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    Creative Babes Collaborates with Columbus Zoo on New Coloring Book, Wildlife

    Creative Babes continues the creativity and giving with their next coloring project, a collaboration with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Hilary Buchanan and Marti Babcock took a moment to share how the next coloring book project came about.

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    Creative Babes second coloring book, Wildlife, is a collaboration with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Photo by Megan Leigh Barnard.

    “Coloring books have always been a staple in my life,” says Babcock, the Creative Babe leading the coloring book projects. “I would come home to visit my mom on the weekends from college and we would get out coloring books and sit around the table with oversized cups of coffee and color. We called it therapy and now there are a ton of people making adult coloring books for the same reason!”

    Babcock worked with members of Creative Babes and Nikki McCarthy to develop and promote the first coloring book project, a space themed book called “Totally Stellar.”

    “In 2015, I met Nikki McCarthy, the founder of Sam’s Fans, a 501c3 dedicated to the promotion of Music and Art Therapy for children and their families facing life-threatening illnesses,” she said. “I was asked to do a fundraiser benefiting her organization and after learning about the benefits of Music and Art Therapy, I wanted to do more. Nikki was responsible for making sure our coloring books had crayons, washi tape and a tote bag to make a complete creativity kit for 1,000 children in 2016.”

    “The coloring book was initially geared towards kids – specifically in the hospital,” says Buchanan, Creative Babes co-founder. “We will always donate to kids, so they’ll always be kid-friendly, but we hope that adults love the illustrations and activity just as much.”

    The second coloring book is a collaboration with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and came about after Creative Babe Emily Edwards, who works as an Experiential Logistics Coordinator at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, became aware of the space coloring book and thought a zoo-themed book would be awesome. Creative Babes held artist events at the zoo for those who wanted to participate in the book and be inspired.

    “After the success of the first book, I reached back out to Emily and bam!” says Buchanan on how the second book got going. “Our community of Creative Babes never ceases to amaze me with their support, passion and great ideas!”

    Creative Babes sold about 500 copies of Totally Stellar. They were then able to print and donate 1,000 books; 500 going to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, while the other 500 were split among Syntero (counseling and community based services), Community Refugee and Immigrant Services (CRIS), and CSCC’s ESL Afterschool Communities.

    “It was a collaboration among many female artists, and will continue to be that way!” says Buchanan. “It was so wonderful to see all of the different styles and takes on space come together in one book.”

    “We provide a theme and the rest is up to the babes,” says Babcock. “Our wish for this coloring book project is that is ends up a diverse collection of art, games, poems and maybe even a song or two.”

    Julie Martin created the original cover art for the Wildlife Coloring Book. Limited edition prints of the cover art ‘Jungle Print’ are being sold for $15. The Wildlife book is 56 pages of original art featuring illustrations, games, creative prompts and a wide range of activities that are perfect for children of all ages.

    “The coloring book came together beautifully for us,” says Buchanan. “We were so excited to partner with the Zoo.”

    The Wildlife Coloring Book is $10 and is available at CreativeBabes.com. You can also buy it in person at the Cheers! Art + Music Market this Sunday, December 10, 2017 at Strongwater Food and Spirits, from 12 – 5 p.m. A special bundle with the coloring book and limited edition print is available for $20. In addition to an amazing afternoon of shopping, Creative Babes will be hosting a book drive at the door to benefit Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Reach out + Read Program.

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    Anne Evans
    Anne Evanshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-evans/
    Anne Evans is the Co-Founder and Director of Operations for The Metropreneur and Columbus Underground. She regularly contributes feature stories on both sites, as well as Mega Weekend each week. She has started and grown businesses, created experiences, forged community partnerships, and worked to create opportunities for others. She loves meeting new neighbors and those making an impact in our community. Want to connect?
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