With Valentine's Day being just 4 days away if you haven't already started shopping you might want to NOW! If you're still trying to find that "perfect" gift I have some more great ideas for that special someone in your life.
Showing posts with label coloring. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coloring. Show all posts
Wednesday
Thursday
Color yourself beautiful with Crayola
Have you or your children ever wished there were more colors to choose from when it comes to skin-tone colors in a box of crayons? Well now your wish is their command! With the recently launched Colors of the World Crayons you can help celebrate diversity and colorfully express yourself!
Wednesday
Schools in now what?
For thousands of kids across the US school has officially started (or will soon) and that leaves us mom's with that burning question in our brains "now what"? What's next on our mom agendas? For some that means picking up those last minute school supplies. For some that means doing some deep cleaning with those extra bodies out of the house all day. And for many that means adding after school activities to our calendars and getting home late in the evenings. No matter how you look at it we can all use a little extra "help" with all that back to school season brings.
Tuesday
Get Creative with Pearlescent Colors from the Crayola Signature Series
My daughter was really excited when I told her about the expansion of the Crayola premium coloring tools line. She's to the age now that she isn't into using crayons and would rather use fancy coloring tools like the ones in the Crayola Signature line.
Innovative, sleek and elegant, Crayola Signature products elevate coloring tools to a new level of artistry. Perfect for enthusiasts, crafters and hobbyists alike, the markers, colored pencils, paints and kits in this new line are designed for amazing results. The premium packaging includes a decorative and durable tin adorned with art actually created with the tools inside — truly creativity inspired!
We recently received the Signature Pearlescent Paint Markers and Signature Pearlescent Cream Sticks from the new line and I have to say they are pretty awesome. Not only do they come in beautiful pearlescent colors they are so much different than creating with anything your used to. The cream sticks kind of remind me of eye-shadow sticks I used a few years back. They are creamy and spread on paper really nicely. And depending on how hard you push depends on the coverage and the overall color. We like this alot because you can create some nice textured patterns with them. The paint markers are great for lots of crafts, especially those like glass and ceramics with smooth surfaces. A great alternative to using a paint brush that you don't have as much control over if you're trying to write something out or draw smaller shapes.
On the overall we are very happy with both sets and plan to continue to expand on what we have to use. My daughter even took them to her after school art club to show them off and the teacher even asked if she would allow her to test them out because she really thought they were neat. She even talked about getting some of the Signature Pearlescent Paint Markers for their next unit on ceramics!
As always you can find these and all things Crayola right on their website.
This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received product to share my honest and unbiased thoughts. However, all thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brand.
Thursday
Color & Scratch Mindfulness
I've been a big fan of adult coloring books for some time now. It's something I like to do while I'm watching TV or just relaxing at the end of a busy day. Something about it is just really relaxing for me and helps me to unwind. Recently though I've been getting more and more into this new color and scratch book I got from Dover Publications. It contains your standard coloring pages as well as scratch art cards that are stored in the back. It's great because there are times my brain is so fried that I really don't want to even think about what color should go where on a coloring page. And with scratch art that is already taken care of for me! Plus the finished pages are always beautiful.
Color & Scratch Mindfulness:
Designed for adult colorists, this contemplative coloring book offers more than 20 mandala-like designs that will appeal to the heart and soul. Circles, squares, and more beguiling shapes explode with everything from paisleys and lotus blossoms to hearts and swirls. Each illustration features an inspirational quote from Buddha, Lao Tzu, Thoreau, and other timeless thinkers. Plus, there are also 10 scratch art cards: use the stylus included to uncover the multicolored backgrounds.
You can purchase this book on Amazon.
This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received product to share my honest and unbiased thoughts. However, all thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brand.
Tuesday
Getting crafty for the holidays!
One of the best parts of having a daughter that likes to craft is getting her fun crafting kits for her birthday and Christmas. One thing I've been trying to do lately is get her kits she can actually put to use. Instead of making something that really has no purpose I try to get her things she can use like these fun kits from LaurDIY. Each of these fun crafting kits gives her a project to do, and then when she's done a finished piece that she can use to decorate her bedroom with. So really it's almost like giving her two gifts in one - a craft and a decor piece!
Thursday
Crayola for Everyone this holiday season!
