Recycled Crafts

Creative DIY Projects That Turn Trash Into Treasure

Giveaway- Stress Less Coloring Tranquil Patterns

by

screen-shot-2016-12-02-at-8-31-48-am

Giveaway- Stress Less Coloring – Tranquil Patterns: 100+ Coloring Pages for Peace and Relaxation

Leave a comment in today’s post by Dec 12, 2016 and you are in the running for this pretty coloring book perfect to balance out this hectic holiday season.

Open to U. S. residence only please.

“Stress Less Coloring Tranquil Patterns inspires you to find peace and relaxation through soothing patterns. Filled with 100+ calming designs, this book allows you to calm your mind, relieve stress, and manage anxiety in a creative, relaxing, and therapeutic way. Each stress-reducing page invites you to express yourself using your own unique palette to decorate the designs. Soon, you’ll clear all worries from your mind as you concentrate on coloring in these gorgeous patterns.

Whether you’re new to art therapy or have been coloring for years, this book will help you find your inner calm and creativity–one page at a time.”

Coloring in sheets are a great way to calm the busy mind, as you focus on the coloring techniques your brain is actually able to calm itself and focus on less. Coloring is used to help relax and calm anxiety and stress. Coloring keeps out mental health in check and allows us to develop of creative brain. We highly recommend Copic markers or Faber castell coloring pencils .

Related Posts:

Comments

  9. Stress? What is that? Is it the thing that has me wanting to pull my hair out, climb the walls and crawl into bed and pull the covers over my head and shut the world out? If that is it then, YES PLEASE, I NEED this book! Thanks for the chance to feed my coloring addiction and reduce my blood pressure!! Fingers crossed!

  16. I have recently re-discovered coloring as a stress release. When I was a child, it was a soothing, calming activity, and I was delighted to be re-introduced to it recently. I would love to win this!

  18. I could really use some stress-relief in December! Looks like a beautiful book — thanks for the wonderful giveaway!

  30. I could use a little less stress at the moment!! Just got over Pneumonia, then had to have major oral surgery. Am in so much pain, I’m climbing the walls!! Now comes the task of a major cleaning for my place, so I can decorate, and do my baking that everyone is waiting for, since I give out my yearly care packages. Did I mention I haven’t started my cards yet?? The list continues, and I’d rather be in bed, sleeping this off!! Thank you for the Giveaway, and have a Wonderful Christmas, everyone!!

  32. What a great giveaway for this time of year! Thanks for the chance to win! Good Luck to All!

  36. I love coloring. I have been coloring since I was a kid only now I have an “adult” coloring book.

  38. I’d share with my Aunt Betty! I see her coloring frequently. She lives in a memory care unit for people with Alzheimers, and they offer the residents coloring books and crayons regularly.

  39. This is a great one. I like to make a big basket full of these and drop it off at the nursing home. Gives the seniors something to do.

  40. What a great coloring book! I can think of several people who would benefit from this in their Giftmas haul.

  41. My husband was laughing at me last night for coloring, watching Finding Nemo, and asking when Secret Life of Pets would be on pay-per-view. He thinks I’m going through a second childhood. That’s silly, isn’t it????

  42. It would be awesome to win this! I have loads of stress right now and tons of time I could spend on this book considering I’m stuck in bed for the next month with a broken ankle.

  46. Adult coloring books are my jam! They did me a lot of good when I was in the hospital for a month before giving birth to my son! I dont know how else I would have maintained my sanity, sitting in one spot all day for a month of it weren’t for books of all nature haha. Ever since that hospital stay I color in my down time, it is an excellent stress reliever in and of itself, I would love to win a book specifically designed for relaxing color sessions.

  49. Just bought several coloring markers & getting started with adult coloring. Would love to win!

Have you read?

Why Do Your Kids Play with the Box? An Interview with Child Psychologist Dr. Lucy Harper

I was at a recent blogger’s meetup—chatting, sipping lukewarm coffee, and exchanging parenting war stories—when the conversation turned to toys. More specifically, the boxes toys come in.

