Blue Butterfly Paint by Numbers

Blue butterfly paint by numbers canvas you fill in yourself

A fairy-tale blue butterfly rests on an open flower, wings built from blue, violet and turquoise, with paler floral patterns crossing them. Pink and beige sit in the heart of the flower. The background stays dark, and that is what lifts the cool wing colours off the canvas. The motif is printed portrait on linen with outlines and numbers, so you read the canvas and fill each area from the matching pot. We class it as advanced: the wing patterns and the droplets around the butterfly are small areas, and most of the work goes through the fine brush. Colours come as 24, 36 or 48 pots depending on the option, and the larger sets split the blues and violets into closer shades for softer transitions. Other wing shapes and lighter backgrounds sit in the butterfly paint by numbers range.

Tips for painting this design

Paint the dark background first. It covers the largest area, it goes down quickly, and it gives you a clean edge to work the wings against. Leave the blues and violets until the pale pinks and beiges are dry, otherwise the wing colours pick up light paint from the brush. The floral patterns and the droplets want short strokes and a light touch with the fine brush. A 40x50 cm canvas keeps every detail comfortable to paint; 30x40 cm works on a narrow wall if you are happy with tighter areas. If you would rather paint the bloom on its own, the flower paint by numbers collection covers petals and bouquets.

Sizes, colours and painting time

The design comes in 15x15 to 70x80 cm (12 sizes). You choose a kit with 24, 36 or 48 colours, on rolled canvas, with or without a wooden frame to assemble. Allow around 20 to 40 h depending on the size.

What's in the kit

• Canvas:The printed linen canvas shows the butterfly, the flower and the dark background with a numbered outline for every area.
• Paint:Numbered acrylic pots, ready to use. The set holds the blues, violets, turquoises, pinks and beiges of the wings and the flower, in 24, 36 or 48 colours depending on the option.
• Brushes:Three brushes, fine, medium and wide. The fine one does the wing patterns and droplets, the wide one the background.
• Guide:A paper guide to the design, so you can check a number before opening a pot.
• Optional:A wooden frame to assemble, if you want the canvas stretched flat while you paint.

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Without frame

The canvas arrives rolled in a tube. You paint it flat and frame it afterwards if you wish.

With frame

Wooden stretcher bars to assemble stretch the canvas. You paint on a taut surface and hang the finished picture on the wall.