coloring for teens

FRUIT of the SPIRIT Kindness Video

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The FRUIT of the SPIRIT Colouring Book is featured in a new video. The video showcases a single page – the page entitled KINDNESS. In the video, you will see multiple variations of the coloring of this KINDNESS page. All of the colored pages used for this video are the result of digitally coloring the KINDNESS e-page (available from this website’s store). The physical paperback (with its easy to color 11″ x 8.5″ sized pages) is available from Lulu.

 

BOOK ILLUSTRATIONS

The illustrations for FRUIT of the SPIRIT COLOURING BOOK are largely hand-drawn. If you look closely at the magnified images in the video, you may notice  small variations in the line density and width of the black outlines in the illustration. These inconsistencies are consistent with the use of a real ink pen on physical paper for the original drawings.

Computer-generated coloring book pages tend to show perfectly formed lines. You will not see thickness variations. There will be no wiggles and squiggles that typically come from moving a real pen across real paper. Even high quality paper that appears smooth to the naked eye offers the rough terrain of tiny furrows and hillocks for a pen tip to traverse. No paper (unless it is virtual) is perfectly smooth.

The human hand  does not exert perfectly uniform pressure as it moves a pen across a surface. As the pressure we apply to the pen and the paper changes, so the line quality. The result is a flow of ink that narrows and widens ever so slightly in response to the pressure changes. While computers can be set to mimic hand-drawing (with all its inherent quirkiness), many coloring book illustrators who design digitally opt for the computer’s default: PERFECT lines with no apparent human flaws.

COLLECT ALL THE FRUIT of the SPIRIT

If you are interested in any of the other individual FRUIT of the SPIRIT page packages, you can find them in this website’s store or use the links on the spiritual fruit below:

GALATIONS 5:22-23

The FRUIT of the SPIRT Colouring Book is a creative interpretation of the FRUIT of the SPIRIT mentioned in Galations 5:22-23. Each characteristic (e.g. goodness, joy, etc.) is associated with a unique, imaginative piece of fruit shown in cross-section (i.e. imagine a strange fruit sliced open just as you might cut an orange in half). What might this new fruit look like inside? This INSIDE VIEW of each fruit is what is captured in the almost abstract line illustrations that invite a relaxing, meditative colouring experience. There is detail galore for those who like it. While this book was created for adults, it is suitable for colouring enthusiasts of all ages. With it’s almost “retro-abstract” feel, the book is a great way for teens and older children to explore this scripture passage in a creative and colorful way.

Add your own splash of colour to full page, abstract illustrations focused on LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, and SELF-CONTROL. Each of the nine characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit also has a dedicated Bible study page (which comes free with the individual e-page package) where you can add colour while you explore scriptures that will deepen your understanding of the fruit of the Spirit. Turn your personal, family, or church group Bible study into a colourful, creative adventure with this FRUIT of the SPIRIT Colouring Book.

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Colorizing CHRISTMAS with Ready-to-Color Christmas Greeting Cards

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Colorable Christmas Cards in the Color the Carols BIG COMBO Christmas Gift SetCHRISTMAS IS BUSY

Christmas is coming. Oh, don’t we know it! One look at the calendar got me thinking about our family’s Christmas card list – not an email list, mind you, but an old fashioned list of names and addresses. This paper list brings together people we like to bless with a genuine paper Christmas card. That, in case you don’t know, is the kind of card that required a tree to sacrifice its life, so it’s a special thing.

It is astounding how quickly people ditched this tradition of sending paper cards in lieu of a generic email one-liner sent at the last possible moment. Yes, postage isn’t free (but you could trade one cup of Starbucks coffee this year for quite a few stamps). Yes, some places have unreliable postal services (and perhaps some of your greeting cards may not be delivered, but what is life without a wee bit of risk). No, you don’t have less time in the day than anyone else. Everyone everywhere is BUSY. (If you are not busy most of the time, take a moment to share your secret for extra hours in the day in the comment section below – I know we all need to find more time in the day.) Here is my challenge for you this Christmas: how about embracing a new thought this festive season?

Consider this idea: This year I will spare a few minutes to send a physical greeting card to someone I care about. Is that a crazy idea?

READY-TO-COLOR CHRISTMAS GREETING CARDS

For those creative folk who have a few extra minutes to invest in others, as well as in their own sense of well-being,  ready-to-color greeting cards are ideal. Buying a few packs of ready-to-color cards should definitely go on your “Christmas preparation list”. (Santa could use an efficient “list” person like you on his staff!)

