Anti-stress Colouring Set by Centropen From Manuscript Review

Reviewed by H Chan

I am always looking for new and different craft sets, especially colouring. I find it so therapeutic and really helps with my anxiety, especially if it comes with good quality tools. I am a sucker for a good quality, coloured ink pen!

The box is really interesting and stands out! Inside, you will find four A4 sized prints to colour, each on black paper and printed in transparent varnish. Alone they look pretty by themselves. Each design intricate and detailed. You will also receive a pack of 6 metallic, coloured pens designed to cover the black paper and not be smudged when they run over the varnish.

I chose a print and then my three children chose a print each. We had a rainy afternoon free so decided to break out the colouring. The fact that we had never coloured anything like this kit before really interested the children and I loved how the colours just glided across the paper. The paper is great quality, thick and the pens soak in well rather than running. They dry quickly. I loved how much they stood out on the paper, very bold and bright. It really made the prints look special, especially when leaving part of the print uncoloured, it creates a unique piece of artwork. We all really enjoyed these colouring sheets. When I saw these, at first I was unsure at how well the pens would cover the paper but I needn’t have worried at all.

I love that they are focused on anti stress too, colouring really can help with many things, not just stress but also learning and perfecting fine motor skills. This set definitely fits the brief and adds an extra facet as the colours really pop which makes it visually pleasing as you colour. Plus it doesn’t matter if you go over the lines.

When looking at anti-stress, you might wonder how pens and paper can have a calming effect. Colour and colouring, plus the concentration on creating something have all been shown scientifically to have a soothing effect on the brain. Helping to regulate emotion and can be used as a form of meditation.

Simple and effective, these would make a perfect afternoon craft activity, plus they’re very portable, taking up next to no room at all so easy to pop into bags and take out with you.

If I had to be picky, it would be that the pens, even though thin and recommended for fine detail, are actually a little thick for some of the finer spaces meaning that it does go over the lines. It doesn’t matter but if you are really neat and don’t like to go over the lines then the pens could be thinner, or double ended with a finer nib on one side.

The price point is also a little on the higher side at £15, which for four colouring prints does seem a little steep. However, this set more than makes up for this with it’s uniqueness and it was a completely new concept to us which made it seem more exciting. A good set for trying something new and engaging children but also engaging for adults too.

You can find the set here for £15.

Rating: I give this set 4 ½ out of 5, purely because of the price point and the slightly thicker nibs. I would purchase these again and you can buy extra prints for £6.99 a pack which means that it has longevity. You can also order replacement pens for when they run out which I find is a must for any new craft.