I can remember when I was growing up that Crayola products were always on my list every year at Christmas. Even early on I liked to color, craft, and create. Fast forward to present day, I still like to do those things and I like to do them with my daughter. I'm really glad she inherited some of the same traits I have because it gives us a lot of fun things to do together. Fun things like designing fashionable outfits and stickers with these two awesome sets from Crayola.
Fashion Superstar
With the 62-page design book, 24 colored pencils, and 18 SuperTip Markers, young designers have all the colorful tools they need to create their own unique designs by hand with Crayola Fashion Superstar Designer. Use your style and creativity to design prints, patterns, and combinations that best express your personal taste.
Sticker Design Studio
Personalize your world with the Sticker Design Studio. Paint and print art that you can use to decorate computers, lockers, book covers, and almost anything else. To use begin, just squeeze a small amount of the paint onto the clear gel mat and use the roller to blend the paint into a fun design. Once you’re done, put your art onto a sticker sheet to transfer your creation and let it dry. Each of the repositionable stickers, can be moved around whenever you’re ready for a fresh look.
Just one of these sets alone gave us hours of entertainment. We took turns picking out colors for each other to use and made up challenges to use certain patterns or shapes when designing different pieces of apparel. I thought being able to upload your style creations to the app was the best part, it was neat seeing them come to life so to speak.
Leave it to Crayola to make all my dreams come true too! I'm so in love with the new Crayola Signature line I honestly had trouble sharing them with my daughter when they arrived. She enjoys the kits that are geared towards her age, but is getting more and more into the adult coloring books like her mom. The book we received was so awesome, it featured different types of specialty papers to color and create on. I loved that it was different from any other adult type coloring book I had ever used. Paired up with the Crayola Signature Pencils I was in heaven all evening long!
Signature 24 ct. Blend & Shade Colored Pencils w/ Tin
These colored pencils feature soft, highly-pigmented cores for smooth color laydown. The stylish matte black barrels have color-dipped ends for a sophisticated look. Vibrant on light and dark paper, these premium art tools are a wonderful choice for artists aged nine years and older.
Signature Creative Lettering Inspiration Pad
Learn to create eye-catching chalkboard lettering with the Creative Lettering Inspiration Pad. The activity pad includes black and grey specialty papers, tutorials, coloring and craft ideas to help you discover the fun of #Crayoligraphy. This pad pairs well with any of the Crayola Signature Pencils sets (sold separately). Signature Colored Pencils even appear bright on dark papers. Enhance cards, gift tags, table place cards, and more with this unique art tool to help you hand-letter in varying styles.
Signature 32 ct. Brush & Detail Dual-Tip Markers
Crayola Signature Brush & Detail Dual-Tip Markers provide twice the color and tip options for art and writing projects. Each marker features an ultra-fine tip and a brush tip for versatile laydowns and offers two vibrant hues for twice the colors.
Connect with Crayola: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received product(s) in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. All thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.
Tuesday
Coloring with Disney
I'll be the first to admit that I probably have more adult coloring books than my kids have ever had children's coloring books. It's become kind of an addiction of mine. When I see a book that has a character I like (such as the Mickey Mouse one above) I just "have to" have it. I know I'll probably never color every single page in every single book I own, but it's fun to go between them all. Plus it keeps it fun not coloring in the same book night after night. Sometimes I'll use a different book each night just depending on my mood.
The coloring books I recently received from Disney publishing are really neat. They feature scenes from actual Disney movies. If you're a Mickey Mouse fan then you know just how cool it would be to color him in action from the Steamboat Willie cartoon! Coloring books even make great gifts since everyone no matter the age knows how to color. And with hits like these and the other coloring books in the Disney line you're sure to find something for everyone on your list.
Art of Coloring: Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas
Whimsically macabre artwork, patterns, and designs permeate the story of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. These images are ideal for adding your own brand of color and style. Perfect for cultivating creativity, relaxation, and focus, these pages are filled with artwork evocative of the delightfully frightful world of Jack Skellington.
Art of Coloring: Mickey & Minnie
Fun, funny, and feisty patterns and character designs permeate the near-ninety-year history of Disney's beloved mice: Mickey and Minnie. These images are ideal for taking pencil to paper and adding your own brand of color and style. Perfect for cultivating creativity, relaxation, and focus, these pages are filled with line art from Disney animation, comics, featuring work from Ub Iwerks, Floyd Gottfredson, and more.
