Category Archives: Adult Color Books

45 more Star Trek The Next Generation designs to finish the series

Star Trek: The Next Generation Adult Coloring Book-Continuing Missions

By: CBS (Various Illustrators)

Rating: 5 of 5

I really enjoyed the first of this series of two books and wondered if the illustrators would finish off the series. And they did and here it is. It’s been out for a while and I bought it a bit ago but just got around to testing it for a review. I’m looking forward to coloring in it (though my husband says he has first claim.) I guess we’ll just have to see… or perhaps share.

As with the first book, the designs are printed on one side of the page which allow the colorist to use a much wider range of medium. While my medium of choice used to be markers, due to health issues those are mostly a thing of my past. I’ll be coloring this new book with a variety of colored pencils as those are not a problem at all for me.

I find that the characters are well represented and that the scenes I like from various episodes definitely bring the series to mind. A great book for a Trekkie (husband) or someone who just likes the series and likes to color (me.)

The designs are detailed but not what I would call intricate though there are parts of designs which have small areas to color. The designs are printed on one side of the page with the episode/quote on the opposite facing page.

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25 Unique Stuffed Animal Designs with a Manga feel – printed one side of the page

Stuffed Animals

By: Jade Summer

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a really cute book with manga style characters with cute stuffed animal pets. The designs appealed to me for coloring along with my grandkids though some are a little too detailed for them at their current age. Not a problem because, along with the book, you can receive .pdf downloads (with directions included in the book once you purchase it.) While printing those copies is a great plus, I will be reviewing (and videoing and photo images) from the print copy.

Lots of cute designs with both boys and girls featured, which is unusual because the focus in most coloring books I have come across are generally of girls.

The designs are a little less detailed than most by Jade Summer but, again, that works great for me. It also makes it easier for those who have slight vision or motor skill issues or those who simply like quick and easy to color projects.

I want to note that the Amazon owned company, CreateSpace is now being folded into KDF (Kindle Direct Publishing.) These independent artist books will move along into the new group shortly if they have not already done so by now. According to what I’ve read, the same warehouses and printing presses will be used. No mention is made of paper but one assumes that it will be the same as well.

I don’t know if the copy I received was printed by CreateSpace or by KDP, but I can say that it is the same paper I am used to receiving (for years now) from CreateSpace. That is: thin, white, slightly rough, and non-perforated. I will continue to check books as I receive them and will note, in new reviews, if the quality changes.

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31 Beautiful Kimono Designs by Ming-Ju Sun – printed one side of the page

Japanese Kimono Designs

By: Ming-Ju Sun

Rating: 5 of 5

This is an older Creative Haven Coloring book. It is also a reprint of an even older Dover Coloring book. The advantage to the newer Creative Haven book is that the designs are printed on only one side of the page.

I want to warn buyers to beware if they purchase this book on Amazon. For some reason, as of the date of this review, Amazon has merged at least two coloring books by Ming-Ju Sun together. I know this because my review of Art Deco fashions shows up on this product page. Make sure you see the book cover associated with this book when you put a copy in your cart.

I really enjoy Ming-Ju Sun’s costume books but none as much as those based on the Japanese culture. The sweep of the kimonos are elegant and the look of the ladies is lovely. There are designs with a single individual and ones with multiple ones as well. A really beautiful look at the art of Japanese fashions.

I’ve noticed that the paper quality seems to change quite frequently on the Creative Haven line. Because of that, if you buy one of these books, it may be slightly smooth or slightly rough depending on when and where it was printed. I’ve found that coloring medium, including pencils, work similarly with both slightly rough and slightly smooth paper from Creative Haven. In this case, my coloring book pages are slightly rough.

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25 Dreamlings Designs in volume 3 with additional copies printed with black background

Dreamlings 3:

By: Edwina Mc Namee

Rating: 5 of 5

This is the third in a series of books about Dreamlings by Edwina McNamee. Just as with the first book and second books, the creatures that inhabit Dreamlings 2 are cute little animals. The focus is time is on the creatures themselves and in a slightly simpler style than in the previous books.

