Author Archives: Iiiireader

Cat-a-Doodles Adult Coloring Book: Mandala Series 1: Flowers, Hearts and Really Cute Cats (Volume 2)

By: Jo Toye

Rating: 5 of 5

This is my second coloring book of Cat designs by Jo Toye. In this book, Ms. Toye has created 24 mandala designs which feature cats. The designs are provided not only in the standard circular format but also sized to fit a 5 x 7 inch card as well. The latter designs are elongated and sized down giving them a unique look and also a unique feel as I am coloring them.

The designs are detailed but not intricate. I am using my standard coloring medium to finish the designs and I have found that in addition to my colored pencils, my alcohol-markers in the ultra-fine point or markers with brush nibs work well for the elements of the designs.

Ms. Toye has included some hints about color placement at the front of the book. There are also thumbnails of each of the 24 designs as well.

This is what I found while coloring in this book and testing it with my coloring mediums. In the comments section below, I will list the coloring medium I use for both testing and coloring most of my projects.

24 x 2 Cat Mandala Designs each design is provided in full page format as well as sized for 5 x 7 inch use.

Printed on one side of the page

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

Glue bound

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

Book opens fairly flat for coloring by creasing the spine.

Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper rapidly.

Water-based markers bleed through in spots.

Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows on the back of the page; however, India ink can bleed through if you use multiple layers of ink.

Both oil and wax-based colored pencils work well with this paper. I was able to layer the same color to get a deep pigment, layer multiple colors and blend easily using a pencil style blender. Hard lead pencils leave dents through the back of the page.

I use a blotter page under my working page to keep ink and dents from damaging the pages below. I prefer card stock but using a couple of sheets of heavyweight paper works well, too.

I was provided my first copy of this coloring book free for test and review purposes. I have since purchased additional copies for family and friends.

The Official Trolls Coloring Book (DreamWorks Trolls) (Adult Coloring Book)

By: Random House

Rating: 3.5 of 5

My youngest daughter loved trolls when she was a little girl and had the scattered all over her room. When I saw this new coloring book based on the DreamWorks movie, it made me think of our searches for trolls to add to her collection. I picked the book up so I could think of her and our fun together while coloring.

The designs in this book are based on the characters in the new movie, so they aren’t exactly the traditional trolls that I think of. I’m find with that as the characters are so cute. The designs are by artist Jan Gerardi and are nicely detailed and have lots of open area for easy of coloring, shading and blending. While they are detailed, they are not intricate or have tiny areas to color.

The cover is nicely printed with deep fuchsia foil accents. You can also color the rest of cover front and back if you choose to do so. The inside of both the front and back cover are cute floral line drawings which can be colored as well.

The one real issue I have with the book is that the pages are already coming apart from the binding. All it took to start the process was literally turning the pages. I don’t know if my book is indicative of all or if mine is a fluke but it is bothersome because a good number of the designs spread across two pages. When I have a book with that type of design, I don’t remove the pages from the book to color. I keep them together and, unfortunately, that is not going to happen with this book.

While I love the designs and would give them a 5 star review, I don’t love the way the book is put together. I actually rate that a 2. The average is 3.5 and I round up as I cannot leave that rating on Amazon, on their platform it shows as a 4.

This is what I experienced while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring medium. In the comments section below, I will list the coloring medium I use for tests and which I generally use for all of my projects.

96 pages of Trolls Designs (including title and preface pages). Designs are based on the new DreamWorks movie rather than traditional trolls.

Printed on both sides of the page

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

Glue bound but pages are already detaching from the binding (issue due to printing on both sides.)

Many Designs are printed across two pages

Designs merge into the binding area

Opening this book to a fairly flat position for coloring hastens the detachment of pages. I am coloring in it with care.

Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page. If you use these, you will ruin the design on the back of the page.

Water-based markers, gel pens and India ink pens do not bleed through the page.

Colored pencils do very well with this paper. It has a nice amount of tooth and both oil and wax-based pencils perform well. I was able to get nice pigment and to layer the same color, multiple colors, and blending easily using a pencil style blending stick.