The Percy Jackson Coloring Book
Over the past decade, millions of young readers, parents, and teachers have come to adore Rick Riordan's classic series Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which made ancient Greek mythology contemporary, relevant, and entertaining as it turned kids on to reading. Now fans can literally color Percy's world with the amusing portraits, dramatic scenes, and intricate designs on every spread of this large format paperback. THE PERCY JACKSON COLORING BOOK is a great way to introduce young children to the series, to allow older fans to reminisce, and to augment classroom units on Greek mythology.
Connect with Disney Publishing: Twitter | YouTube | Instagram
Saturday
Happy Friendsgiving...Friend
When it comes to being thankful at Thanksgiving time next to my family I would have to say my friends are pretty high up on my list. I have one friend that ranks so high she is actually right there beside my family actually. She's been my best friends for quite a few years now and I really don't know what I would do without her. I try to tell her how much she means to me, but I always feel like it's never quite enough. So this year I've decided to do a little something extra. I've decided to celebrate "Friendsgiving". It's not a calendar dated holiday by any means but let me tell you it's becoming quite the thing! There are a few ways you can celebrate Friendsgiving. You can invite some of your closest friends over for a special meal to show them you care, or like me you can give them a little something special to say it instead.
My best friend likes to use the adult coloring books to help her relax during stressful times. And right now she's going through something pretty stressful in her family life. So I thought now was the perfect time to give her the ultimate stress relief coloring bundle. Oh, and a few super cute kitty stress relievers too just to lighten the mood!
To top off the bundle I even picked up a few really neat fabric items that she can color and then use to hold all of her new coloring gems.
Oriental Trading has a wide selection of adult coloring products on their website. I was really excited to find things beyond just coloring books like bookmarks, journals, and even "thank you" cards.
If you're one of many having a Friendsgiving party for Thanksgiving be sure to check out their awesome selection of Friendsgiving Party Supplies.
Need some party time inspiration? Check out these two great suggestions:
• Friendsgiving Pie Tasting Party
• Friendsgiving Dinner Party
Connect with Oriental Trading: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received product(s) in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. All thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.
Monday
Get crafty with RoseArt CharMinis and Ultimate Artist
My daughter was a born crafter. Whether it's making something from a kit or coming up with something completely on her own she's pretty talented. Needless to say when I get crafting kits delivered for review she gets pretty excited.
Thursday
For Mother's Day I just want to color!
I've mentioned it before that I just really enjoy the adult coloring books. To me they are relaxing and a time of no expectations. I can be as creative as I want and it doesn't matter how it turns out in the end. Plus it seems like anytime I get out a coloring book my kids do the same thing. So you can just imagine how quite it becomes in my house.
Over the time that I've been coloring there are a few things I have learned along the way.
1. Cheap colored pencils are NOT GOOD. - I'm not saying they have to cost an arm and a leg, but with colored pencils many times you get what you pay for.
2. Test markers on a sheet of paper before you start coloring. - Again not all markers are created equal, some tend to come out too fast causing splotches of color on your page. And some bleed through the pages. Both of which again are NOT GOOD.
3. You can use out of the ordinary colors in your books. - In other words it doesn't matter what colors you use say to color a tree. This was a bit of a learning curve for me being a little on the OCD side. I have sense found though it's much more relaxing to just pick a color and go with it. Sometimes my pictures turn out really awesome..and other times not so much. But hey as long as I enjoyed the process along the way that's all that matters.
4. Pick a coloring book that fits your lifestyle. - If you plan to color on the go you don't want a big bulky book, you'll want one created for on the go that you can fit in your purse. However if you're planning to color in bed you'll want something a little more substantial so it doesn't bend on you. A good spiral book is perfect for this because you can fold it around giving you extra support. All in all pick something that appeals to you. Like for my daughter a color your own stickers book fits her well. It's also always good to look inside the book first to make sure the pictures are what you're interested in coloring.
