Coloring Book Bonanza – Save the Date: June 6 (Updated)

Grown Up Coloring Book D-Day Bonanza

Don’t miss it! I’ll be your host from the 5-6 EDT hour, and there will be something for everyone! For details on my OrnaMENTALs™ giveaways, click here to scroll down.

The D-Day event is now over but the coloring contest is EXTENDED!

Jump down for details!

Join 13 artists, including Sue Chastain of SuziQ Creations, for this all-day giveaway event on Facebook!

Andrea Wood Schmitz Reveals How Adult Coloring Books Are Helping Veterans Reduce Stress with Upcoming Event

Stress management alternative coloring book authority, Andrea Wood Schmitz, CEO of Inkovator, reveals that service men and women who redirect their anxiety and pressures towards coloring books for grown-ups worry less.

Schmitz’ work in non-invasive stress-relief activities show how veterans are turning to coloring books to relieve PTSD, relax and regain a sense of control over pressing issues in everyday life.

“It’s alarming, really.  Our veterans are dumped into daily life after active duty and society really isn’t equipped to help them re-integrate into the daily grind.  After mastering life on duty under strenuous circumstances – they are more stable and capable than most of us.  And yet, they are left alone to pick up the pieces in making sense of various challenges experienced while serving the country.  All the workforce cares about is “functioning” employees,” says Schmitz.  “Coupled with the normal stresses of family, career and financial concerns, veterans today are facing major stress factors coming at them 24/7.  That requires a cool head and the ability to discern between important and urgent.  With the military infrastructure and support systems gone, this can turn into a silent struggle and make PTSD even worse.  That’s why the average veteran must think differently when it comes to developing coping strategies to relieve the burden of PTSD.”

“Although there’s a difference between coloring and being guided by a therapist,” Erin Maynard, media liaison of PTSD Survivors of America said, “the activity helps regulate stress.”

Coloring is especially useful to those who have PTSD, Maynard notes, since their amygdala — the brain’s integrated center of emotions, emotional behavior, and motivation — is hyperactive.

“The problem with that is that it’s the part of the brain that controls the fear response. PTSD is a disorder of memory storage and recall, and you fixate on these terrifying memories and they become ever present for you,” according to Maynard.

The Malagasy proverb “Idleness moves so slowly that it will be overtaken by misery” paints a strong picture especially when dealing with PTSD.  But over-stimulation is not the answer.  The relief found by shifting your focus to coloring brings the perfect balance, explains Schmitz.  She agrees with Maynard, “Coloring actually reduces the activity of the amygdala, so that’s part of the reason that it helps calm you down.”

An event Schmitz created on Facebook, the Grown Up Coloring Book D-Day Bonanza, is designed to aid PTSD sufferers in navigating alternative, safe and proven ways to reduce stress and avoid aggressive behavior in times of anxiety and insecurity.  

Schmitz will be joined by 13 top selling artists who have donated prizes, organized giveaways and offered special, event-only, deals to all who join:  

• Sue Chastain of SuziQ Creations
• Julia Stueber of Colors of Abundance
• Alice Best Jackson of Messages From Beyond and Imagery From Beyond Art
• Katie Darden of Magical Design Coloring Books
• Sarah Renae Clark of Sarah Renae Clark
• Daniel Howard of DanCin Art Studio
• Marjorie J McDonald of Book Graphics Girls
• K. Phipps of  The Koloring Korner
• Bill Clanton of Bill Clanton Books
• Maria Castro of Scribo Creative
• Jenny Luan of InkTangle Gift shop
• Jason Hamilton of  Adult Coloring Books by Jason Hamilton

Judging by the sentiments of past participants, Inkovator is poised to help many who are suffering from PTSD, veterans and beyond.

“I loved meeting artists I hadn’t known about and seeing some awesome new books. The contests were fun!,” said Raquel, a participant of Inkovator’s spring Grown-Up Coloring Book Bonanza held in February, 2016.

Another participant commented, “This event was amazing! I got nothing done today but was nice to sit and meet all of you artists and see your beautiful work!! I think there should be more meets like this, not to win anything but to meet the talented artists!! Thank you all for taking time out of your day for us and Andrea thank you for this event today!!! You all rock!!”

“Loved everyone the generosity the excitement xoxoxo thanks for an uplifting day while I’ve been home sick!!!” Cee described her experience of the spring event.

“You would never imagine that something as simple as a crayon could have such a big impact, but when you’re talking about people who are feeling stressed and isolated and scared — it’s just a crayon but it’s kind of like a magic crayon,” admits Maynard after the first nation-wide coloring event hosted by the PTSD Survivors of America.

Schmitz feels she is helping PTSD sufferers find non-destructive ways to deal with aggression, depression and frustration while extending an offer to the broader community and bringing them all together in one fun and free event on Facebook.

The Grown Up Coloring Book D-Day Bonanza event will be held Monday, June 6th from 10 am – 11 pm EDT. To learn more, meet new artists, enter giveaways and have a chance to win prizes dedicated to making adult coloring the stress-reducer of choice, visit http://inkov.at/d-day-bonanza.

Click the image below to see all the giveaways from Sue Chastain and OrnaMENTALs!

Join us on Facebook for this fun all-day event on Monday, June 6.

I hope to see you during the 5 PM EDT hour, when everyone will be a winner!

About the OrnaMENTALs™ D-Day Bonanza Coloring Contest Giveaway

Click the picture to get your free samples from OrnaMENTALs™ Feel Good Words. Then come back to this page to post your coloring and be entered in the giveaway!

Coloring Contest – ENDED

Enter to win one (1) print copy of OrnaMENTALs Feel Good Words, or the OrnaMENTALs coloring book of your choice. Three (3) runners up will win a digital copy of OrnaMENTALs Feel Good Words or your choice of another OrnaMENTALs coloring book digital edition in PDF format.

New deadline for entry: Friday, June 10 2016, 11:59 PM EDT

How to Enter:

1. Color any OrnaMENTALs coloring page. It may be from the free Feel Good Words samples, another OrnaMENTALs free page, an OrnaMENTALs book you own, or any OrnaMENTALs digital download.
2. For your own protection, sign and date your page before taking a photo or scanning your entry.
3. Share the photo of your colored page or work in progress on one or more social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Google+, etc.
4. Mention the title of the book or suziqcreations.com in your share.
5. Post in the comments here with a picture of your colored page (finished or work in progress), and also mention where you shared it. Only picture comments on this page will be entered for this giveaway.

Fine Print:

• EXTENDED! Entries must be submitted HERE no later than 9:00AM EDT on June 7, 2016 11:59 PM EDT on June 10, 2016 to be eligible for the coloring contest.
• Winners will be chosen by vote by members of the OrnaMENTALs Coloring Team.
• Results will be announced and winners notified on Wednesday, June 8, 2016 Monday, June 13, 2016.
• Winners will have 3 days to claim their prizes before they are forfeit.
• Shipping is to USA addresses only. If a non-USA winner is chosen and mailing costs exceed US$10, a PDF book will be substituted.

Other OrnaMENTALs giveaways will be occurring during the 5-6 PM hour (Eastern time) on the day of the event and throughout the week so be sure to check the event roundup post even if you post your coloring contest entry here. There will be something for everyone! See you there!

D-Day Bonanza Giveaways Roundup

*** Contest Closed to Entries * Winners Announced ***

Click here for the winners announcement.

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