In summary, I wish the binding were better. I sincerely hope that it is just an issue with my book and not a general issue with the publication. I am coloring with care and putting a tie around the book when not in use to keep the pages intact. I’ve never had this issue with a coloring book before and was really surprised when it started to fall apart.

Centered – For Crayons And Wide Tipped Markers: Angie’s Gentle Mood Menders – Volume 2

By: Angie Grace

Rating: 5 of 5

This is my second coloring book in the Gentle Mood Menders series by Angie Grace. I also own one of her more intricate design series books, Breathe which is part of the Extreme Stress Menders series. As with Balance, the first volume in the Gentle series, Centered is a re-working of one of her popular Centered book in the Extreme Stress Menders series.

The big difference between the two Centered books is that this book has been made easier to color. The original book was very intricate and large where this one focuses on the central portion of the design. It still fits on the same size page as the original book but with less detail. Because it is less intricate, it means the designs are more open and that you can use larger coloring mediums to work with. I still find the mandalas nicely detailed and that I am having a lot of fun with the easier to color style.

In addition to larger tipped medium, I think it is also a book that can be used by individuals who could not color in the original book due to fine motor or visual issues. While I can’t compare it to the original book as I don’t own it, I did compare it to Breathe. I find that coloring in this book is a lot of fun and that the projects went by quickly for me without having to work in small detailed areas with tiny nib pens. I will admit that I used both fine and ultra-fine markers to do these designs but that was only for convenience sake and because I own both size markers in the same colors.

This is what I experienced while coloring in and testing my coloring mediums with this book. In the comments section below I will list the coloring mediums I used to test the paper in this book and which I usually use for my coloring projects.

50 Circular style Mandalas with wider lines and more open space than most mandalas

Printed on one side of the page

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

Glue Binding with plenty of space to cut out design if you choose to do so.

Designs stop well before the binding area

Alcohol and water-based markers seep through this paper to varying degrees. Alcohol-based seep through quickly while water-based are actually more spotty.

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

Colored pencils work well with this paper. Using both oil and wax-based pencils, I got good pigment coverage, could layer the same and multiple colors, and could blend easily using a pencil style blending stick. Hard lead pencils leave dents through to the back of the page.

I recommend the use of a blotter page for under your working page. That way you can keep seeping inks and marring dents from damaging the design below. I use either card stock or several sheets of heavyweight paper.

Kawaii Halloween: A Super Cute Holiday Coloring Book (Kawaii, Manga and Anime Coloring Books for Adults, Teens and Tweens) (Volume 5)

By: Mindful Coloring Books

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a really cute Halloween coloring book with lots of kittens, pumpkins, witches, vampires and cute little trick or treaters. Each of the design pages are filled with adorable little ones that are so much fun to color. I have another Kawaii style coloring book and have enjoyed coloring it, so when I found this book in a similar style with a Halloween vibe, I knew I would enjoy it as well.

Along with the 20 full size pages, there are two pages at the end of the book which include four bookmark size designs each for more coloring fun. In addition to these 22 pages of designs, there are sample pages from several other Mindful Coloring books as well.

This is what I experienced when coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper. In the comments section below, I will include a list the coloring medium I used for testing and which I also use for coloring.

20 Full Page Halloween designs in Kawaii style plus bonus pages

Printed one side of the page

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

Glue bound

Designs do not merge into the binding area and have a framing line around the outer edge

Alcohol and water-based markers bleed through. Water-based is more spotty while alcohol-based flow through rapidly.

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

Colored pencils work well. I tested both oil and wax-based and had good results with both. I was able to lay down good color, layer the same and multiple colors, and blend easily using a pencil style blender. Hard lead pencils can leave dents through the paper.

I use a blotter page of card stock to keep seeping ink and dents from damaging the pages below my working page. A couple of pages of heavyweight paper works well, too.

SpongeBob’s Very Grown-Up Coloring Book (SpongeBob SquarePants) (Adult Coloring Book)

By: Random House

Rating: 4 of 5

I have been a fan of SpongeBob over the years and was excited to see a coloring book being released for adult colorists. The reality was a little disappointing in that of the 47 design pages, at least 24 pages were in a repeating wallpaper style of design. Of those, a number were done in a very small and intricate style which will make it more difficult to color. I would have preferred a mix of more designs and less repeating designs or at least bringing up the size of some of those tiny ones to a size that makes it easier to see and to color. Because of this, I find I like the book but don’t really love it.

