Color Yourself to Tranquility

Color Yourself to Tranquility And Reduce Stress With These Beautiful Artworks of Trees
Original Art by Melissa Launay
Published at  CICO Books

About the book

Reduce stress and find inner calm by coloring in these beautiful trees, drawn by artist Melissa Launay.

Get in touch with nature and discover a world of tranquility by coloring in these beautiful illustrations of trees. Coloring provides a gateway to a peaceful state of mind: it has become a form of art therapy, as well as a way to help you explore your creativity.

Here Melissa Launay’s stunning hand-drawn artworks draw you into the natural world. More than 90 trees are portrayed, from the cherry trees with its ethereal blossom to the steadfast oak, and from the simple apple tree to the exotic dragon tree, all in intricate detail, ready for you to color in.

My Thoughts

I love using coloring as a way to relax and reduce the worries in your life.  I personally enjoy doing bible art journaling and illustrating scriptures.  But not everyone desire to develop their skills in illustrating themselves something and ultimately prefers to just be creative in adding some color to an already designed page. 

So this book is perfect for coloring the already designed illustrations by artist Melissa Launay. 

As you can see the images are all about trees.  You will in fact have more than 90 trees illustrated in this book.   Personally, I think it is a bit too much.  I would prefer a variety of illustrations like flowers, mountains, animals and so on.   The whole book has a theme based on trees.   If you like this then you will not have an issue with it.  Mind you trees are peaceful and you can relax quite a bit under the shade of a tree during the summer time.   But I prefer having a variety like I said.  In the end, there will be a lot of green colored pencils that will be use in your box and the rest not as much.   I guess you could be creative a bit and do leaves of different colors if you desire so – like a purple tree for example.

If you know someone who loves trees and enjoy spending time coloring at their own pace, this book is perfect for them.  It could also make a great gift to someone who enjoy coloring for relaxation.

Color Yourself to Tranquility is available for purchase at your favorite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Allen for sending me the above mentioned books for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Words of Grace

Words of Grace
By Jacqui Grace and Dee Arrand
Published at Bethany House

About the book

Be Amazed by God's Grace!

Bring new joy to your time in God's Word by incorporating beauty and creativity. As a gentle tonic for the busyness and worries of your life, this travel-sized coloring book devotional will help you focus your attention and calm your hurried soul.

Each page spread includes Scripture, devotional thoughts, and images to color that are all designed to reconnect you with the God who knows your every need. Grab your colored pencils, crayons, or markers and set yourself free to create. But most importantly: relax, have fun, and be blessed by God's grace.

My Thoughts

When I received this book to review, my first impression was primary based on the size of it.   The book is not very large nor thick for that matter.  But there is a saying that says “do not judge a book by its cover” right?  So who was I to think that this book was less important than another devotional which has hundreds of page?   I proceeded to explore the book before passing any further judgment on it.

This is a devotional book that will also allow the reader to color the pages while you reflect on what you have just read. This book contains exactly twenty-eight devotions divided into four weeks based on specific themes.  The themes are the following:

• Week 1: Knowing Who You Are
• Week 2: Intimacy with God
• Week 3: When Life Gets Tough
• Week 4: Now This is Living!

Each week contain a devotion for each day.  Through these devotions, you will learn to discover who you are, how to live intimately with God, remember that you can rely on Him at all times, and spread you wings in the world.   You can spend more time reflecting on the teaching you have just read by coloring the opposite page.  Sometimes you will have a little drawing on the devotion’s page as well.  

In conclusion, I think this little devotion book is fun for whoever likes to color as well.   I am saying this because recently as I was drawing in one of my books, someone looked at what I was doing and said “Oh you are one of those…”  I was surprised but when the person told me she really hate coloring then I could understand her comment better.  However, that small comment had other consequences on me like doubts and insecurity creeping slowly…. but in the end I decided to embrace my coloring because I find it is relaxing and it provides healing in my life.

Words of Grace is available for purchase at your favourite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

Disclaimer: The book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Design Originals Creative Coloring

The popularity of adult coloring book has continued to grow over the past year and many different books have come out on the market.     Design Originals have numerous adult coloring books to choose from and I had the opportunity to receive four of their titles:  Creative Coloring Birds, Creative Coloring Botanicals, Creative Coloring Flowers, and Creative Coloring Animals.

Each of these contains 30 ready to color illustrations that will help you to decompress and relax after a difficult day.   You do not have to have the skills of an artist to color these marvelous book.  Just pick up colored pencil or markers and fill the pages with color.   You will also find easy to follow tips on how to color the designs found in each of these books.   Also each pages are printed on high-quality paper which will not allow bleeding if you use markers (I know because I used Koi Watercolor brush pens in mine and it was fabulous!).  All the pages in these books are perforated which will allow you to easily remove them if you desire to display them .   Behind each of the drawing you will find a saying that could encourage you.