Ready-to-color Christmas cards are a lot like traditional greeting cards. The big difference is that the color in the feature illustration is applied by you, and not by a printing press. You can use paint, markers, or pencils to add color to printed coloring cards. With digital coloring cards, you will use software to fill spaces in the digital card with color, and then you can print your finished work.

NEW CHRISTMAS DESIGNS

Recently, I was busy working on a new range of coloring card designs when a customer approached me to ask for Christmas versions of the cards. I had not initially planned to release any coloring Christmas cards this year, but the customer’s request got me thinking about how Christmas coloring cards could be more than just greeting cards. I imagined how a Christmas card coloring activity could provide hours of fun for families, friends, church groups and more. So I put aside my planned designs for a while, and improvised some Christmas designs for cards. Zisubu Artique now stocks sets of coloring Christmas cards.

PRINT AND COLOR GREETING CARDS

For those who like to do all their crafting from scratch, there are the “print and color” Christmas cards. You simply print the PDF card pages on cardstock – each page has two cards – and you are on your way to making hundreds of Christmas greeting cards (or just a few, if your Christmas list isn’t too long).

Not everyone likes to wrestle with their home printer – I know mine is rather temperamental about processing card stock. (Some days is plays nicely, and others it makes a big mess of the card projects I try to print.) If you don’t want to waste time loading cardstock one page at a time, printing, cutting the cards, going shopping for envelopes, and then FINALLY sitting down to relax with a coloring activity, the “ready to color” Christmas cards are perfect for you. The price of the “ready to color” cards includes all the craft work, so all that is left for you is to open your box of crayons and start coloring.

START A NEW TREND

Start a new trend in your family or business this year. Send Christmas cards that are colored by your family, your friends, or your business’ staff members. Or send an uncolored coloring card with a little note that encourages the recipient to sit back, relax, and enjoy coloring as they count down to Christmas Day.

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LOOK INSIDE the COLOR THE TRUMPET CAROLS Christmas Coloring Book

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#colorthecarols - Color the Carols COMBO - Christmas music and coloring by Eddie and Pearl R. LewisLOOK BEFORE YOU BUY

Who buys a book without looking inside? I like to know what I am paying for, especially if I must place my order online. So it wouldn’t surprise me if you also prefer to know ahead of time what to expect when your order arrives in your mailbox. If you are one of those people who loves surprises, DON’T watch this video. Just go right ahead and order a bunch of these Christmas gifts, because they will make great stocking fillers for your family and friends. (Your family is probably tired of finding socks in their stockings – be different this year – try a new type of stocking filler that won’t be so easily forgotten.)

LOOK INSIDE BOOK VIDEO

If you like a little more certainty in your life, there is now a video (see below) which will let you flip through the coloring book part of the #ColortheCarols COMBO. The video also includes a few clips from the Christmas carol album (Unadorned Trumpet Carols by Eddie Lewis) which forms the music part of the #ColortheCarols COMBO. Use the comment section below to let me know what you think of the coloring book and the music.

COMBO vs BIG COMBO

You can buy the COLOR the CAROLS COMBO (which includes the COLOR the TRUMPET CAROLS coloring book AND the UNADORNED TRUMPET CAROLS album on CD) from the online Tiger Music Store. This store offers a regular COMBO and a BIG COMBO, which includes all the things you need to get started with coloring – like a box of colored pencils, a pencil sharpener, a ready-to-color Christmas card/envelope.

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Colorable Christmas Cards in the Color the Carols BIG COMBO

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Colorable Christmas Cards in the Color the Carols BIG COMBO Christmas Gift SetThe Color the Carols BIG COMBO is a sensory experience that focuses on coloring and listening. This COMBO includes a colorable Christmas card, in addition to a Christmas-themed, adult-friendly coloring book. This post addresses some of the questions asked about the Christmas cards included in the BIG COMBO.

