The Magical Christmas
By: Mel King and various other illustrators
Rating: 5 of 5
“The Magical Christmas” is a smaller format book (8.5 x 8.5 inches.) The designs are extremely detailed with many small and intricate spots to color. The designs are Christmas in nature with lots of animals as well. There are no Santa Claus or Nativity scenes. The closest is comes is a sled filled with toys drawn by a reindeer and another design of an angelic being.
The designs are highly detailed and due to the smaller format, general intricate to color as well.
While I enjoy coloring in detail, this is not a book I would suggest for anyone who has vision or fine motor issues. It is a book for individuals who like a bit of a challenge in their projects and who like cute Christmas motifs which also include cute animals.
This is what I found in this coloring book:
54 Christmas designs by a variety of illustrators (including title and intro pages) in a smaller format book
Designs are printed on one side of thin, white, slightly rough non-perforated paper typical of CreateSpace.
Glue Binding
Easy to open to flat position for coloring
Designs do not merge into the binding and have a double framing line at the outer edge of the design. This makes for a natural stopping place for coloring and adds to a more finished looking project.
Alcohol and water-based markers bleed through the page to some degree. Water-based bleed through in spots while alcohol-based bleed through freely
Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows of color on the back of page. India ink can bleed through if you use multiple layers or apply heavily.
Colored pencils work well with this paper. Both oil and wax based provide good color when I use multiple layers of the same color. I am easily able to blend (using a pencil style blender stick) and layer multiple colors as well. Hard lead pencils leave dents through the back of the page.
Because of the bleed through and dents, I suggest (and use) a blotter page below my working page no matter what medium I use. I prefer card stock but several sheets of heavyweight paper work as well.
Here are some sample designs from the coloring book:
