ICYMI: The ’90s called (on a landline) and they want their summer back. We’re talking plenty of unstructured outdoor play, sipping Capri-Sun, watching older movies, and—most importantly—no smartphones. Sounds amazing, right? And while it may be harder as adults to find time to partake in all this nostalgia, there is an easy way to enjoy some analog time with minimal effort. Enter adult coloring and activity books and craft kits.
In addition to reducing stress, it’s been well documented that the practice of coloring and crafting is especially good for one’s brain function along with many other health perks. Plus, today’s adult coloring and activity books and craft kits feature pop culture icons, kawaii-style illustrations, and easy instructions to follow if you are new to the hobby.
And speaking of pop culture icons, we can’t think of a better person to spend some chill, tech-free time with than the one and only Bob Ross. Bob’s relaxed personality, soothing voice, and beautiful landscape masterpieces are the reason his instructional show aired new episodes on PBS for more than a decade. And now you can receive all the soothing benefits of watching him paint happy little trees without looking at a screen. This summer, in addition to the joy of painting, find the joy of unplugging with these Bob Ross coloring and activity books and free downloads at the end of this post.
The fun and playful side of Bob Ross is on full display in this cute coloring book featuring 70 kawaii-style scenes inspired by Bob’s paintings from his long-running series The Joy of Painting. Join Bob and his sidekick Peapod the Squirrel—and other adorable critters—as they live and play inside the paintings. All you need is a set of colored pencils and pens and then you’re ready to add color as Bob surfs, skis, canoes, climbs, and relaxes in the scenes that he created on the canvas. Many of the illustrations feature humorous speech and thought bubbles from Bob and Peapod, adding a whimsical touch to the page. As we said before, coloring has been shown to help ease stress, and with all the happiness to be found in this book, you’ll be coloring your way to a better mood in no time.
Bob Ross Word Search and Coloring Book
QOTD: “We don’t make mistakes. We just have happy accidents.” — Bob Ross
This two-in-one adult activity book includes 52 word search puzzles accompanied by detailed line art of Bob’s serene paintings. Color in luscious landscapes, majestic waterfalls, and glorious mountains, and then find the thematic words in the puzzles on the opposite page. As a bonus, some coloring pages feature an iconic, inspiring quote from Bob to be colored in.
Just 15-20 minutes of coloring, three nights a week, is enough to ease tension built up over a stressful day. That’s because the practice of coloring can reduce mental noise and put you in a flow state thanks to its repetitive hand movements required. Ready to give it a try? Bob Ross Color-by-Number includes more than 90 coloring pages and you can use the foldout color key to guide you through each beautifully illustrated and numbered page of line art. Or you can let your imagination run wild and use any palette of colors. All the coloring pages are perforated—so when you’re done, you can display them on your wall or give them as gifts to friends and family.
If crafting is more your speed during downtime, you can still enjoy the Bob Ross vibe with the official Bob Ross Embroidery kit. Here you’ll find a step-by-step instruction book, iron-on transfers for all 10 projects, and all the supplies needed to make two needlework designs, including multiple colors of embroidery floss, 2 pieces of fabric, 2 pieces of calico backing, 2 needles, and a 6-inch bamboo hoop. The designs are based on Bob’s signature paintings, and several also include famous quotes by Bob to add a happy little touch to the scene.
Want to actually paint like Bob Ross? The Bob Ross Paint with Water activity book will get you close. Use the included paintbrush to apply gentle strokes of water to each of the 24 specially treated pages, and watch as the colors emerge and blend to create a beautiful Bob Ross masterpiece. This serene and peaceful book also contains 12 traditional coloring pages featuring even more of Bob’s works, transporting you into a world full of joyful natural scenery.