  1. 1. How many Christmas cards are in each BIG COMBO?
    The BIG COMBO packs are created by including ONE A2-sized colorable card from a set of my Christmas designs. Although the theme is still Christmas, these designs are not repeats of what you will find in the COMBO’s COLOR the TRUMPET CAROLS Christmas coloring book. Each BIG COMBO has a randomly selected card design, so there is no way to guess which card is in your pack until you open your package.
  2. Is there a message inside the card?
    Each card design incorporates a Christmas-focused scripture on the front, and the card is left blank inside so you can add your own personal message. The designs are easy to color, so feel free to pass the coloring task on to one of the younger members of your household, if you don’t have time to fill the card with color. You might even twist the little someone’s arm to write the message inside for you. Seeing your child’s handwriting in a greeting card can make the experience of receiving a card in the mail an extra special experience for a loved one.
  3. “What will the design on this mystery card look like?”
    I thought it best to let the set of six designs speak for themselves. Two of the six designs are in landscape format, and four are portrait styled designs. There are angels, Mary with the baby Jesus, word play abstract designs, the wise men, and a three-panel nativity scene. The COLOR the CAROLS BIG COMBO will only contain one randomly selected, colorable card. If you would like to purchase the complete set of cards, they are available from my ETSY store. (I packed six designs in the set, so the whole family could sit around the kitchen table and color together. If your family has more than six members, order a couple of packs, invite the neighbors, and turn it into a coloring party. Or cut costs by printing a set of colorable cards on your home printer. )

 

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Bigger is Better for Christmas Gifting

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#ColortheCarols - Color the Christmas Carols COMBO ComparisonIf you have spent any time with me, then you know I struggle to get through a conversation without asking questions. How. Why. When. But it seems I am not the only one with a case of the dreaded questionitis. You have questions, too. And it only seems fair that I should spend some time answering your questions. (By the way, if you would like to ask me a question, feel free to use the contact form on this website to connect with me.)

I am going to devote a few blog posts to answering questions about our family’s newest creative project: the Color the Carols COMBO. If you are not already familiar with this product, you can read more about it how this project evolved in earlier posts on this blog. In this post, we are going to explore why there are TWO versions of this COMBO, and which one is the best fit for YOU.

  1. Why create TWO versions of COLOR the CAROLS COMBO?
    It is said that variety is the spice of life, is it not? We know people like to be able to exercise their freedom of choice, plus we wanted to create variations that would work for a variety of different folk. But we didn’t want to offer too many choices – that makes shopping stressful, and this COMBO is all about de-stressing. So we settled on two variations: the basic COMBO, and the BIG COMBO. Both COMBOs are currently sold and shipped (domestically and internationally) by the Tiger Music Store in Texas. Both COMBOS are ideal as gifts (or to treat yourself) – the BIG COMBO simply packs a few extras into the parcel.
  2. What is the difference between the COMBOs?
    The basic COLOR the CAROLS COMBO includes the following items: a copy of the UNADORNED TRUMPET CAROLS CD, a copy of the COLOR the TRUMPET CAROLS adult-friendly coloring book, an insert that lists all 49 tracks from the album in alphabetical order (so its easy to find your favorites quickly), and a letter from the creators of the product.
    The COLOR the CAROLS BIG COMBO includes the following items: a copy of the UNADORNED TRUMPET CAROLS CD, a copy of the COLOR the TRUMPET CAROLS adult-friendly coloring book, an insert that lists all 49 tracks from the album in alphabetical order (so its easy to find your favorites quickly), a letter from the creators of the product, PLUS a set of colored pencils, a pencil sharpener (because it’s easier to color with sharp pencils), and a ready-to-color Christmas card (and envelope – so you can mail it as soon as you have finished coloring the card).
  3. Which COMBO should I get?
    The COMBO you select for yourself depends on what you already own (or can borrow from your children’s school supplies). If you already own a box of colored pencils or markers, then you probably don’t need a set that contains these items – the basic COMBO will suit you. The colorable Christmas card is a fun item to add your own creativity to, but note that the BIG COMBO only contains one such Christmas card. (The basic COMBO does not include a colorable card.) Need more than one card? You can buy a family-sized set of these ready-to-color Christmas cards directly from my ETSY store.
    If you are buying a COMBO as a gift, and don’t know the recipient too well e.g. you have no idea if they already do a lot of coloring or not, consider buying the BIG COMBO. It includes everything the gift recipient needs to get started right away with coloring. (A coloring book without crayons is a bit like a battery-operated toy without batteries – not so much fun.) The major advantage to purchasing the BIG COMBO is that you can start coloring as soon as you unpack your order. No need to make a trip to the store to get colored pencils or a sharpener. You are ready for coloring action, so there is no excuse to put off starting your relaxing countdown to Christmas.
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National Color Day – 22 October

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National Color Day - 22 October - Celebrate by Filling Your World with Color - #ZisubuArtiqueHappy National Color Day! Today we celebrate color, how it influences us, and how it allows us to express ourselves. Ditch the black and white outfit for today, and wear something vibrant – choose a color that says, “I am alive and loving life!” Then take another bold step and use color to be creative. #NationalColorDay is a day to indulge in activities like painting or coloring. If you have never colored as an adult, today is the ideal day to give this relaxing activity a try. You can try your hand at coloring, and it doesn’t need to cost you a cent. Feel free to download a FREE coloring page here, pull out that dusty box of crayons, and fill spaces with crazy blends of color. Perhaps share the LOVE – invite a friend or family member to color with you.

