Pride and Prejudice: A Coloring Classic by Chellie Carroll

Pride and Prejudice: A Coloring Classic by Chellie Carroll
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fall in love with Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice all over again with this elegant colouring book, featuring beautifully intricate patterns and iconic scenes to colour in. Let yourself be transported to Pemberley's spectacular grounds and vibrant Netherfield balls, and bring to life elegant portraits of Elizabeth and Mr Darcy. With handpicked quotations from the novel on every spread, this colouring book is perfect for any Jane Austen fan.


I love a colouring book and I love classics so when I was offered the chance to review this I couldn't wait, because what's not to love?

This is a square shaped book which is of normal size for a colouring book. I really like the fact that there are quotes through it taken from the original and that the book is in chronological order. Each sheet of paper is of good quality, however I have used pens on the paper and they bled through. You can see the images below.  When switching to colouring pencils I really liked the effect and it didn't spoil other pages.

The spine is string bound with glue, this makes the centre of the page difficult to colour as the images bleed into the centre. This wouldn't matter if you were going to remove the pages to display but trying to colour to the centre without moving the pages was problematic.

There is a mixture of fine and thick lines in the book, also flowers and other images. I really loved the pictures from the settling of the book, which have a great mix of detail and larger areas to colour.

Purple pen showing through

If you love Jane Austen and/or colouring books be sure to add this to your collection.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

Draw your way to a younger brain: Dogs and Wolves

 Draw your way to a younger brain: Dogs and Wolves

Anastasia Catris

5*

Misplacing your wallet, forgetting where you parked your car, or getting your friend's birthday wrong: these are just some of the many common memory slips we all experience from time to time. And such cognitive lapses don't just plague the elderly: the most common worry of people over 40 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.

Helping to enhance your brain's cognitive function through art therapy techniques, this book contains 30 intricate line drawings of dogs and wolves, with space on the opposite page for you to copy the illustration and some helpful hints to start you off. There is also the opportunity to colour in and to create some of your own illustrations as you progress. Gradually becoming more challenging, every page will help to stimulate parts of the brain that are vital for memory retention. With this book you will draw your way to a younger brain.

This book is the prefect size to slip into your handbag while on the move, its got a mix of detailed drawings and more plain images for you to add your own decoration to.

This matches the other books in the series, as well as the previous series so sit beautifully together on your shelf. There are images on both sides of the paper, so I used blendable pencils to colour as I was unsure if it would take pen, the paper it of high quality and seems quite thick. I would say, unlike Catris' other colouring books, this is more of a drawing book for you to doodle and make the images your own. This is brilliant if you enjoy drawing, however if you are not confident with drawing you may struggle to get inspired although on most pages there are examples of what you could draw and on a few there are written suggestions. There is also space on most pages for you to add your own doodles to the pre drawn image if you wanted.

There is a good mix within this book of intricate images and slightly bolder/easier images so it is great for all audiences. Personally I go through different moods, sometimes I want something which will take me a while to complete, when other times I just want to complete something quickly and this book offers both of those.

I am so glad I had the opportunity to review this book and so pleased I can add it to my collection, this will give me hours of enjoyment. If you want a colouring book with a bit of a difference that allows you to get creative this is the book for you.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

  

Draw Your Way to a Younger Brain: Cats: An Art Therapy Book by Anastasia Catris

Draw Your Way to a Younger Brain: Cats: An Art Therapy Book by Anastasia Catris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Misplacing your wallet, forgetting where you parked your car, or getting your friend's birthday wrong: these are just some of the many common memory slips we all experience from time to time. And such cognitive lapses don't just plague the elderly: the most common worry of people over 40 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.

Helping to enhance your brain's cognitive function through art therapy techniques, this book contains 30 intricate line drawings of cats and big cats, with space on the opposite page for you to copy the illustration and some helpful hints to start you off. There is also the opportunity to colour in and to create some of your own illustrations as you progress. Gradually becoming more challenging, every page will help to stimulate parts of the brain that are vital for memory retention. With this book you will draw your way to a younger brain.



After receiving Anastasia's previous colouring books, when I heard she had a new series out I knew I wanted to get these for my collection.

I really enjoy colouring books, I have a stressful job and there is nothing better than sitting down with some pencils and this after a long day. I really enjoyed Anastasia's previous books as there was the right mix between detailed (when I have patience) to less detailed drawings. This is like the previous in that respect.

My favourite animal is a cat so knew I would love this book and I did. The paper in the book is good quality, I only use colouring pencils so I don't know whether you could use sharpies or felt pens on these without it bleeding through. I prefer colouring pencils as it allows me to create tone and variation in colour. This I know does come down to personal preference.

The book is the same size as the others in her collection, they are perfect for slipping in your handbag to accompany you on your commute. They also look wonderful together on my shelves. 

Here is an example of one of the pages from the book. 

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

Colour Yourself Calm: A Mindfulness Colouring Book by Tiddy Rowan

Colour Yourself Calm: A Mindfulness Colouring Book by Tiddy Rowan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Relax, meditate and banish stress

Release unconscious knowledge and calm thought through painting and colouring

Features complete images to copy, or just create your own colourful mandalas

Mandalas were created as sacred objects upon which to meditate. Their symmetry is designed for the painter to reflect and empty the mind by becoming absorbed in colouring this object of beauty, the reader will embark on a practical exercise in mindfulness.