The books are quite easy to carry around to bring with you if you need to do so for personal reasons.  All you will have to do is pack some pencils or markers in order to color while you wait to an appointment.   

These books would also make a great Christmas gift for anyone who desire to get new adult coloring books for 2017.  

These coloring books are available for purchase at your favorite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Allen for sending me the above mentioned books for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Soul Coats–Restoration

Soul Coats Restoration is a coloring book  that depicts biblical scenes and scriptures.   In this book, you will find 64 illustrated scenes that will encourage you and restore your soul as you apply color to them.

The book contains 72 pages through which you will find 56 coloring scenes as well as 9 hand lettered scriptures.   At the end of the book you will also find a scene key providing the biblical section which the images was inspired from.  I think my favorite one is definitively the star over the town of Bethlehem.

The design are simply stunning and awe inspiring.  Some of them will fill the whole page while others will only use part of the page.   I suppose you could add some of your own design in the space in these pages if you would like to personalize it a bit more.  The designs are also very intricate which makes it more suitable for teenagers, young adults or adults alike.

When working through this specific coloring book for adult you will also have the opportunity to go through a study guide that goes with the book.  This study guide is only downloadable when signin up to the Soul Coats newletter.  The study guide has been written so that you can enhance your journey of restoration with thoughtful questions and reflections.

You will also find a page where you can learn more about the creator and the illustrators of this book. 

This new coloring book for adult is will help you spend more time in biblical stories in a different way while taking out your coloring pencils or markers to decorate the page.  Seeing that each person will be different in their choices of colors and such, two friends can use the same book and come up with different art pieces.

Soul Coats – Restoration is a great coloring book with a Christian flair.   It would make a great gift for anyone who desire to have Christian stories and/or scriptures to color.   Perfect Christmas gift for anyone!

Soul Coats – Restoration is available at your favorite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to the creator of Soul Coats for sending me the above mentioned book for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Painterly Days–Watercoloring Books for Adults

I received two stunning watercoloring books for adults titled Painterly Days – one on Flowers and one on Woodland.   Both are especially designed for  artist wannabe in your if you desire to explore coloring with watercolors.   The images are printed on luxe watercolor paper and are ready to be painted on at a moment’s notice.

These two books are great help you take some time to relax after a busy day or a stressful event.   I find that coloring help me to slow down and remove the weight that might have stacked over my shoulders at times.   No wonder that the niche of adult coloring books is still very much active and growing!

The Flowers book has 25 floral sketches while the Woodland book offers 25 woodland sketches.  Each of the sketches are printed on lovely watercolor paper which invites artistic experimentation with only a brush and paint.   The page is double-sided, offering the opportunity to paint the same page in different ways.

The author shares painting tips for each sketch and advice for discovering the artist within. Also included is a painting tutorial and handy color wheel. Each book is small enough to carry anywhere and simple to use. Creativity is an escape, and this book offers a delightful way to make art regardless of skill level.

Bottom line, if you desire to unwind and have a bit of personal time you should consider taking up some coloring books for adults.   It is amazing how much good it does on you…  Consider getting some this Christmas season for yourself or for family and friends who likes to color.

Three other Painterly Days titles are also available: Pattern, Kristy’s Spring Cutting Garden and Kristy’s Summer Cutting Garden.  You can also get the 12 colored pencils as well as the 18 watercolors and paintbrush.

These beautiful books are available at your favorite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Allen for sending me the above mentioned books for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Color Your Year During 2017

Workman Publishing has released a wide line of products called Color Your Year.  With the trend of coloring still strong in the adult community, it isn’t surprising that new products beside coloring books are release.  This time you can get from the Color Your Year products a coloring book, a wall calendar, a notepad and calendar, an engagement calendar, and a page-a-day calendar.
For the purpose of this review, I will present you the page-a-day notepad and calendar as well as the engagement calendar.
PAGE-A-DAY NOTEPAD and CALENDAR
There is nothing more relaxing I find than coloring away the stress of every day.  This particular Color Your Year product will allow you to do just that and stay organized throughout the year. Each pages including in this notepad and calendar will combine a check-off to-do list, lined notepaper, a mousepad, and built-in coloring break.  COLOR YOUR YEAR NOTEPAD + CALENDAR is the all-in-one desk accessory that works hard while refreshing the spirit through creativity. The hundreds of intricately drawn illustrations—designed to be colored in and brought vibrantly to life—cover a range of themes and are accompanied by smart and inspirational quotes. It’s a daily reminder to slow down, take stock, and make something beautiful.

