank you so much for dropping by!
Before you go, take a minute to enter for my Spring giveaway.
There's an awful lot there and I look forward to regifting it to someone who will
really enjoy!

Be well and enjoy the sunshine!
--Kathryn