Or turn over a new leaf today, and invest in your wellbeing. Challenge yourself to 30 days of coloring, starting today. Download a meditative, scripture-inspired coloring book that lets you soak up inspirational scriptures while you start your journey into the world of colorful expression. Or take a moment today to place an order for a physical coloring book – for yourself or as a gift to inspire someone else.

How we experience life is often the result of how we to choose to see it. You can choose to view the world as a miserable, unkind, grey world – or you can choose to paint over the greyness with your choice of vivid colors, and learn to LOVE LIFE. You choose.

To celebrate #NationalColorDay, here is a video (MOVING in MIRACLES by Eddie Lewis) that let’s you flow with a river of color:

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MERRY CHRISTMAS Family Coloring Pages

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#ZisubuArtique - Merry Christmas Coloring PagesColoring is not just for kids PLUS it’s good for your health. How many times have you heard that said recently? You know it’s true, but your nine-year old is adamant that he is too old to color, and dad… well, dad thinks he outgrew crayons before the turn of the century. Then grandma wants to color, but she says the adult coloring books are too detailed for her eyeglass prescription strength. The solution?

FAMILY TIME

The MERRY CHRISTMAS FAMILY COLORING PAGES were created to bring families together around the kitchen table (or on the lounge floor if you don’t have a big table). The set of pages uses just one basic illustration built on the words: MERRY CHRISTMAS. The basic illustration is further evolved to include three additional skill levels. The result is an easy-to-print,  coloring activity that is suitable for the whole family. Print one page for each member of the family. Choose the page that is appropriate for each person based on their age, attention span, dexterity, and ability to take on a challenge.

BEGINNER LEVEL

BEGINNER (Level 1): This is a basic, broad-lined illustration built on the words “MERRY CHRISTMAS”. There are large open areas to color, and the shapes are a mix of gently rounded and facetted. This illustration can be comfortably colored with wax crayons and colored pencils or markers. This illustration is best for the youngest members of the family or those with impaired eyesight.

INTERMEDIATE LEVELS

INTERMEDIATE I (Level 2): The BEGINNER illustration is upgraded to include some smaller areas. The use of wax crayons may become more challenging with this illustration. This illustration is best for colorists who are comfortable with staying inside lines and need a little more challenge than a BEGINNER colorist does.
Merry Christmas Family Coloring Pages from Zisubu Artique - four skill levels - #ZisubuArtique
INTERMEDIATE II (Level 3): The BEGINNER illustration now has many small regions begging for color. Fine pointed pens or pencils work best for this illustration.

ADVANCED LEVEL

ADVANCED (Level 4): This page takes the BEGINNER design to new heights. You will find LOTS of small details to color on this page. The small, open areas seen in the other illustrations now boast small patterns and embellishments. If you have a family member that thinks coloring is for little kids, THIS is the page you hand to them. This is a very detailed page and likely to be overwhelming for the youngest members of the family.

MAKE IT A GAME

Get the family together, open that extra big box of colored pencils (or invest in a couple of 12-pencil sets so there is no fighting at the table), and distribute the page assignments. The entire family will be working on the same illustration, just in varying degrees of detail, so everyone can feel that they are part of the same project. The activity can be made more fun by adding restrictions for the older family members. For example, let the youngest colorist choose the colors of the letters. Everyone else must stick to this color choice for their bases colors, but are  challenged to use their imagination to integrate those colors in a creative and eye-catching way. If you have ideas for creative coloring restrictions that make this activity more enjoyable for the teens and adults, please add them in the comment section below.

CHRISTMAS BOOT CAMP

Coloring together stimulates conversation. Have you been longing for family chats, but have a family that is too glued to their phones to remember the archaic activity called conversation? Announce a Christmas Preparation Boot Camp (just don’t call it “boot camp” or they may take to the hills) for the family, set aside two hours after a weekend dinner (those “I am so bored” rainy days work best for families that are new to coloring), and just do it. Inevitably, conversation will flow. It’s difficult to maintain silence for a couple of hours when you are using your hands for more than just “swiping and clicking”. It might start with “stop stealing my red crayon!“, but eventually the debate about which color to use may lead to other more interesting topics. Give it a try. Download your MERRY CHRISTMAS FAMILY COLORING PAGES from Zisubu Artique.