I really appreciate the change as it can give an opportunity to those with a little bit of vision or fine motor skill challenge to have the fun of coloring in these books. They are also appropriate for a slightly younger age group to color due to the easier to color style. While the format is a bit easier to color, the designs still have a nice amount of detail to them.

The designs are mostly printed twice – once with black lines on white paper and the second time as white designs printed on black paper. The change up in the background color makes coloring the second copy a new experience.

In addition to the two copies of designs, the purchase of this coloring book also includes a free download .pdf. The instructions for downloading are in the book.

I want to note that the Amazon owned company, CreateSpace is now being folded into KDF (Kindle Direct Publishing.) These independent artist books will move along into the new group shortly if they have not already done so by now. According to what I’ve read, the same warehouses and printing presses will be used. No mention is made of paper but one assumes that it will be the same as well.

I don’t know if the copy I received was printed by CreateSpace or by KDP, but I can say that it is the same paper I am used to receiving (for years now) from CreateSpace. That is: thin, white, slightly rough, and non-perforated. I will continue to check books as I receive them and will note, in new reviews, if the quality changes.

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128 pages of Archie Comic Book inspired designs – printed both sides of the page

Archie’s Coloring Book

By: Archie Superstars

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a fun coloring book based on The Archie’s comic book series along with a number of spin-offs from over the years. When I was a little girl, I enjoyed reading about the adventures of Archie, Betty, Veronica and, of course, Jughead. They all have their spots in the book along with Josie and the Pussycats, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Cheryl Blossom and the Little Archie characters.

The designs look straight from the comic book series and are well done for coloring. There is a use of pre-colored black (for Veronica’s hair for instance) that may trouble some but were fine for me.

The coloring book is printed on both sides and some of the designs merge into the binding. The pages are perforated and some of the design elements will get lost if you remove a page from the book. The inside of the front and back covers are printed with line drawings but have a slightly glossy finish which can interfere with coloring.

The designs are all detailed and a few, especially those with smaller comic strip scenes, contain smaller and more intricate areas to color.

The publishers of this book have a Christmas Archie book coming out shortly which I think may be fun as well. I’ll definitely be looking for it as well.

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52 Intricate and Interesting Animal/Flower designs with hidden objects – printed one side of the page

Mythographic Color and Discover: Animals

By: Joseph Catimbang

Rating: 5 of 5

Joseph Catimbang is a new artist for me. Based on the cover, I was somehow expecting a doodle animal type of design. That was wrong. The designs are of animals bedecked, surrounded and literally part of the plants and flowers that surround them. I would never have expected an animal in flowers to still have a menacing type quality, but it is so with these designs at times. It is different and I like it!

There are 52 designs in the book which are printed on one side of the page. That is a great amount of designs and as it is on one side, you can use whatever medium you like that might bleed through (provided you use a page under to get the bleeding from ruining the pages below. It is also easy to remove a page as they are all perforated. I appreciate the thought that went into the making of this coloring book.

Each of the designs has many hidden objects. While I could find most of them without aid, there is a key at the back of the book which lists what are included in each design and where to find them in the next.

It’s a fun book to have and will be fun to color. It is detailed and at times, it is intricate to color. I’ll be looking forward to this artist’s new book next year.

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30 Lovely designs in a slightly smaller than usual format for this artist – printed one side of the page

Fantasy Kingdom

By: Juliana Emerson

Rating: 5 of 5

I own several coloring books by Juliana Emerson and several more by other artists who publish under the imprint Happy Coloring.

I have always appreciated Ms. Emerson’s work and regard even more highly after buying this book. My other books are animals and holidays while this one focuses on fantasy. There are lovely female figures and fantasy animals as well as realistic animals depicted in full scenes.

The designs are detailed and, because of the smaller format (8.5 x 8.5 inches), are a little more intricate than usual.

Some of the lines around the faces and necks of the figures are a little more stark than I usually appreciated but I can tone those down as I color in the book. Apart from that nit, I really like this book.

I want to note that the Amazon owned company, CreateSpace is now being folded into KDF (Kindle Direct Publishing.) These independent artist books will move along into the new group shortly if they have not already done so by now. According to what I’ve read, the same warehouses and printing presses will be used. No mention is made of paper but one assumes that it will be the same as well.