So if you happen to be wondering - yes I do have a favorite when it comes to my colored pencils. I have found that the Prismacolor Premier® Soft Core Colored Pencils provide me with the color I like and don't tend to flake off or break easily with use. They have a thick, soft core made from light-resistant pigments, to ensure smooth, rich lay-down and color saturation giving you nice bold colors. I like them because I don't have to stop in the middle of coloring over and over to sharpen a broken pencil. I also like them because I don't have to press really hard for nice bold colors. Plus the come in an awesome tin so I have a place to store them so they don't get the tips broken off. (And I can slip them in my purse with a small coloring book.)
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I may have received monetary compensation or product(s) in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. All thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.
Friday
Are you ready to Draw and Color Your Way to a Younger Brain?
I've been doing this coloring book thing for quite some time now. It just gives me a sense of relaxation and peace I don't get from doing other stuff like watching TV or playing games on my phone. It allows me to just be me whether that be different, creative, whatever the mood is I'm in. It's something I "can't do wrong" so to speak because it's up to me to decide how things will be colored. On the other hand I've always enjoyed doodling too. I've never been much for drawing anything elaborate, I'm just not that talented (or confident). Usually I just draw lots of random shapes and then color them. Of course since getting into the adult coloring books I've not done much of that even. So when I saw this book I was actually quite excited. It combines two things I enjoy doing in one book, and it even has my favorite animals inside - cats and dogs!
The really cool part about this coloring/drawing book is that the author gives you the start of a drawing for you to complete as well as a finished page to compare it to. This is nice for people like me that has trouble visualizing how to draw something from scratch. I still have the ability to customize the photo any way I like, but there's also guidance there to help me along.
And who knew that all the while not only was I helping to relax myself, I'm also helping to train my brain and enhance my memory...and boy do I need that these days!
About:
Draw and Color Your Way to a Younger Brain takes coloring beyond it's calming and de-stressing qualities. The 90 intricate line drawings of animals help to enhance your brain's cognitive function through art therapy techniques. Train your brain and enhance your memory as you copy and complete outlines, doodle in the gaps, and progress to forming your own artistic designs. Line by line, heal your mind, boost your creativity, and improve your cognitive function as you fill in the pages with art and color.
Coloring can be so much more than calming! Research shows that drawing actually helps keep your mind focused and your memory sharp. If you are worried about misplacing your wallet, forgetting where you parked your car, or getting your friend's birthday wrong, you're not alone. The most common worry of people is memory loss. A recent study by Newcastle University, featured on BBC news, showed that art therapy has greater benefits than puzzles and exercises when it comes to improving memory function. Engaging the brain in new and creative ways may be the key to a sharper, younger mind.
Disclosure: I received compensation in the form of product in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. All thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.
Tuesday
Color • Relax • Repeat!
Have you hopped on the adult coloring book bandwagon yet? Come on be honest you have right? I'm not afraid to admit it. I love coloring because it gives me an outlet to just step back from everything and be myself in my own creativity. I have quite a few different books actually and pick what to color based on my mood. I like to sometimes color with pencil and sometimes with marker. It really just varies between what the picture looks like that I'm coloring. Some are easier to do with pencil than marker. Recently I had the opportunity to try out some new pencils and markers from the Prismacolor line and I have to say I'm really loving them.
Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils are ideal for unleashing your inner artist. Each colored pencil features a thick, soft core made from light-resistant pigments, to ensure smooth, rich lay-down and color saturation. They bring bold colors to life while the soft lead blends and shades seamlessly.
The colors are easily blended, slow to wear, break-resistant, and waterproof. Each 3.8 mm core is enclosed in a round cedar casing that is lacquered to match the core. Sold individually and in sets of 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 132, and 150 there's a set made for everyone!
Prismacolor Premier Fine Tip Markers are a great way to color in those super fine lines in coloring books. Sometimes I prefer to use marker over colored pencils because I was a nice bright and bold color that I can't get with pencil lead. These markers do a really nice job of giving me that color, and because they have a fine tip they a great for even the smallest of spaces. And with their no-bleed quality I don't have to worry about the ink going through to my next page either!
Premium pigmented ink is acid-free, light-fast, permanent, water resistant, smear resistant when dry and won't bleed through paper. Available in a variety of tip sizes, brush tips and multi-count packages there's a marker set for everyone!
Disclosure: I received the products featured in this post for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. All thoughts and opinions state are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.
Friday
Color Me Happy with Crayola!
