Ten mandalas, one star-shaped
| Center | Around it |
|---|---|
| Large flower | Fir branches, hanging ornaments and small stars |
| Flower | Leaves, an ornament with a bow, a fur border |
| Ornaments, stockings, a snowman | Snowflakes, in four parts |
| Star-topped tree | Poinsettias, hanging ornaments, branches, small stars |
| Large snowflake | Snowflakes and small stars |
| Ring of reindeer heads | Ornaments and pine branches |
| Poinsettia flowers | Holly leaves and berries |
| Poinsettia in the center | A ring of hanging ornaments and bows |
| Star shape | Pine branches, pine cones, small stars |
| Central flower | Candles, bells, pine cones, holly |
The sheet split in four by two black lines lets you give each quarter its own scheme, and the star-shaped one can be colored point by point.
What the word means
"Mandala" is a Sanskrit word meaning "circle". Everything here grows outward from one point, which tells you where to begin.
- Circular: the sheets built around a flower, a snowflake, a ring of ornaments or a star-topped tree
- Star-shaped: the one with pine branches, pine cones and small stars around it
- In four parts: the one split by two black lines, with ornaments, stockings and a snowman
Choosing an order
Center out
Pick the center color first, then let each ring answer the one before it. Warm centers suit cooler outer rings.
Edge in
Color the outer ornaments and branches first. The center is then a reward at the end.
- Keep one color constant, such as gold, in every ring.
- Rotate through the colors, so no two neighboring petals match.
- Leave a ring white to give the design some air.
- Test color pairs on a scrap sheet before they touch the mandala.
A limited palette helps. Choose five pencils and use only those, and the page stays balanced however many ornaments it holds.
The pages for adults carry more full scenes, and the ornament pages hold the same balls in a simpler setting.