“You know,” I laughed, “my kid unwrapped a fancy, interactive toy last Christmas, and five minutes later, the box had become a spaceship… the toy? Completely abandoned.”

That’s when Dr. Lucy Harper, a warm and wise child psychologist with a mischievous grin, chimed in: “Oh, the box wins every time. And there’s a very good reason for that.”

Naturally, I had to ask her more. What followed was one of the most fascinating, reassuring conversations I’ve had as a parent.

Me: So, Lucy—why do kids love playing with the box more than the actual toy?

Dr. Harper: Honestly, it’s one of the most developmentally beautiful things kids can do. When a child chooses the box, they’re choosing imagination over instruction. A toy often has one purpose—it sings, it moves, it lights up. But a box? A box can be anything. Kids see endless potential in something we adults might just toss in the recycling.

Me: So you’re saying it’s not just them being weird or ungrateful?

Dr. Harper: [Laughs] Not at all. It’s actually a wonderful sign of creativity and cognitive flexibility. Think of it like this—boxes offer what we call “open-ended play.” There’s no one way to use a box. That freedom gives children the chance to invent, experiment, and take charge of their own playtime. It helps their brains build problem-solving skills, storytelling ability, spatial reasoning… the list goes on.

Me: Okay, but does it really help with development? Or are we just romanticizing cardboard?

Dr. Harper: Oh, it absolutely helps. When your child turns a box into a rocket or a cave, they’re engaging multiple areas of their brain. They’re building narratives (language skills), exploring size and shape (early math concepts), using fine and gross motor skills (tape, scissors, crawling inside), and even practicing emotional regulation. That “I made this myself” feeling is powerful for confidence.

Me: You mentioned emotional regulation—how does box play support that?

Dr. Harper: Great question. Sometimes, boxes become cozy hideaways—reading nooks, forts, quiet spots. For many kids, that’s self-soothing. It’s their way of saying, “I need a break from all the noise.” And giving them space to retreat into a world they’ve created can be incredibly comforting.

Me: I’ve definitely seen that. So how can parents support more of this kind of play?

Dr. Harper: Start saving boxes! Seriously. Don’t rush to recycle them. Offer markers, tape, scissors, scrap paper, fabric—just let kids take the lead. You’d be amazed what they come up with. And here’s the secret: you don’t need a Pinterest-perfect play setup. The messier and more imaginative, the better.

Dr. Harper’s Favorite “Box Play” Ideas
Before we wrapped up (pun intended), I asked Lucy for some of her go-to box play setups that parents can try at home. Here’s what she shared:

The Spaceship Command Center
“Flip a large box over, cut a few windows, and hand over some foil and paper plates for the ‘control panels.’ Bonus points if your child names the spaceship and creates a mission.”

The DIY Café or Bakery
“Boxes make great shop counters. Set one up with play food or paper treats, and let your child take orders and serve customers. This builds storytelling and social skills.”

Wearable Cardboard Costumes
“Kids love making robot bodies, animal masks, or even cardboard wings. It blends creative expression with physical movement.”

The Crawl Tunnel or Maze
“Especially fun for toddlers—just tape boxes together to make a crawling path. It feels like a mini adventure.”

The Giant Art Canvas
“Flatten a box and let them draw a city, a racetrack, a jungle… whatever they dream up. Then use toy figures or cars to play out scenes.”

Me: Last question—what would you say to the parent who feels bad that their expensive toy got ignored?

Dr. Harper: I’d say: it’s okay. Your child didn’t reject your gift—they just found a different way to explore joy. Playing with the box isn’t a failure of the toy—it’s a success of their imagination.

And sometimes, the best toy is the one that didn’t cost a thing.

So next time your child dives headfirst into a cardboard box, don’t worry—embrace it. You might just be watching their creativity take flight.

Want to turn this into a printable resource or social media share? I can help with that too!

Modern patterned recycled cardboard and TP tube sculptures

How to make a recycled cardboard easel

Recycled cardboard tube microphone

How to make a recycled cardboard knight costume