In Colour Yourself Calm, Tiddy Rowan (author of the Little Book of Mindfulness) has gathered inspirational quotes to accompany these original images and enhance the experience offering an easy way to relax the mind, body and spirit, while expanding the imagination and creating a sense of wellbeing.



I was given this as a Christmas present, I was so excited as this is a different colouring book and I am loving them at the moment.

This is a very different type of colouring book, for starters its hardback, which for a colouring book is quite unique.

Each page is a double page - one which has the image coloured in on. (I'm guessing this is to give you ideas?) Then on the opposite page it is black and white for you to colour. Personally I was disappointed in this. I would have preferred more pages to colour and I don't feel I need one coloured on the opposite to help me.

This is an O.K colouring book, however I would have not of bought it for me as it is not my preference. If you are a little un-confident with creativity then this maybe a good buy for you. If you are a regular colourer then I think you would want to find a different book.

I Heart Creative Colouring by Various

I Heart Creative Colouring by Various
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I Heart Creative Colouring is a brand new addition to the pretty pocket colouring series. Bursting with beautiful pattern, detailed designs, amazing animals and much more, this book makes the perfect gift for colouring enthusiasts. With a lovely silver foil cover and a perfectly portable size for on-the-go colouring, everyone will enjoy colouring in I Heart Creative Colouring.

When I was offered the chance to review this colouring book I jumped at the chance. At the moment there are so many colouring books out there that you don't actually know which one to go for or what makes one better than another.

This colouring book is very small, it is square and a bit smaller than A5 size. This makes it perfect to slide in a handbag and keep while you are on the go. It also is very thick with what seems like good quality paper in. I have only used colouring pencils on the pages so I cannot comment on whether pens go through, but the effect you can get with blending pencils are brilliant. One of the reasons I decided to use pencils as well as blending them is the fact that the illustrations are on both sides of the paper and if pens do bleed through then will spoil the other design.

This was my first colouring book from Buster colouring books and I would certainly buy others, the illustrations are wonderful and it is so handy in it's size. This is a colouring book that will keep you entertained for hours. If you are looking for an introduction into adult colouring books this is one I would recommend, there is just the right amount of detail in pages to keep you entertained but not so much it freaks you out!

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

Colour Me Mindful: Seasons by Anastasia Catris

Colour Me Mindful: Seasons by Anastasia Catris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Not just for kids anymore, colouring delivers a deeply satisfying experience that is almost meditative and colouring books are growing in popularity as anti-stress aids for adults.

Complete with intricately detailed and beautiful line-art, this book depicts breathtaking scenery from all seasons.

Your mind will focus as you fill the pages with colour, becoming calm and reducing stress. This is mindful, simple therapy for adults that can be carried out every day.

With stunning illustrations to colour in and admire, this book provides a creative outlet and a deeply soothing mindful experience for those in need of a little artistic stress-busting.



I have been lucky enough to be sent some of this colouring books to review and I have to say that is one is one of my favourites. The only negative I have about these books are the size of them, they have some beautiful illustrations in them and they would have been wonderful on A4, these are brilliant for travelling or carrying in your bag for spare time you may have though, something you wouldn't be able to do if they were a lot larger.

The illustrations are beautiful in this seasons book. Some are very detailed and others are less, this is brilliant if you colour at night like I do, sometimes you cannot be focusing on small amounts of detail when you are tired and this book gives you the choice of the level of detail you select.

I love the way the illustrations are presented in this book too, as you go through the book you go with the seasons.

This book gives you hours of colouring and fun. I have used colouring pencils to allow me to blend the colours and create a more unique picture so I cannot comment on the quality of the paper when pens are used.


I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

Spring? April showers

All seasons

Summer holidays? Flip flops and cocktails 

All seasons 

Colour Me Mindful: Tropical by Anastasia Catris

Colour Me Mindful: Tropical by Anastasia Catris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Not just for kids anymore, colouring delivers a deeply satisfying experience that is almost meditative and colouring books are growing in popularity as anti-stress aids for adults.

Complete with intricately detailed and beautiful line-art, this book depicts beautiful tropical scenes.

Your mind will focus as you fill the pages with colour, becoming calm and reducing stress. This is mindful, simple therapy for adults that can be carried out every day.

With stunning illustrations to colour in and admire, this book provides a creative outlet and a deeply soothing mindful experience for those in need of a little artistic stress-busting.


When I found out I had won a competition and this was one of the colouring books I had won I was jumping for joy. I loved the look of this book, it is perfect to fit in your bag to keep it with you. Whether you use it for commuting to work, travelling on holiday or just relaxing at home. This is the perfect size.

This comes with a mix of wonderful illustrations, it is clear that Anastasia is very talented, she has included just the right amount of detail in the images- which don't become so over whelming for you to colour.

I am currently just using colour pencils, however I feel that pens could be used in this book as the paper seems quite thick and of good quality. I did find that the sharper the pencils the better the effect you get, as some of the images are quite tiny, due to the size of the paper. I like to make sure that the pencil stays inside the lines and this is a way of helping that.

I would recommend this colouring book, I have got a few now and this is one of my favourites. Anastasia is also bringing out some more later in the year, I cannot wait to try these as they look like they are going to be even better than this one!

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

These are a few of the pages that I have coloured. 

         




Buy it today from the Bookdepository for only £2.99!!! Click here to grab a bargain!