This particular product is very interesting for anyone whether are work, school, home or on the go.   You can easily write the things that needs to be done on the day/week-end in order to not to forget anything.  A page could easily become your shopping list if you need to.  But what it also amazing about this notepad is that you can have a little peach and quiet time in order to recharge your own batteries by coloring an image on the page.  I find that doing the simply activity of take coloring pencils and adding color in an image helps to relive stress and tension in you.    I know that I personally feel more relax and patient when I do bible art journaling – even if it is just sketching an image, inking it or coloring it.  Coloring for adults can do wonders to anyone who takes the time to do so.
ENGAGEMENT CALENDAR
With the Color You Year engagement calendar you will be able to let your creativity shine—and keep track of important things during the year on a weekly basis. Combining the organizational powers of a planner with the addictive pleasure of coloring, COLOR YOUR YEAR ENGAGEMENT CALENDAR delivers an intricate, beautifully drawn illustration each week to color in and make your own. This particular engagement calendar offers seasonal themes like animals, botanical motifs, dazzling geometric patterns, and more. On the right-hand side of each spread is a roomy, write-in grid for keeping track of the week’s reminders and goings-on.

At times throughout the engagement calendar, you will obtain a two pages coloring image that is simply stunning.  Not how I plan to use this specific engagement calendar next year is to do tiny scripture doodle in it.  What are tiny scripture doodle you might ask?   Well it looks a little bit like these which I have grabbed from instagram to show you.

Essentially, you take a specific scripture that has touched you in some way during the day and doodle it in a calendar that offer smaller space.  The Color Your Year engagement calendar for 2017 will be perfect for this kind of project.  Another useful way that this can be used would be to jolt down blessings you have received during the day or special prayer requests/answers for the year.   Being uplifted when I do bible art journaling, I think being challenged in doing a doodle a day on a scripture will be fun to do next year.
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Update March 18, 2017: Here's some of the tiny scripture doodles I have been doing since the beginning of the year.

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As you can see both of these products can be really helpful for stay-at-home moms and homeschoolers.  One will allow to keep track of the daily activities in a calendar way while the other will allow you to keep your to-do list very organized.     Each of these product gives you the opportunity to download a free page-a-day digital calendar for you personal device.  And since different people prefers different kind of calendars, you will find that offering a variety of products with the same theme can be very helpful – especially for those of you who will be looking at getting a special calendar to a love one for the new year.
The Color Your Year products are available at amazon.ca and amazon.com
 
 
 
 
  
Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Allen for sending me the above mentioned books for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

The Periodic Table of Elements Coloring Book

The Periodic Table of Elements Coloring Book
Created by Teresa Bondora
http://www.howtoteachscience.com/products/coloringbook.php

Science is a subject that indeed can scare homeschool moms.   But when it’s comes to chemistry, well sometimes we prefer not to think about it.   Personally, I feel a little bit ill-equipped to teach science but I am surrounding myself with fun products to use with the kids. 

I did chemistry in high school.  I believe that it can be introduced slowly to younger levels like grades 4-6 without overwhelming the kids with too much information.   Recently while checking out my facebook, I saw some of my contacts had liked a page about The Periodic Table of Elements Coloring Book.   I was curious and checked it out which brought me to the website.    And I offered to review their product.  

I received the document within a couple of hours.   I was excited about it, printed and binded the document and showed it to my 9 year old son who has an interest in becoming a doctor.    He thought it was cool and was looking forward to use it. So this morning we decided to explore science and used the coloring book as a complement to another book titled Elements of Faith.  I find that the coloring book is perfect to conclude the lesson learned in Elements of Faith. 

This book is created to be used with children as young as five through college aged learners.  You will discover the elements,  how we use them, where they can be found, and how they work.   The child will also have the possibility to color the elements with items linked to them.  So this morning, after we learned about hyrdogen and talked about water a bit, my son took the coloring book and started to color the hydrogen page.    Also included in the coloring book is a sheet for each element containing information about the element.   I personally found that some of the information is a little bit too advanced for a child with big words like cryogenics for example in the hydrogen info sheet but at the same time it gives us the opportunity to search the dictionary to discover the meaning (when mom can’t have the answer right away).   My son felt like he wanted coloring this morning, so this fun activity allowed him to do so.

However, I wouldn’t use the book by itself.    I like to give a perspective of our faith with any science project we do.   It is important for me as a Christian mom that my kids have a complete understand of their faith and God as well as what the science community says about things.  That’s why I took the Elements of Faith and went through the information about the hydrogen element with my son this morning.

I asked him what he thought of the coloring book.  He loved it and thought it was a good conclusion of the lesson we have read together (from both books in case you are wondering).    I am pleased to see that the information from the coloring book is the same as the one found in my other book.    In a way it was more complete with additional information like how many proton/electron there was, the atomic weight, the fact you can find it in volcanic explosions and so on.    

The price is 25.80$ for the PDF version which means no shipping charge will be added.    The Periodic Table of Elements Coloring Book is only available through the How to Teach Science website.

This review was possible because I received a PDF version of The Periodic Table of Elements Coloring Book from its author.