I love cool books with activities! I know that adult coloring books are the rage right now, but there are other great books to give this holiday season.
Below is an extreme dot to dot book, amazing paper ornaments to trim the tree with, a book to teach you how to make beautiful flowers and a self-help activity book:
Dot to Dot NYC ($14.95 USD) — Follow the numbers, grab your crayons and markers, and discover and decorate the capital of the world… Hidden just beyond sight in this adventurous dot to dot coloring book lie epic New York City landmarks to be revealed and completed by you, the intrepid artist. Intricate and detailed, the final results are delicate and beautiful while stunning in their complexity. Within these pages you will find yourself visiting the rides of Coney Island, the towers of the famous NYC skyline, the commute along the Staten Island Ferry, the wilderness of the Bronx Zoo, the groove of the Apollo Theater, and the art deco elegance of the Chrysler Building, among so much more!
Purchase at http://www.powerhousearena.com
Paper Holiday ($14.95 USD) — the 7th in the PaperMade series—will be an instant holiday favorite. Each of the pages has a unique design that is pre-cut, scored, and beautifully illustrated. The ornaments simply punch out and fold up into 3D shape, with easy-to-follow instructions right on the page. Each design has different shapes and colors of hooks too, to best attach to a tree, mantle, or any place that needs holiday cheer!
Purchase at http://www.powerhousearena.com
The Art of Paper Flowers by Bobby Pearce ($26.99 List Price $17.48 at Amazon) Paper is pretty much the least expensive craft material you’ll find. It’s also one of the most versatile. With a pile of colored sheets, a pair of scissors, and The Art of Paper Flowers, you can create gorgeous bouquets to give away or keep for yourself. For anyone who’s an avid home crafter or future home-decor online vendor, this book will get your creative juices flowering, err, flowing.
The Art of Paper Flowers makes it easy for anyone to create beautiful roses, orchids, tulips, and more–completely out of paper. There are thirty-five flowers included in the book, and each pattern is accompanied by a complete list of materials required, step-by-step instructions for creating the flower, original paper-folding techniques from the author, full-size patterns, and color photos for reference. Additionally throughout the book, there are interesting bits of trivia, myths, or folklore for each delicate flower. The book also includes a foreword by Rosie O’Donnell.
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other great stores!
Pick Me Up: A Pep Talk for Now and Later ($15 List Price, now $10.05 at Amazon) — On the heels of his internationally successful first book, 1 Page at a Time, graphic designer and illustrator Adam J. Kurtz delivers another intimate and engaging journal for anyone who loves to explore ideas, record thoughts and feelings, and capture those fleeting but amazing moments of everyday life.
Unlike a linear journal, this book can be opened up to any page, encouraging and engaging readers time and time again through continued use. Rather than simply complete tasks and turn pages, users are encouraged to leave their mark, and if they land on the same page days or weeks later, they can review, reflect, and revise their previous response.
Feeling lonely? Pensive? Peeved? Questioning? This deceptively simple book offers perspective, hope, and a twist of existential metaphor – and is perfect to pick up again and again.
Forty, Flirty & Fabulous 