The kids are on their way back to school, unless yours are like mine they are already there. It's truly hard to believe sometimes that summer break is already over for them. Of course in the process in getting ready for school to start we had to load up on lots of school supplies. Including lots of colorful Crayola products of course! I don't know what it is about Crayola, but it's always made me feel happy. Maybe it's the bright colors, or maybe it's that I know it's a brand we can always trust. We made that dreaded mistake many parents do of buying non-Crayola products before and boy were we disappointed. Never again! I won't make that mistake again.
Crayons from Crayola are by far the best I've ever used. And they keep coming out with new colors and styles too. I'm loving the washable crayons for little ones. They have the same bright colors, but they are so much easier to clean up marks from them. The nice part of back to school is crayons are on hot sales. Make sure you stock up beyond what you need for school supplies. You never know when someone might break their crayons, or have a friend in need. I know one time my daughter asked for an extra box of crayons because a friend in class kept borrowing hers because she didn't have her own box. I thought it was super sweet of her to want to help her friend out so I pulled a box out from my stash and sent them to school for her friend. Something that really made that little girl feel good and us too.
What is your favorite Crayola product?
Connect with the brand:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
Disclosure: I received the products featured in this post for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. All thoughts and opinions state are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.
Wednesday
Color yourself to a happy and peaceful place
If you've been following my blog long then you'll know that I am a big fan of adult coloring books. I actually have them in several rooms of my house with various sets of pencils, gel pens, and markers. I'm one that starts a book and leaves it in the room I started it in so every time I'm there I can work on it. Right now I think I have three different books going. It makes it easier to have multiple books than to try and find the one book and tote it all over the house. For me coloring is something that relaxes me and many times I'll set aside half an hour at the end of a day to color. There's just something therapeutic about it that helps me unwind.
Below are a few of the latest books I've gotten to enjoy. Of the three of them I have to say the Mandala book is probably my favorite. I'm one that has trouble coloring things out of the ordinary colors so sometimes books with real objects can be hard for me. For example to me the sun is a yellow/orange color and leaves are different shades of green. I struggle trying to be creative in my coloring and using other colors to be different. I like to color shapes because it doesn't matter what color I use.
Stress Less Coloring – By the Shore will inspire you to find peace and relaxation in the beauty of oceanic designs. By concentrating on coloring and shading any of the 100 stunning fantastical designs, you'll calm your mind in a creative, relaxing, and therapeutic way. From schools of tropical fish and magnificent coral reefs to mysterious shipwrecks, each stress-reducing page invites you to express yourself using your own unique palette to decorate the designs.
Beautiful mandalas for quiet contemplation and spiritual calm! For centuries, mandalas have provided an elevated level of peace to anyone seeking comfort, stability, and inspiration. The Mandala Coloring Book, Volume II features 100 all-new customizable mandala drawings to guide you toward this tranquility as you use your imagination to create vibrant patterns. These intricate designs draw the eye inward, shifting focus toward your center and allowing you to fully express yourself through these beautifully complex illustrations.
Complete with expert instruction and helpful design tips, The Mandala Coloring Book, Volume II will help you find your inner calm and creativity every day.
Beloved artist Jim Shore presents to you an inspirational collection of folk art style angels. Pairing beautiful, celestial beings with traditional and unexpected details to capture inspirational and seasonal themes, Jim’s coloring pages are a joy to color.
Each of the more than 50 illustrations in this glorious coloring book is a work-of-art even before the coloring process begins, whether you choose to bring them to life with crayons, colored pencils, pastels, or markers. Plus, take your coloring to new levels with three pages of 3D bonus elements! Color, cut and layer a selection of unique details to create stunning dimensional effects. Perforated pages make it easy to display the finished angel art in all its splendor.
How about you? What do you like to color?
Tuesday
Coloring does the body good
I've been dealing with some horrible allergies this year and I have to sadly say spending more time in my recliner than I would like. With that though it's given me more time to explore some of my coloring books so at least there's that benefit. I find them to be very relaxing so at least my body is relaxing and getting the rest it needs in the process. From the latest set of books I've gotten I have to say I am super excited about the fact that they have tear out pages. I absolutely love this because sometimes my daughter and I both want to do a page out of the same book and this way we can. Plus it's easier to color the left side of a page when you don't have the hump of the book in your way.