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Come Shepherds Rise from #ColortheCarols

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#ColortheCarols - Come Shepherds Rise - A Christmas Carol Video from the Color the Carols ComboThis new video includes music and images from the COLOR the CAROLS COMBO. “Come Shepherds Rise” is track 17 on the COMBO’s carol CD, and the imagery in the video is extracted from the “Good Tidings” scene from the Christmas story.

SHEEP LOOK TO HEAVEN

The video unveils sheep and their shepherds, enjoying a quiet evening in the countryside. A sound from above captures their attention. With eyes turned heavenward, the men and animals listen to the announcement of the angel, calling them to rise and go and worship the newborn king.

 

CHRISTMAS COMBO

If you have not already acquired your copy of this Christmas COMBO, we recommend ordering the COMBO before the Christmas rush. These combo’s make excellent stocking fillers for family and friends of all ages. If you want a gift set that includes stationery plus coloring extras, rather opt for the Color the Carols BIG COMBO from Tiger Music.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING DONE EARLY

Yes, I know it’s still a couple of months until Christmas, but there is something soothing and inspiring about Christmas music, so why save it to only play for a couple of weeks a year. The COMBO’s CD (Unadorned Trumpet Carols by Eddie Lewis) is a beautiful collection of 49 carols, all played without musical ornamentation – the music is simple, refreshing, and deeply relaxing to listen to.

Play the CD as you navigate the crazy, stress-magnifying traffic to work. Play it as you settle down to relax and color the book of Christmas scenes. Put it on while you are cooking dinner. Hum along to the familiar carols, or sing with gusto as if you are in the shower and no-one is listening. If you are not a big fan of coloring, you can purchase this CD as a stand-alone digital album from CD Baby. Currently, the only way to purchase the physical CD is to purchase the Color the Carols COMBO (or BIG COMBO) from Tiger Music (an online music store that ships worldwide).

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What Child is This from #ColortheCarols

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Sheep from "In the Manger" - #ColortheCarols - Color the Christmas Trumpet Carols“What Child is This?” is a familiar and beautiful Christmas carol, evoking soothing feelings and possibly even a rush of nostalgia. Most people recognize the tune – it’s Greensleeves, a traditional folk song of English origin. The lyrics for this carol were penned back in 1865 by William Chatterton Dix. You will find the instrumental version of this carol played by trumpeter, Eddie Lewis, on the UNADORNED TRUMPET CAROLS album – it’s track 26. This album comes as part of the COLOR the CAROLS COMBO. Track 26 is the audio you will hear in this video:

The illustration used to create this video is scene 5 in the COLOR the TRUMPET CAROLS coloring book (part of the COMBO). The inquisitive animals gather around the manger, eager to learn who the new comer is. As they peer over the manger’s edge to catch a glimpse of the Baby Jesus, their curiosity is rewarded as the glory from above shines down on the little one. The illustration attempts to capture some of the fascination and awe experienced by these speechless, four-legged onlookers.

If you have purchased the COLOR the CAROLS COMBO and would like to celebrate Christmas by submitting your coloring of any of the scenes for possible inclusion in this website’s gallery or a future video, please use the contact form on this website to connect with me. If you haven’t yet purchased the COMBO, you can click here or on the image below to go directly to the music store that is currently selling these packs.

#colorthecarols - Color the Carols COMBO from www.TigerMusicStore.com
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O Sing a Song of Bethlehem from #ColortheCarols

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No Room at the Inn - Color the Trumpet Carols by Eddie and Pearl LewisCOLOR the TRUMPET CAROLS is an experience best coupled with listening. Not just any listening, mind you. This adult-friendly coloring book was designed to be colored in tandem with music playing – specifically the music from UNADORNED TRUMPET CAROLS by Eddie Lewis. Each of the 49 carols in this album retains its original simplicity – no flowery ornamentation or trendy beats. Boring? Not at all. The music is hauntingly beautiful and will help still your mind as you take a colorful journey through the Christmas story.

The video below showcases track 30 from the UNADORNED TRUMPET CAROLS album: “O Sing a Song of Bethlehem“. The imagery in the video is taken from two illustrations or scenes in the COLOR the TRUMPET CAROLS coloring book: “Reflecting on Jesus” and “No Room at the Inn“. The coloring book and the CD are available as a combo deal from Tiger Music.

Color the Carols COMBO from www.TigerMusicStore.com
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