Do you ever come across a product that makes you want to stop everything you’re doing, and play? That happened to me recently. I had a full schedule of work to do, and then I opened my Colorado Craft Company package… and I immediately cleared my schedule for the rest of the day. (Family was ok with it, they got pizza for dinner!) I stared at my new stamps for awhile, and decided it was time to do a long watercoloring session. Then I got to work.

This is Big & Bold Hope Sings Peacock. Gorgeous, right? I stamped the bird with Antique Linen Distress Ink onto Arches Cold Press watercolor paper. I taped the paper down to a board, and used the following Daniel Smith Watercolors to paint with: Pthalo Blue Red Shade, Mayan Dark Blue, Cascade Green, Perylene Green, Janes Grey, Sepia. Black and Natural Gray Zig Clean Color Real Brushes were used for the stems and pupil.

• 

• 

• 

I used a #8 round brush to add most of the color. this was a great size for this big bird. My first layer was wet-on-wet, (adding paint to wet paper) letting the pigment organically move. I dropped in dabs of color here and there for shading. The second layer was more controlled, I added paint first, then moved it with a wet brush. my third layer was mainly shading and details. I moved to a #6 round brush for finer details, and a #4 round brush for the brown in the eye.

I picked a sentiment from Hummingbird Delight, and stamped it with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink. I trimmed the panel, and attached it to a 4.5″x6.5″ card base with foam adhesive.

While I had my supplies out, I decided to do one more bird. The Tickled Pink Flamingo stamp set is so stunning, and I couldn’t wait to paint it!

I did the same painting steps as above, this time stamping the bird with Spun Sugar Distress Ink. I picked the following Daniel Smith colors for my palette: Transparent Pyrrol Orange, Permanent Alizarin Crimson, Quinacridone Rose, Yellow Ochre, Quinacridone Gold, Burnt Umber, Lunar Black.

• 

• 

• 

Once finished, I trimmed the panel, and attached it to a card base with foam adhesive. I used another sentiment from Hummingbird Delight, This time white heat-embossing it onto black card stock.

** Colorado Craft Company is offering the Big & Bold Bird Trio at 15% off today, and tomorrow! (July 28 & 29, 2020) PLUS Free shipping in the US! (Discounted international shipping.) Be sure to stop by the store blog for more details, and enter to win a giveaway!

That’s all that I have for today. I hope I have been able to share some crafty inspiration with you. Thanks so much for stopping by!