Celebrate your faith and your creativity with the surprisingly satisfying pleasure of coloring. As you fill these beautifully intricate illustrations with color, you'll find hours of quiet, mindful enjoyment. Personalize your favorite scenes and scriptures from Psalms to the Song of Solomon according to your own gifts and strengths as you focus on the beauty of the verses. You'll find inspiration with every turn of the page as your creativity flows and you reflect on your faith. Each image is printed on one side of high-quality paper, so you can frame your favorites and display them.
Quilting, coloring and the nostalgia of period fabrics make this coloring book the perfect companion to the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt series. Laurie Aaron Hird's bestselling Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt series lends its sense of charm and nostalgia to this beautiful coloring book. Laurie's traditional block books, featuring actual letters from 1920s and 30s farm wives, give quilters a glimpse into this country's rural roots, commemorating their strength and hope during The Great Depression.
Inspired by these books, fabric designer and graphic artist Missy Shepler created the coloring book pages, selecting time-honored blocks and filling each with detailed patterns intricately rendered with coloring in mind. The result is a coloring book to delight quilt-lovers everywhere but with a graphic appeal that extends far beyond the quilting community.
The Cotton + Steel Coloring Book is filled with charmingly quirky line art inspired by vintage-driven fabrics. The whimsical nature of these Cotton+Steel favorites (plus new designs!) will appeal to both fans of the fabric line as well as the general coloring audience.
As a young company, Cotton+Steel hopes to honor the traditions of creativity, resourcefulness and innovation inherent in the sewing and quilting world. The five designers Melody Miller, Sarah Watts, Rashida Coleman-Hale, Alexia Marcelle Abegg and Kimberly Kight are unusually collaborative, and their fabrics can be found in shops across the world. The designs in this book reflect the designers' personal aesthetic and their collaborative spirit.
Books - The ultimate gift!
The nice thing about books is that there is something for everyone no matter what they like to do. Whether you like to cook, craft, create, or just read them for enjoyment there's a book that will fit your preferences. I recently got some books to check out from Ulysses Press and wanted to share them with you. I think they are books either you or someone you know might enjoy - and the would make great Christmas gifts too!
The Kamado Smoker and Grill Cookbook
Recipes and Techniques for the World's Best Barbecue
By Chris Grove
The ultimate in barbecuing tools, the kamado-style grill features a ceramic shell and charcoal pit that allows home cooks to slow roast, smoke, and grill meats to perfection. Packed with recipes, photos, and techniques unique to the kamado, this essential guide will turn grilling neophytes into masters of the backyard barbecue.
The Kamado Smoker and Grill Cookbook guides readers step by step through the process of slow-cooking roasts to juicy perfection, smoking racks of ribs for the quintessential barbecue flavor, and grilling the perfect burger. Each concept features a recipe that provides a tasty opportunity for readers to practice new skills and get the most out of their grills. With gorgeously photographed recipes, as well as loads of tips and tricks, this is a must-have manual for anyone who owns a kamado.
Coloring Ocean Mandalas
30 Hand-Drawn Designs for Mindful Relaxation
By Wendy Piersall
Coloring for adults gets a nautical twist with this collection of whimsical mandalas
Coloring mandalas is an ancient way to attain focus, clarity, and peace. Now with more than thirty original images that incorporate ocean imagery into mandala patterns, Coloring Ocean Mandalas adds the beauty of the ocean—including dolphins, sea shells, whales and waves—to these intricate designs for page after page of coloring book bliss.
With roots in Hinduism and Buddhism, mandalas are spiritual symbols that represent the universe. Coloring these hypnotically beautiful, mystical shapes is a meditative and enjoyable way to relax. A fun way to achieve a state of mindfulness, this book fosters creativity, reduces stress, and allows you to embrace your inner child by focusing on the simple but engaging task of coloring in the detailed designs.
Crafting with Wood Pallets
Projects for Rustic Furniture, Decor, Art, Gifts and more
By Becky Lamb
The humble wood pallet is a key element in the global world of shipping, yet all too often it’s eventually smashed into pieces and tossed into a dumpster. That perfectly good, all-natural wood deserves a better fate! Crafting with Wood Pallets offers readers innovative new projects for transforming wood pallets into all types of beautiful, useful items for the home and garden. Upcycling wood pallets has quickly become one of the most popular trends in home and garden DIY design, and this book’s 20 hands-on projects teach readers everything they need to know. Including 80 full-color photos, it guides them step by step from easier, beginner projects like simple trays and shelves to more advanced projects like benches and kitchen islands. Crafting with Wood Pallets is packed with helpful tips for working with salvaged wood, like how to choose the best pallets, use the necessary tools, and master the art of disassembly. Also included is the author’s unique painting technique that adds a one-of-a-kind and colorful twist to every project.