I really like the regular design pages and those will probably be the ones that I will color. Not sure if I will ever make my way to the wallpaper designs but time will tell.

This is what I found while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring mediums. In the comments section below, I will list the coloring medium I used for testing this book and which are also the ones I usually use for coloring my projects.

47 SpongeBob Squarepants Designs (plus title page)

Printed on one side of the page with a quote or saying on the back of the page

Paper is heavyweight, white, slightly rough, non-perforated

Glue Bound

Designs merge into the binding area

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

Alcohol-based markers bleed through the paper. If you use this style of marker, I suggest using a blotter page under your working page. I use card stock or several sheets of heavyweight paper as my blotter.

Water-based markers, gel pens, and India ink pens do not bleed through the paper.

Colored pencils work very well with this paper. Both oil and wax-based pencils worked equally well. I was able to layer the same color for deeper pigment, layer multiple colors, and blend easily using a pencil style stick blender.

Fairies & Friends: Enchanting Fairies and Friends to Color

By: Barbara Lanza

Rating: 5 of 5

I have several coloring books by Barbara Lanza and really enjoy the beautiful and elegant fairies who inhabit the world of her imagination. Fairies and Friends in the second book in her new fairy series. The first book, which I also own, is called Fairy Lane. In the new book, Ms. Lanza continues to populate this world with her beautiful creatures.

There are 25 new designs in this book. The designs have a really nice level of detail but are not overly intricate. Some of the designs are focused on a foreground imagine while others are fully illustrated with a background as well. In most of the designs, there is a fairy and its animal friend, such as a cat, a bird, a dragonfly, a squirrel, or even another fairy.

This is what I found while coloring in this book and while testing my coloring medium on the paper. In the comments section below, I will list the coloring medium I used to test this book and which I use for most of my coloring.

25 Fairy and Friend Designs

Printed one side of the page

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

Glue Bound

Most designs merge into the binding area

Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper readily

Water-based markers bleed through in spots

Gel pens and India ink pens do not bleed through. India ink pens can bleed through in spots if you use multiple coats.

Colored pencils work well with this paper. It is slightly rough and has enough tooth to get good pigment from both oil or wax based pencils. I was also able to use both to layer colors and to blend easily using a pencil style blending stick. Hard lead pencils leave dents through the page.

I use a blotter of card stock or heavy weight paper with this type of coloring book to keep seeping ink or dents from damaging the pages below my working page.

Fantastic Cities: 20 Postcards to Color

By: Steve McDonald

Rating: 5 of 5

I own all three coloring books by Steve McDonald and was happy to find that he had come out with a set of postcards based on his first coloring book Fantastic Cities. In this set of postcards, there are 20 designs from the book but the designs have been sized and cropped to fit the postcards. The designs are very detailed and have many intricate and small spots to color. This set of postcards are a fun challenge but I am using my smallest nib pens and markers as well as my very sharp point pencils to color in it. Because of the small areas to color, this may not be the best choice for anyone who has visual or fine motor issues.

I really appreciate that Mr. McDonald kept to the square format of his books in sizing the artwork for the postcards. It also makes the set of cards very different from others. I’m not sure if regular postal rates will apply because of the change in size ( 6 x 6 inches) but for coloring purposes, I really enjoy it.

This is what I experienced while coloring in this set and testing my coloring medium on the card stock.

20 Fantastic Cities designs sized and cropped to fit postcards

Designs printed on one side of card stock with address/stamp areas on the back of the card

Paper is slightly rough white card stock

Glue bound but in the style of easy to remove pages such as a notepad

Alcohol-based markers had slight bleed-through but did not get to the paper I had below. I would still use a sheet of paper as a blotter below my working page or remove the cards before coloring when using this medium.

Water-based markers, gel pens, and India ink pens did not bleed through. Gel pens required a little extra drying time.

