Daily Archives: October 18, 2017

Inkspirations for Christmas Joy: Festive Coloring Designs with DIY Gift Tags, Postcards, Wine Tags and More

By: Kristin van Lieshout

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a lovely coloring book of Christmas inspired designs by Kristin van Lieshout. In addition to design pages, there are several pages of postcard, gift tag and even bottle hanger designs. The illustrations are festive and evoke the holiday spirit. While most are generic Christmas in subject, a few are religious as well. There is a Nativity that reminds me of stained glass windows, the three kings as well as ornaments, Christmas trees, snow scenes, animals and much more.

In addition to the designs for coloring, there are colored examples and, best of all, some colored pages which you can cut out and use for gift tags if you run short of time.
The designs are placed on one side of the page with a coordinating facing page with applicable quote. This gives the coloring pencil colorists opportunities for even more to color (see my color medium tests below.) The designs are beautifully hand-drawn which is the style that I prefer most of all.
32 pages of Christmas designs including some pages of designs for postcards and various size gift tags.
The design pages are bright white, medium weight and lightly smooth. The postcard pages are slightly heavier, a warmer color white and have a slightly more rough feel to them. All pages are perforated.
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page
Water-based markers bleed through in spots.
Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows on back of the page. India ink can bleed through if you apply heavily or multiple coats.
Colored pencils work well with this paper. I found that I could layers the same color for deeper pigment or multiple colors and I could blend easily using a blending stick. I also found that hard lead pencils leave dents through the paper.
I like to use a blotter when working in the book. I use a page of card stock or several sheets of heavyweight paper under my working page. It keeps seeping ink and marring dents from ruining the pages below.

Gift Boxes to Decorate and Make: Christmas

By: Nosy Crow

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a cute set of color it and make your own set of small gift boxes with Christmas/winter theme illustrations. To me, they resemble boxes used in take-out food. They will hold a smaller gift. The designs are extremely cute with coordinating areas to color or write in on all sides. The designs are detailed and some have a few intricate areas to color. I don’t find them difficult to color but they may present issues for someone with vision or fine motor skill issues.

The boxes are printed on a heavy weight paper. All of the pages are perforated for easy removal from the book. Once out, there are pre-scored fold-lines (as well as instructions) which allow for fairly easy construction of the boxes. In addition to folding, there are slots which hook together to hold the box in shape. The white and gold foil stickers at the back of the book can be used to hold each of the boxes closed once you have placed your gift inside.
This is what I found when testing with my coloring medium:
Alcohol-based markers bled through the paper.
Water-based markers, gel pens and India ink pens did not bleed through or leave marks on the back of either types of paper.
Colored pencils work well with the slight rough texture. I got could color with both oil and wax based pencils. I was also able to layer and blend well using a blender stick.