Dazzling Duct Tape Designs
Fashionable Accessories, Adorable Décor, and More Creative Crafts You Make At Home
By Tamara Boykins
Duct tape is no longer just for gaffing down cords, holding together pieces of pipe, and fixing everything that’s broken. Now available in vibrant colors and exciting patterns in craft stores nationwide, it’s at the center of a wildly popular crafting craze. Teaching readers to take this roll-of-fun phenomenon to the next level, Dazzling Duct Tape Designs shows how to turn duct tape into adorable fashion accessories, cute home decor, and even entire outfits. This unbelievably versatile tape is clean, durable, and safe; it withstands temperatures from 10° to 176° F; plus it sticks to paper, wood, concrete, metal, fabric, plastic, brick, and, best of all, itself! It’s the perfect crafting material for children, parties, classrooms, rainy days, and road trips. Dazzling Duct Tape Designs includes step-by-step instructions and photos of dozens of amazing projects, plus patterns for drawstring bags, party hats, sandals, wall art, wallets, and more.
Homemade Cleaners - Quick-and-Easy, Toxin-Free Recipes
By Dionna Ford and Mandy O'Brien
Toxic chemicals are found in almost all commercial cleaners—the very products people buy to make their homes hygienic and healthy. The recipes in, Homemade Cleaners use common, affordable ingredients that not only get every room in the house sparkling and germ-free but are also safe for families and the environment.
The green cleaners in this invaluable guide are all that is needed to keep a purified home without using harsh chemicals that can cause everything from skin irritation to central nervous system damage. Using nontoxic materials like vinegar, baking soda, and even vodka, Homemade Cleaners focuses on every floor, wall, window, and appliance, and includes methods for absorbing odors, information on air-purifying plants, a primer on basic chemistry, a checklist of essential supplies, and tips for cutting down on waste.
Homemade Bath Bombs, Salts and Scrubs
300 Natural Recipes for Luxurious Soaks
By Kate Bello
Soothe stress, heal the body, and smell fantastic with luxurious homemade bath products
There is nothing better than slipping into a hot bubble bath after a stressful day. But store-bought bath products are chock-full of chemicals, artificial scents, and dyes. This book shows readers how to make all-natural bath bombs, scrubs, and salts that will leave the skin glowing and the body relaxed.
Featuring 300 easy recipes, this book demonstrates how to whip up bath products to meet any need, from healing specific ailments to relieving stress to even curing skin conditions. Including sensual aphrodisiac soaks, calming scented salts, and chakra enhancing bombs, these whimsical and fun projects include everything readers need for pampered bathing . Ideas for making adorable bath gifts for friends, including tips for delicious scent combinations and instructions on crafting cute packaging, are also featured. Natural bath soaks are an ancient beauty remedy that can bring anyone to a relaxed meditative state while ridding the body of toxins. This is the ultimate guide to taking bathing to the next level.
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Of all the books I received I think the Homemade Bath Bombs, Salts, and Scrubs is my favorite so far. I've found some recipes I'm going to use to make gifts for Christmas from it. I love DIY projects and giving them as gifts because it's something I know that no one else will be giving my recipients. My husband on the other hand is really enjoying the Kamado Smoker and Grill Cookbook as well as the Crafting with Wood Pallets book. He enjoys cooking outdoors so he was excited about finding new recipes to try. And we just happen to have a nice big stack of wood pallets sitting out back waiting for him to get started on some projects this winter so it's a win-win for me!
How about you? What kind of books do you like?
Friday
Unleash your creativity with DoodleArt
My kids love to color, and well actually I do too. My favorite part about coloring is that you can be as creative as you want. I have always tried to teach my kids to express themselves in everything they do. And just because the sun is usually yellow doesn't mean their sun has to be yellow. Sometimes being creative makes things like coloring a lot more fun and it's neat to see what you end up with when you don't try to make it color coordinated with real life objects. With DoodleArt you can get creative let your coloring juices flow. Plus each set comes with really awesome dual-tipped markers that makes coloring those small areas much easier. I like that they come in a nice tube too so you can take them on trips and have something to do in a hotel room without having to pack big coloring books and lots of markers.
