Has anyone come across the grown-up colouring books that are taking Europe by storm? Is it catching on in the USA?

I have the Secret Garden and the Enchanted Forest by Joanna Basford and they are fantastic. Not only can you colour but you also go on quests within the book! I do love quests :-)

I can't find the current Amazon list for this week, but recently there were 4 grown up colouring books in Amazon's Top Ten Book List. They are outselling everything, particularly the two I have.

Has anyone come across the grown-up colouring books that are taking Europe by storm? Is it catching on in the USA?

Yes. It is catching on in the US. There was a recent thread on this here: http://www.atlasquest.com/boards/messages.html?gStartId=898352;gThreadId=129532

I am wondering what you mean by

...you also go on quests within the book!

How do you do that? Sounds interesting.

I wish I had know about them when I was there. Would have liked to pick some up. Will be looking on Amazon when I get home.

FRH

Some friends have been buying them. I just looked at the ones they're getting and they're sold out on Amazon. I think I'll order mine now. I love to color and if it helps with cognitive skills, I need all of the help I can get!!

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_13?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=color+me+calm+coloring+book&sprefix=color+me+calm%2Caps%2C496

I am wondering what you mean by go on quests within the book

Well I am not entirely sure myself, I have just started The Secret Garden and don't want to look ahead to spoil it. I do know there are many hidden things you have to look for as you colour, on the first picture I found a key and as there is a lovely secret looking gate in the same picture I guess it is for that gate. I also know further on there are mazes and puzzles to solve because it said so in the blurb on Amazon but I haven't come to them yet.

I love to color and if it helps with cognitive skills, I need all of the help I can get!!

Yes Roo, colouring for grown-ups is being promoted as being good for mindfulness, in fact some are specifically titled as Mindfullness colouring books.

*YT waves madly at FRH*.

I am VERY intrigued by this. I love to color and I love quest stuff. Where can I find these books???

I just put in Secret Garden Coloring Book and it and a few others popped up. Going to get the postcards one also. Really love that idea.

I got mine from Amazon.co.uk, but here is the link to the one on Amazon.com :-

http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Garden-Inky-Treasure-Coloring/dp/1780671067

Thank you!! I just ordered it but its back ordered so I don't know when it will be shipped.

I ordered the Secret Garden and the Enchanted Forest from Amazon and they finally arrived! They are beautiful.

I started on one page and have tried different coloring items, but I'm not happy with them. What do you use for coloring them in? Colored pencils? Markers? Crayons?

What do you recommend?

FRH

What did you try?

I have both of these, and LOOOVE them!

~RW

What kind of paper is in these coloring books?

I would recommend Prismascolor colored pencils. They're expensive, so use a coupon. But they give much nicer, smoother, richer look than Crayola. Michaels and Hobby Lobby Sell them.

If the paper is thick enough, then I would recommend good water based markers. You could try Crayola, but you may get lots of lines. Tombow is a nice brand, and you can blend the color with water. But the paper has to be able to take wet media.

Don't use Copic markers or Sharpies, as they bleed through.

Here's what was recommended.
http://www.wendypiersall.com/how-to-color/

What I find funny is they don't recommend Sharpies because they bleed. (Maybe she means they feather). Copic markers, she recommends, but Copic markers will bleed through the paper. For sure... maybe buy one single marker and try it. But also make sure you get a tiny point marker for those books with tiny details.

I have the Ink tense pencils, too. They need to be blended with water to look good. A set of 36 of any colored pencil brand is enough colors.

Gelly Roll pens are fun, but they don't last long. Just a warning.

Vroman's Pasadena currently has a huge table display of them! Their website has several pages of colouring books with different themes - nature, mandalas, architecture, floral, even skulls: http://www.vromansbookstore.com/search/site/adult%2520coloring%2520books They also have wonderful customer service, btw.

Many of the books are printed one-sided so you can use markers without worrying about colors bleeding through.
I ended up not getting Secret Garden because the crowded, tiny shapes aren't relaxing for me; I like larger areas so I can do shading, texture, etc. but that's just me. There's definitely something for everyone. Have fun!

I dont like the tiny shapes for colorijg, but what FUN they would be for stamp images to carve!

If they are one sided papers, that is good, because Spectrum Noir markers are alcohol based and blend really well, but they do soak through paper. I would suggest putting a plastic sheet between pages, as you use them. Copics are TOO expensive for this kind of play, IMO. Spectrum Noir work about the same. Also some are recommending the Chameleon markers, which blend 2 colors.

There's art markers and pens, which are much finer detail, for those small detailed books.

Colored pencil with markers, used TOGETHER, can look really cool, if you really want to get into layering your colors and showing some texture. Same with using a water brush and watercolors, and colored pencils to enhance.

I ended up not getting Secret Garden because the crowded, tiny shapes aren't relaxing for me; I like larger areas so I can do shading, texture, etc. but that's just me.

Me too so it's not just you, Summerfun! :-) I highly recommend Angie Grace's books and I've got my eye on Jenean Morrison's Mandala book. Angie Grace's books are all one sided so they work great with markers. I use Bic Mark-its - great affordable option to Copic and other expensive art markers.

There's art markers and pens, which are much finer detail, for those small detailed books.

Stabilo Fineliners are excellent for details and economic as well. I got a set of 30 for under $30.00.