I don’t know if the copy I received was printed by CreateSpace or by KDP, but I can say that it is the same paper I am used to receiving (for years now) from CreateSpace. That is: thin, white, slightly rough, and non-perforated. I will continue to check books as I receive them and will note, in new reviews, if the quality changes.

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31 Crochet inspired coloring designs – printed one side of the page

Calming Crochet

By: Jessica Mazurkiewic

Rating: 3 of 5

I must admit that I was slightly disappointed with this coloring book. As by someone who enjoys coloring and crocheting, I was hoping for something more (especially based on the title.) I own several other coloring books by artist Jessica Mazurkiewic and this is the first that I haven’t liked more than average.

The problem, for me, is the title. It is called Calming Crochet. For me, calming crochet is a meditative state that I enter as I am crocheting. At worst, it is the feeling I get when I have finished a project.

What this coloring book portrays is stereotypical images of crocheters and their projects. There are granny squares and hipsters and odd little projects. Frankly, in order for the title to match the content, I would have wanted a title something along the lines of “Odd, out of date trendy, crochet”.

Having said all of that, the designs themselves are well done and, if you like this style of crochet or want to give a gag gift to someone who crochets and colors, this one might be a book that you would like. It’s just not really what I wanted or expected but it is what it is. I’ll find a home for my copy with someone who will appreciate it for what it is.

I’ve noticed that the paper quality seems to change quite frequently on the Creative Haven line. Because of that, if you buy one of these books, it may be slightly smooth or slightly rough depending on when and where it was printed. I’ve found that coloring medium, including pencils, work similarly with both slightly rough and slightly smooth paper from Creative Haven. In this case, my coloring book pages are slightly rough.

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15 (not 16) Little Witch Garden designs – printed one side of page

Penelope’s Garden

By: Dea Lenihan

Rating: 4 of 5

This is a slightly older coloring book (originally published in 2016), so I was very surprised to find that there were only 15 unique coloring designs in the book while the product blurb mentions 16. If it was originally a mistake, one would have thought it would be corrected by now. Because of this and the lack of a framing line at the outer edges, I reduced my rating by a star. I suggest that the artist take the opportunity now to either correct the book or the description.

The designs are cute and are of a little witchy style girl. She is shown in a number of poses along with the flora and fauna that inhabit her garden. While you get 15 unique designs (including one which is more of a tag style page), you get two copies of each for a total of 30 coloring pages.

The designs are detailed and have a great hand-drawn, sketch like quality to them. Because of that, the lines can be thin/thick or light/dark depending on how the artist was coloring that day.

I want to note that the Amazon owned company, CreateSpace is now being folded into KDF (Kindle Direct Publishing.) These independent artist books will move along into the new group shortly if they have not already done so by now. According to what I’ve read, the same warehouses and printing presses will be used. No mention is made of paper but one assumes that it will be the same as well.

I don’t know if the copy I received was printed by CreateSpace or by KDP, but I can say that it is the same paper I am used to receiving (for years now) from CreateSpace. That is: thin, white, slightly rough, and non-perforated. I will continue to check books as I receive them and will note, in new reviews, if the quality changes.

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50 Celtic inspired designs in a range of skill levels – printed one side of page

Celtic Traditions

By: Cari Buziak

Rating: 5 of 5

This is an outstanding coloring book inspired by Celtic designs. Cari Buziak has several other Celtic style coloring books available (from other publishers) but this is the first that I am aware of from CreateSpace (i.e., self-published.) I can look beyond the less than steller quality of the paper to the sheer number of designs (50) and the beautifully wrought artwork.

The designs range from extremely traditional knots to designs with animal motifs. Some of these are quite traditional and some are surprisingly fun (I especially like the cat chasing the mouse design.) There are square designs and round ones and also some that include coat of arms.

The designs are detailed and some are intricate and more of a challenge to color. There are designs for all levels of colorists to enjoy. That is what is so great about getting 50 designs – there is something for everyone. You can also advance as your skills improve.

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