Original DoodleArt Kit
Available in five kits: Butterflies, fairy tales, flowers, jungle, or prehistoric. Each kit contains a 24 x 34 poster and 12 non-toxic dual-tipped markers.
Mini DoodleArt Kit
Available in two kits: Butterflies, dolls, floral, and kites or monster trucks, 4x4, and race. Each mini-kit contains four 11 x 14 posters and 12 non-toxic dual-tipped markers.
Connect with the PlaSmart brand:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
Giveaway CLOSED - The winner has been notified via email and confirmed.
Win it: One lucky reader will win a random Mini and Original DoodleArt Kit. This giveaway will end November 20th at 11:59 PM EST. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email. If no response, a new winner will be chosen. Prize fulfillment will be made by the sponsor, I am not responsible for prize delivery or lost or stolen deliveries. Open to residents of the US.
Entry Method: Please use Rafflecopter form to enter.
Monday
Color your day happy with Crayola #backtoschool
The kids may be back to school, but that doesn't mean you stop thinking about school supplies. I know our school has the kids bring in supplies at the start of the year as well as after Christmas break. So I make sure after school starts I go out and make sure I have a second set of everything on hand and am ready for that replenishment time. Many stores still have hot deals, and even some have clearance on school supplies after school starts so why not stock up early and be ready. You never know when someone might lose a marker, break their crayons, or have a friend in need. I know in our case my daughter asked for an extra box of crayons because a friend in class kept borrowing hers because she didn't have her own box. I thought it was super sweet of her to want to help her friend out so I pulled a box out from my stash and sent them to school for her friend.
The thing I like about Crayola products is that they are quality made and always give you the best colors. I've made the mistake of buying off brand crayons before and they all broke in no time. Plus they didn't have the same bright coloring on paper either because they were so waxy. Since then Crayola is all I've ever purchased for my kids for back to school and at home. It's a brand I trust and know I can count on to give my kids the quality they need to excel in school and be creative at home.
What Crayola products do you use to "color your day happy"?
Connect with the brand:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
Tuesday
Bring Creativity to life with the Crayola Color Alive App
The Crayola Color Alive App brings two things together that my daughter loves to do, coloring and playing on her tablet. I like it because it's something we can do together, and it helps her use her creative side when coloring in the books. With a special set of coloring pages you can color, and then "bring to life" your favorite characters. It's really cool how you can make the characters move through the use of the Crayola Color Alive App. There's even pages you can print out so you can test it out for yourself right in the app. Then when you are ready to expand you can purchase full coloring books that even come with a special crayon that unlocks special virtual effects.
My daughter was super excited to see that Monster High was included as one of the characters she could color and animate. She didn't even color the full page she was so excited to get it paired up with the app and make her doll come to life. I have to admit it was pretty cool. It was so cool that when my set of coloring books arrived my 15 year old son even wanted to check them out.
About:
Allowing fans to see their favorite character come to life on screen, exactly as they have created them on the coloring pages, the app combines the traditional coloring experience with the most advanced 4D technology. How?
**The Color Alive! eye-popping adventure begins by printing and taking colored
crayons to the coloring pages from the app or Crayola Color Alive! Action Coloring
Books. The app is from DAQRI, the industry leader in augmented reality.
**Once colored, in app mode aim the mobile device’s camera at the colored page, tap
and the character bursts to the screen in multiple 4D animated sequences, complete
with the colors and designs from the artist’s printed page.
Buy it: You can purchase Crayola Color Alive coloring books on the Crayola website.
Get the App: You can download the app now for FREE in the iTunes App Store or the Google Play Store.
Win it: One lucky reader will win a set of 6 Crayola Color Alive! coloring books (value of approx $40). This giveaway will end August 18th at 11:59 PM EST. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email. If no response, a new winner will be chosen. Prize fulfillment will be made by the sponsor, I am not responsible for prize delivery or lost or stolen deliveries. Open to residents of the US.
Entry Method: Please use Rafflecopter form to enter.
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