Author Archives: Iiiireader

Carousel Dreams: A Coloring Book by YamPuff

By: Yasmeen H Eldahan

Rating: 5 of 5

Carousel Dreams is a Manga style coloring book with 24 cute designs. The designs are either of carousel animals or of the Rose Princess that YamPuff (the artist) has dreamed of having inhabit her world. In addition to the designs, the title page can be colored as well.

The designs are especially cute and fun to color. The designs have a bit of detail but are not intricate and don’t have tiny spaces which required unusually small nib pens. A few of the pages have a couple of intricate spots (such as on the carousel mandala or some of the smaller detailed designs on the Rose Princess dress.

Each of the design pages has a short blurb on the back which explains the thoughts behind each particular design. It was interesting reading what the artist had in mind been creating the design.

This is what I found while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my various coloring medium. In the comments section below, I will list the coloring medium I use for testing and for coloring.

24 Carousel inspired Designs done in Manga style plus title page that can be colored as well-acted

Printed on one side of the page

Paper is typical for CreateSpace publications. It is thin, white, slightly rough and is non-perforated

Glue Binding

Three designs merge into the the binding area but nothing essential to the design would be lost if you cut those pages out.

Coloring book can be opened fairly flat for easy of coloring

Alcohol-based markers bleed through the paper readily. Water-based markers bleed through in spots but can still damage the page below.

Gel pens and India ink pens leave discernible shadows of color on the back of the page. India ink can bleed through in spots if you apply heavily or with multiple layers.

Colored pencils work well with this paper. I tested both oil and wax based pencils and found that they both work well with providing good color pigment, can layer same or multiple colors well and blend easily using a blending stick. Hard lead pencils dent through the page.

I use card stock as a blotter under y working page with all CreateSpace publications. It keeps ink and dents from damaging the pages below. A couple of sheets of heavyweight paper work as well, too.

Enchanted Halloween: A Whimsy Girls Fantasy Coloring Book

By: Hannah Lynn

Rating: 5 of 5

I own two other coloring books by Hannah Lynn and have found her designs to be both fun and easy to color. She creates beautiful girls with lovely big eyes. In this book, the emphasis is on Halloween and other fall related themes.

Over the last weekend, I found myself coloring in this book so much, I decided I had to pace myself a bit or I would finish the whole book in a week! I really enjoy Ms. Lynn’s designs!

There are two each of each of the designs. I like that, too, as I can try different colorways or perhaps give one to a friend. Who am I kidding? I’m not giving one of these away but I may buy a second book to share with other… or maybe I want to color each design four different ways.

The designs are easy to color. I like to use markers and colored pencils when coloring these designs. I lay down a foundation color with markers and then had details and shading with my pencils. I find that process is the easiest for me and results in designs that look the way I see them in my mind.

Here is what I found while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper. In the comments section below, I will list the coloring mediums I use for testing and for coloring as well.

30 x 2 each Big Eye Girls in Halloween Fun Designs

Printed one side of the page

Paper is thin, white, slightly rough and non-perforated

Glue bound

Designs stop well before the binding area so it is easy to cut pages out if you choose to do so.

Designs have a double framing line around the outer edges for a natural stopping point while coloring.

Alcohol and water-based markers bleed through this paper.

Gel pens and India ink pens leave colorful shadows on the back of the page. India ink pens can leak through if you apply heavily or use multiple coats.

Colored pencils work well with this paper. I was able to layer the same color for deeper tones, multiple colors, and blend easily using a blending stick with both oil and wax-based pencils. Hard lead pencils dent through the paper.

I suggest and use a blotter page of card stock when coloring in this book. It keeps ink and dents from from damaging the pages below my working page.

Harry Potter Magical Creatures Coloring Kit

By: Running Press

Rating: 4 of 5

This is my second set of Harry Potter coloring card kits. The first was based on the first Harry Potter Coloring book and this new kit is based on the second book and is of Magical Creatures.

The first thing I will note is that this kit is very small. I knew what to expect having purchased the first kit. The dimensions listed seem to be that of the box holder when it is closed. The set of cards takes up very little space within the box, as it also holds the pencils and the magnetic frames.

I’ll provide details on the components below. The designs are very small with detailed coloring elements. I suggest only small nib coloring medium with this kit. I used both the pencils that came with the kit and my own pencils as well.

I consider it a fun kit for any Harry Potter fan. They remind me of exchangeable cards that have been popular over the years. The pencils that came with the kit are very inexpensive and do not provide much by way of color. The other problem with the pencils had to do with the colors. The colors are standard but are not the ones that I would necessarily want to use for Magical Creatures. There wasn’t even a black pencil in the set at all. I detracted a star from my review because of this issue.

Here are the colors which are provided: dark green, medium green, yellow, orange, red, purple, brown, pink, light blue and dark blue. Even the dark colors still go on fairly light. These are the exact same colors I had in my previous kit from this company. I used the included colors to finish Fang (dog) and I used my own oil-based colored pencils color Fawkes (phoenix). You can see the huge difference in how the pencils colored.

