The Time Garden by Daria Song - Adult Coloring Book Review

The Time Garden by Daria Song is available through Random House
and also available on Amazon!

You don't need me to tell you that adult coloring books are big right now.  From Mandalas to Zentangles and more, grown ups are grabbing these detailed images to color as a form of relaxation and stress relief.

If you want a little bit more than a soothing coloring experience, then you might want to check out the adult coloring book called The Time Garden by Korean artist Daria Song.

More than just beautiful pictures, Song decided to have her adult coloring book tell a magical story.  It is the story of a young girl who climbs into her fathers cuckoo clock, and finds herself in a fantastical world.

It is a story told in images, with just a very few words to get your imagination primed.

The young girl in the pictures is chasing a red-haired fairy through a fantasy world, much like Alice chased the White Rabbit through wonderland.

I do not use anything except color pencils in my adult coloring books, but several amazon reviewers stated that you can use gel pens and some markers without bleeding through the pages.  Other markers did bleed though, according to the reviewers, so if you use markers in your coloring books I suggest you test them for bleeding first!

The Time Garden is so well loved that a sequel has been made.  You heard me right, there is a sequel for a coloring book!  It is called The Time Chamber

The artist, Daria Song, has a masters degree in fiber arts, but  as you can tell from the fine detail in The Time Garden's rich and beautiful illustrations, she is not lacking in illustration talent either!

When you purchase The Time Garden and The Time Chamber, or any other adult coloring book, you're going to want to toss in some good coloring pencils, like this highly rated Studio Series Colored Pencil Set of 30.

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I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Spooky Spider Pal - Tutorial with Photos

It is almost time for Tricks and Treats again.  Many children are eagerly trying on their costumes and getting read to go house to house asking for candy.

Since the special night is still a week away, some little ghouls and goblins might be getting a little restless.

You can keep them busy by doing a few cute Halloween crafts.

This Spooky Spider Pal is one craft that than take a few minutes between now and the Spooktacular Halloween Night away.

This cute spider craft is done with things most kid crafters already have on hand.  With a Pom-Pom body, and pipecleaner legs it coudln't be easier to make.

And really, look at that cute little underbite.  Those crazy wiggly eyes.  Those adorable beaded knees!

Are you ready to make a Spooky Spider Pal of your very own?  Here is how you can make this Halloween Craft with the kids (or a grown up kid at heart)

SUPPLIES

• Black Pom-poms (2 to 3 inches in size)
• Black Pipe Cleaners (4)
• Googly Eyes (colored ones like these are extra fun)
• White scrap paper (you can also use felt)
• Pony beads (16)
• Glue

INSTRUCTIONS

1. I sketched some fangs on the white paper (I used  a junk mail envelope) then cut them out.  I got my helper (my 5 year old son) to glue the wiggle eyes and paper fangs onto one large pom-pom.  Then set it aside to dry.

My son wanted to make this spider so badly
I could hardly keep him away long enough to take the supply photo.

Here is the spider face he made.
Our Spooky Spider Pal has an underbite.

2.  Take 4 black pipe cleaners (also known as chenille stems) and fold them in half to find their centers.  Then open them back up.  Lay them down, crossing each other at their centers, then twist them together for security.  It will look something like this:

3.  Fold each leg in toward the center.  Where these bends are will be the KNEES of the spider.  Unfold them a little and slide a pony bead up to each knee joint.  (You can secure the beads with glue if you wish.)

4.  Fold a small portion of the tip of the leg outward (away from the center of the body).  I bent them out approximately the distance between the tip and first knuckle of my pointer finger.  Slide the remaining pony beads up to each bend.  These are the spiders FEET.

Now, turn it right side up (feet side down) and it should look something like this:

5.  Take your glue and put a generous amount on the center of the spiders body (where all the legs meet).  Take your head that you had set aside earlier and mush it down into the glue.

Once it dries you have your Spooky Spider Pal.

Now, put it on a leash and take it walking with you on Halloween!

Q&A a Day 4 Year Journal for Creatives

 I like to consider myself to be a creative person.  I love to write and I love answering question when I'm stuck for a topic, so I was excited to be offered Q&A a Day for Creatives.

I guess I should have looked a little closer at the description though. 

Since this is a 4  year journal called Q&A I was expecting questions to write answers too.

What is actually is is 365 prompts to make small drawings.  Each page has one phrase on it, and is divided into 4 parts.  Each year you are supposed to make a small drawing on that phrase.


The back cover displays what the inner pages look like very well.

I'm not entirely disappointed though.  Fllipping through the book I found several prompts that I can use to write on instead of draw on.  AND, I've been wanting to flex my drawing muscle a little.  I'm not an artist, but maybe 4 years of small doodles can help me out!

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DISCLAIMER:  “I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review.”