Disclosure: I received a sample in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Do something creative everyday.

-Unknown

So much of our days are made up of routine tasks that we need to do. Using our creativity forces us to do something just for fun and encourages us to use different parts of our brain. Recently I had the opportunity to try out Chalkola Watercolor Brush Pens-Set of 58 Colors with 2 Blending Paintbrush Pens. It was so much fun to bust out my sketchbook and start experimenting with these awesome pens!

As you can see, this set comes with a wide array of lovely colors. If you do not need quite that many colors, Chalkola also has a set that comes with 28 Watercolor Brush Pens.

As a fan of sweets, it is no surprise that my first project involved drawing desserts. I sketched first in pencil, which I highly recommend. After some trial and error and I learned that it is better to use these pens to color in your pencil drawings first. Then, trace the pencil outlines with a black pen. (Otherwise, the black pen ink may smudge from the colored markers).

I really like how these Watercolor Brush Pens have an actual brush as a tip. The ink flows nicely and the colors can be “built up” to create a shading effect. I plan on practicing with these Chalkola pens more and sharing my projects in the future.

My inspiration for these kawaii (cute) drawings came from How to Draw Cute Stuff: Draw Anything and Everything in the Cutest Style Ever! (Volume 1), by Angela Nguyen. This book is filled with super cute drawings that are simple enough for a beginning artist like me. This book plus a set of Chalkola Watercolor Brush Pens would make a fabulous gift for the budding creative in your life.

Where to Purchase Chalkola Products & Discount Code

Chalkola products are available on Amazon; use discount code CHALKOLA10 for 10% off your purchase. This code is applicable both in the US and UK, and can be used for all Chalkola products.

Disclosure: I received samples in partnership with Horizon Group USA. All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Even though my kids are in middle school and high school now, they still like to do crafts at home. I think there is just something satisfying about creating with your hands. Crafting also offers a good non-technology break from studying/schoolwork.

Just My Style Radical Rainbow Tie-Dye Kit

The first kit we tried was the Just My Style Radical Rainbow Tie Dye Kit. I have always wanted to try doing tie dye with my kids, but never made the effort to gather all the materials necessary to do it. This kit has everything you need; I just bought a couple of cheap white t-shirts. My son also experimented on an old shirt he already had.

This is definitely an activity best done outdoors or where it is fine to make a mess. The clean-up actually was not that bad though. My kids were able to follow the directions and complete their projects on their own.

The vibrancy and variety of the colors was impressive. We had enough dye to complete several projects, so I think this kit is a good deal.

Made By Me Jungle Figurines Kit

The second kit that we reviewed was the Made By Me Jungle Figurines Kit.

This kit comes with two resin figures, paint and a paintbrush. The recommended age range for this kit is five and up. However, even my older kids had fun with this activity.

This type of painting is pretty straightforward and does not require a lot of guidance or instruction. Kids can use their creativity in choosing colors and painting details. Both the Just My Style Radical Rainbow Tie Dye Kit and Made By Me Jungle Figurines Kit would make great gifts for kids.