A lot has already been said about the great grown-up-coloring-book trend of last year. People have discovered that coloring is a wonderful mindfulness exercise that calms our stressed out nerves and brings out our creativity. Artist Ginger de Guia’s Color with Purpose postcards challenge us to take our coloring to the next level. These 30 individual postcards are especially made for you to reach out and encourage someone after you’re done coloring them.

Here are five suggestions on how you can make someone smile with Color with Purpose postcards.

1. Mail it! A postcard is for mailing, although, unless you’re traveling in some exotic location, hardly anybody does this anymore. And since snail mail takes a few days to get to its destination, it will get to your friend when they least expect it (unless you told them to expect it, but that’s ok too!).
2. Make it a project between you and friends. Nearly all of us have friends in some other country and we just get in touch with them through social media. Why not come up with a postcard project with them? Plan a weekly (or monthly) schedule with themes or prompts for your postcards, set a timeline, and send them out, and get a postcard from your friend in return!
3. Use it as a bookmark. A bookmark for somebody else to find, that is. As an add-on to a book gift, why not tuck in a colored-in postcard with a nice note for your friend? Or, send a sweet thank you note when returning the book that your friend lent to you?
4. In case of emergencies, always have a few postcards with coloring pencils in your bag. You’ll never know when someone will need a nice note of encouragement. You can color these postcards anywhere — killing time at a coffee shop, waiting in line for a doctor or dentist appointment. Kids are getting bored? Lend them your postcards and coloring materials. This way, you’re always ready when you spot an opportunity to thank or encourage anybody with a special postcard and note.
5. Leave one behind for another person to find. Speaking of opportunities, you never know when someone needs a pick-me-up for their heart. You can leave a colored-in (or even half colored-in!) postcard in coffee shops, bookstores, churches, and especially in a hospital or doctor’s clinic waiting room. Think of where you would love to find an unlikely gift, and leave one there!

About the artist:

Ginger de Guia is a teacher and an artist. She loves to combine teaching and art especially when conducting workshops or classes. She is currently curating her first solo exhibit that features a mix of ink art and watercolor. New to the art scene, she believes that art knows no limits and it is a reflection of the soul's energy and tension. She hopes that this postcard project will excite people to create with purpose and to help bring back the old tools of communication. 

Color with Purpose: Postcard Project by Ginger de Guia will be available at OMF Lit bookshops, Passages bookshops, PCBS, National Book Store and other leading bookstores nationwide for P275.

You can also buy it online from passagesbooks.com.