Colored pencils worked really well with these cards. Most postcards are smooth but this card stock had enough tooth to get good pigment, layering, and blending with ease. Both oil and wax-based pencils worked equally well.

The Aquarium: Marine Portraits to Color

By: Richard Merritt

Rating: 5 of 5

This is the third book by Claire Scully and Richard Merritt. The Aquarium follows in the footsteps of The Menagerie and The Aviary. This latest book is dedicated to marine life, which is at odds with the title. Some of these fish and other marine life are not what I would consider to be in an aquarium (either the small home style or the building dedicated to showing marine life.)

While it is a little disappointing, it isn’t out of line with the rest of the series in style and content. I don’t think the intent was to mislead but rather to have a title consistent in form with the first two books (i.e., places where animals, birds, and/or fish are housed.) On, the other hand, both the product description and the back of the book mention a parrot fish and the book does not contain a design of that fish. This was definitely an error on behalf of the publisher/artist that should have been caught.

The initial line drawings are realistically portrayed but then the inside of the fish and other creatures are lots of doodle style intricate elements. The designs are highly intricate and contained many small and hard to color details. It may not be the best book for those who have vision or fine motor skill issues. For those who like intricate work and marine life, it should be a great book to consider. I will include a full list of the designs included in the comments section below.

The attached cover is beautifully illustrated with coloring and light touches of matte fuchsia and turquoise metallic foil on the front artwork. The paper that is used for this book is a very good quality and would work well if you wish to frame your finished work.

Slight elements of the background design are already colored. While I would have preferred they left that blank, I am okay with the small amount they have colored in this instance. The designs do merge into the binding and you will lose portions of some of the designs if you remove a page at the perforations.

This is what I found in coloring and testing in this book:

31 Marine Life Designs which are very detailed and intricate to color

Printed on one side of the page

Paper is white, heavy weight somewhat smooth, has background slightly pre-colored and is perforated.

Sewn Binding

Book can be opened fairly flat for coloring

Designs merge past the perforations and into the binding area

Alcohol and Water based markers bleed through this paper to some extent (with Tombow brush ends did best with only light spotting to the back of the page.)

India ink left shadows on the back of the page.

Gel pens did not bleed through and did not require extra drying time.

Coloring pencils worked well. Both oil and wax based pencils worked well for good color, layering and blending.

If you use a wet medium with this book, I suggest using a blotter page of card stock or several sheets of paper to keep ink from seeping through the ruining the pages below. You can also simply remove a page from the book before coloring as well.

By: Hanna Karlzon

Rating: 5 of 5

Winter Dreams is my first coloring book by Hanna Karlzon. The book was originally published in Sweden and has now been published in the US. I enjoy seasonal designs, especially those for fall and winter. I lived most of my life in Southern California and did not get to experience a true winter season. Hobbies and crafts such as coloring were my only way of enjoying the idea of snow and winter scenes.

While Winter Dreams is not a Christmas coloring postcard set, there are some designs that evoke the holiday (ornaments and a gingerbread house.) The designs have a lush and ornamental feeling to them. There are some doodle elements but they don’t overwhelm the designs.

Many postcards are sized down designs which are intricate and hard to color. That is not true of this book. It appears that the designs were hand-drawn to this particular scale. The designs are detailed but not intricate. I was able to use my standard coloring medium without having to resort to special small nib pens or ultra sharp hard lead pencils.

This is what I experienced while coloring these postcards and testing the paper with my coloring medium.

20 Winter inspired postcard designs with mailing areas defined on the back of the card

Printed on one side of the card

Paper is heavyweight card stock in smooth ivory

Glue bound but in the style of easy to remove pages such as a notepad

Alcohol-based markers left colorful shadows on the back of the page and had the tiniest bit of spot through. I would put a blotter page of paper under my working page or remove the card from the book to color to keep the designs below safe from the slight possibility of seeping ink

Water-based markers, India ink, and gel pens did not bleed through the card. Gel pens took a little longer to dry than usual.

Colored pencils worked well with this paper. Oil and wax-based pencils worked well with good color, layering, and blending using a pencil style blending stick.