There are two folding magnet frames. Cute but inexpensive. They do nicely for holding a picture on the front of the refrigerator or on a locker anything that a magnet will stick to.

This is what I found while coloring the cards in this kit and testing them with my various coloring medium.

30 Harry Potter designs in playing card size

Printed on one side with high glossy back

Cardboard box holds entire set folds open and closes with magnet

Two folding magnetic frames for holding finished artwork

Alcohol and water based markers and India ink pen did not bleed through

Gel pens did not bleed through but some required extra drying time

Coloring pencils did well but no room for blending in minute details

Steampunk Animals Coloring Book (Adult Coloring)

By: Jeremy Elder

Rating: 5 of 5

This is my second coloring book by Jeremy Elder. My previous one was also a steampunk inspired book, Steampunk Devices. There are many animals in the book including: snail, rabbit, owl, turtle, monkey, walrus and many more.

The designs in the book and imaginative and are lots of fun to color. The animals are set in backgrounds rather than simply an animals on a page. Each of the animals has machinery built-in which is a must for a steampunk fan.

The designs are detailed but are not intricate and hard to color. There is plenty of room for blending or adding your own details to make the coloring project a more personalized one.

My earlier book by Mr. Elder was released under the Creative Haven line of Dover books and I wish that this one, Steampunk Animals had also been so released. Unfortunately, it was released as a standard Dover Coloring book. The difference is distinctive as this book is printed on both sides of the page, has a slightly different feel to the paper, and is not perforated.

However, the price is also less than a Creative Haven book, so I can and will buy a second copy of this book as I will want to use markers on the pages. If you use only colored pencils, you may be happy with just the one book as-is.

This is what I experienced while coloring in this book and testing it with my coloring medium. I will list my coloring mediums that I use for testing and coloring in the comments section below.

30 Steampunk inspired Animals Designs

Printed on both sides of the page

Paper is medium weight, smooth, white and non-perforated

Staple bound with three heavy duty staples

Designs stop well before the binding area and can be removed in whole from the book by removing the three staples at the binding.

All designs have a framing line around the outer edge to give a natural stopping point for the design and all of the elements within it. I really appreciate this feature in coloring books.

Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper

Water-based markers spot through and/or leave colorful shadows on the back of the page

Gel pens and India ink pens leave colorful shadows on the back of the page. India ink pens can bleed through in spots if you apply heavily or use multiple coats.

Colored pencils worked well with this paper. Both oil and wax-based pencils provided good pigment, layered well with the same or multiple colors and blended well using a blending stick. Hard lead pencils did not dent through the page.

If you choose to use any medium other than colored pencils, you will probably find bleed through or colorful shadows on the design at the back of your working page. For me, that ruins the design. My choice will be to buy a second book if I want to use markers/gel pens/India ink. I still suggest a blotter page under your working page as it will keep the following pages (other than the one on the back of your working page) from being ruined by seeping ink. I like card stock for this purpose but find that a couple of sheets of heavyweight white paper work well, too.

Marie Catoinette: Kitty Wigs Presents A Cautionary Tale of Excess: An Historically Imaginative Adult Coloring Book

By: Julie Jackson

Rating: 5 of 5

This is an adorable set of designs featuring cats wearing wigs similar in style and theme to those decadent wigs worn by the aristocrats of the 18th century. Of the 29 designs, a full 22 of them are of cats. The remaining designs are also nice but not what really drove me to purchase and want to color in this book.

The designs have a lot of shading in them. They are almost but not quite what I would consider grayscale coloring. I will be using some grayscale techniques in coloring this book. The illustrations are by Paul Labadie whose self-taught skill in art is quite beautiful and detailed.

The designs are detailed and some contain intricate and small areas to color. They are of just the cat in the wig and don’t have background to color. I think that works best for this subject matter as the wigs are so elaborately styled you would not want to detract from them in any way.

This is what I found while I was coloring in this book and testing it with my coloring medium. In the comments section below, I will list the coloring medium I use to test and color with.

29 Detailed and somewhat Intricate Designs with 22 of them being cats in wigs

Printed one side of the page

Paper is typical for CreateSpace publications: thin, white, slightly rough and non-perforated

Glue bound

Designs stop well before the binding area so it is easy to cut pages out if you choose to do so

Book can be opened fairly flat for coloring but you will need to crease or break the spine to do so

Alcohol and water-based markers bleed through this paper.

Gel pens and India ink pens leave colorful shadows on the back of the page. India ink pens can leak through if you apply heavily or use multiple coats.

Colored pencils work well with this paper. It has enough tooth to grab a good amount of color. I was able to layer the same color, multiple colors, and blend easily using a blending stick with both oil and wax-based pencils. Hard lead pencils dent through the paper.

I use a blotter page of card stock when coloring in any CreateSpace coloring book. I put it under my working page and it keeps ink and dents from marring the pages below.

Creative Haven Dream Birds Coloring Book (Adult Coloring)

By: Miryam Adatto

Rating: 5 of 5

I own several coloring books by Miryam Adatto. Each new book is an adventure into her signature abstract view of design. My previous books were landscapes and beautiful abstract faces, so I was very interested to see her take on birds. This is not a book of realistically drawn birds, it is lovely abstract view of birds in various settings, including flowers, plant life and even surrounded by hearts.

The birds in the book are not all familiar to me, but I did recognize owls, a peacock, an egret, a flamingo, ducks, geese, a turkey and an eagle among them. The way the designs are formed invites the colorist to use a multitude of colors and to experiment with unusual concepts in her imaginative world.

This is what I experienced while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring medium. I will list the coloring medium I test and color with in the comments section below.

31 Highly imaginative and abstract designs of birds

Printed one side of the page

Paper is Creative Haven’s typical great quality, it is white, medium weight, slightly smooth and has perforated pages.

Glue Binding but you can remove pages at the perforation easily

The designs stop well before the perforations

Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper

Water-based markers can bleed through in spots on the back of the page

Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows of color on the back of the page. India ink pens can bleed through in small spots if you apply heavily with multiple layers.
Coloring pencils work well with this paper. I was able to use both wax and oil based pencils equally well. They lay down good color, layer the same color and multiple colors and blend easily using a pencil style blender. Hard lead pencils, like Verithins, leave dents on the back of the page.

I either use a blotter page under my working page or I remove pages from the book to color. I like card stock for my blotter page but a couple of sheets of heavyweight paper works as well.

Art of Coloring: Disney Villains: 100 Images to Inspire Creativity and Relaxation

By: Disney Book Group

Rating: 4 of 5

Of all of the Disney coloring books released over the past 12 months, this one has been the one that I have most be looking forward to. While there is heavy patterning on a lot of the villains, it is not as extensive as that used in the Disney Animals coloring book.

For the most part, I am ignoring the patterns and looking at the outlines and coloring in big swathes of color in both of these books. I find that it will be easier to do so with this book as the patterning is not doodle style. I am considering the patterning in this book as a form of texture in the villains clothes. For those who like to color lots of tiny detail, it can be worked as tiny areas to color.

The book is divided into three chapters: Villains from the Animal World, Monsters and Sorcerers, and Villainous Humans. While I might have chosen different villains, there was a nice assortment from the following movies: Peter Pan, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Princess and the Frog, the Aristocrats, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Beauty and the Beast, Hercules, Aladdin, The Jungle Book, Cinderella, The Rescuers, The Sword in the Stone, Sleeping Beauty, Tangled, Robin Hood, Alice in Wonderland, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Great Mouse Detective, The Lion King, Mulan, Lady and the Tramp, Ratatouille, Pinocchio, The Little Mermaid, and The Emperor’s New Groove.

There are only 9 designs which span across 2 pages. All of them are what I call wallpaper repeating pattern designs. I really appreciate that no unique designs were spread across two pages as it is so difficult to try to color into the binding area. There are an additional 23 single page wallpaper designs in the book as well. The majority of the designs in the book are single page unique designs.

Floral Bouquets Coloring Book for Adults

By: Happy Coloring

Rating: 5 of 5

I own several of Julie Emerson’s animal coloring books so I was intrigued to see that she had come out with a floral book. The designs in this book are a bit of a departure from what I am used to from Ms. Emerson but they are quite lovely as well. The designs depict realistic but not overly detailed floral bouquets. There are no backgrounds, almost all of the designs are just the flowers either in vases or tied together with ribbons. There are roses, lilies, poppies, orchids, daisies and much more.

I like the level of detail as it makes for an interesting project to color but one that can be finished fairly quickly. As a gardener, I really appreciate that the flowers are depicted naturally and not with a lot of doodles in them. I like doodle designs as well but I especially like to color flowers in a more realistic way.

This is what I discovered when coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring medium. In the comments section below, I will list the various coloring mediums I use for testing and coloring.

30 Designs of Floral Bouquets plus a color-able title page

Printed one side of the page

Paper is typical CreateSpace paper: thin, white, slightly rough and non-perforated

Glue Bound

Designs do not merge into the binding there is plenty of room to cut the pages out if you choose to do so.

Book opens fairly flat for coloring by breaking or creasing the spine.

Alcohol and water-based markers bleed through this paper. Water-based are more spotty rather than how the alcohol-based flow through rapidly.

Gel pens and India ink pens leave colorful shadows on the back of the page. India ink can seep through in spots if you apply multiple layers of ink.

Colored pencils work well with the paper. It has a nice amount of tooth and both oil an wax-based pencils work equally well. I was able to lay down a good amount of pigment, layer the same or multiple colors and blend easily using a pencil style blender. Hard lead pencils, like Verithins, dent through to the back of the page.

Between seeping ink and dents from pencils, I use a blotter page to keep the rest of my book from being damaged. I like card stock for my blotter but a couple of pages of heavyweight paper work as well.