I was provided with a free downloadable copy of a Mandala Coloring Book by Jessica Ballard for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.
Image courtesy of Jessica Ballard
Coloring has always been a fun part of my life. Growing up I loved to color and on any given day you could find me coloring away furiously either in coloring books or creating drawings on scrap paper that my Daddy so carefully saved for me. I remember when I visited my Grandma Bonnie she had a great colored pencil set with a color by number book and I whiled away many hours using that. I think my love for crafting home made greeting cards stemmed from those early years.
Recently the adult coloring book trend has sky rocketed. Coloring has been used as a relaxation technique for years and when I was doing research I found out that one of the early proponents of this method was none other than psychologist Carl G. Jüng in the early 20th century. He did this through mandalas which can be identified by their circular designs with concentric shapes which are quite similar to the Gothic churches’ rose windows. These drawings originated in India and their popularity has come back into vogue lately.
Since my move back to North Carolina I have joined up with a great group of bloggers in the North Carolina Blogger Network. One of those bloggers, Jessica Ballard, blogs at Positive Inspired Living has such a positive take on everything and her thoughts are so often similar to mine. It makes me smile to read her travel posts and see what recipes she has to offer up on her blog.
I was thrilled when she extended the offer to several of us to get a free copy of her Mandala Coloring Book to try it out. While I thought I would have a lot of time to enjoy it I have hardly carved out time enough to even finish one picture which makes me a little sad because it is really a great book. The house settling and unpacking continues and coloring has definitely been put on the back burner. 
I have managed to color one picture and it is clear that I need more work on my coloring techniques but the great thing about Jessica’s book is that as a downloadable book I can print out any of the 24 designs multiple times until I complete one that satisfies the perfectionist side of me. Please check out her site and especially read her bio here.
Jessica Ballard
You can purchase one of these of your very own by going to this link and checking out through Paypal. The book is only $7.99 and that seems like a bargain to me. Thanks, Jessica, for allowing me the chance to relax with your fabulous Mandala Coloring Book.
29 Comments
Leave a commentI love these adult colouring books. I just bought a similar one for my daughter. You may not have much time to colour now but just think how this will occupy your time in the cold winter months coming. Perfect with a cup of steaming tea!
They are really fun, aren’t they? I am amazed at the popularity of them recently and love this one because you can print it out time and time again.
Historical based coloring books are a great way to teach history in the early childhood years as well as for below level readers in middle and senior high school. I used drawing for lower level kids so they could earn some credit for a passing grade . They did not read well enough to pass written tests and this was better than giving the teens F’s like the rest of the teachers. It also gave them a sense of being able to succeed which often helped them focus a little better to engage text to read better.
In early childhood the coloring book activities stimulate motor skills. They are also meaningful exercises for adult stroke victims.
What a great way to teach history, Carl! I love that idea and had not even thought about using that as a way to teach. What a creative and helpful way to make history come alive and be real to students. And yes—to feel successful. I love it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts today.
I have been coloring for several years. They key to run are Twistie crayons and good German colored pencils that blend colors! I use a Celtic Christian coloring book for a devotional too. I began coloring when I was hospitalized to lower blood pressure and stress. Believe me it works. 120/80 is my blood pressure now…. No Ned’s just coloring!
Great tips! I have some of those twisty crayons but didn’t use them and I bet they are awesome to use for those. I need to definitely make time to do more of this if it lowers blood pressure! Thanks for stopping by!
Beth Ann – you are a sly one – you never mentioned this when I told you my story about the mandalas in the “botanical drawing” class at A-B Tech. So, while I may never draw mandalas – my love of botanical drawing with colored pencils fills the same need!
Well I am definitely NO expert as you can tell from my sample but I hope to get better. I can’t wait to see a bunch of your botanicals. 🙂
Hmmm…maybe it’s time to purchase a coloring book or twenty. Jessica’s designs are lovely.
I’m not at all surprised that you’ve already connected with a group of NC bloggers. Are they calling you “Mom?”
That is what I am thinking—or just keep printing out Jessica’s. 🙂 I have not met any of the NC bloggers IRL yet but will eventually. It is a huge group and I am still trying to find ones close by. No “mom” yet. 🙂
I bought a coloring book a few months ago. I’ve had time to do 1.5 of the images. It was fun.
See—I am finding you have to MAKE the time to do it. I will force myself today to do a bit. Challenging you, too!
I love coloring it’s such a great stress reliever! It helps to have little girls who want me to color with them!
That is what I need—a couple of little girls to help me out! Thanks for stopping by!
Was it good stress relief while you were colouring?
It really was a little bit but I was doing it for a review and a post so now I will go back and do one and really enjoy the experience and I bet it will be more relaxing this time when it is just for me!
Have fun!
Thanks!
I recently bought a Mandala coloring book. I have colored exactly 1 picture. With markers. It made me happy.
You sound like me. I have to work on doing more, don’t I? Thanks for stopping by1
Colouring is one activity that I will sit down and do with my children still. I think I have finally outgrown Barbie and other dolls – LOL. but colouring is absolutely relaxing.
It is a fun activity to do with your littles I am sure –relaxing time and family time!
That is such a great idea! My kids gets kind of annoyed with me when I jump in and nicely suggest that maybe mamma can paint the other page of the coloring book that they are not working on… lol.
With this one I would have my own 🙂
Thanks Beth!
You definitely need your own. This would be the perfect solution to that.
I haven’t done much – but I bought an adult coloring book about a month ago and MAN is it a stress reliever!
I need to make time to do this more. I can definitely see the benefits!
I have so many of these coloring books. I love them! They really help me relax 🙂
Testimonials are good ! Great to know how many people use these and how they help to de stress and relax. I need to do some every day!
I haven’t purchased one, YET. There are so many, and I want one that “speaks” to me.