Book Review & Giveaway: Once Upon a Piece of Paper

Research is showing that creativity can have a positive effect on emotional well-being. Conversely, positive emotional states have been shown to increase creativity. An article in The Journal of Positive Psychology entitled "Everyday creative activity as a path to flourishing" states:

"Recent experience sampling and diary studies have shown that spending time on creative goals during a day is associated with higher activated positive affect (PA) on that day."

Creativity and well-being are a symbiotic relationship, with each part enhancing the other.

My #SummitFriendJacqui Barrett-Poindexter, settles upon a three word theme as a guidepost for the upcoming year. If you've chosen "creativity" as one of your three words for 2017 or have made a resolution to be more creative, this giveaway can help you unravel the limits of your imagination and get in touch with a part of yourself that you may have neglected.

Summary

If you're like me, you fondly remember when it was time for Art Class in elementary school. This was well before those voices started chipping away at the joy you found in simply losing yourself in the creative process. "Not good enough," or "I can't do it as well as ______!" may still send an echo like a distant radio signal from outer space.

Collage is not only a currently trending art form, it is a simple and accessible way to focus on the inner self and ignore the outside world for a while. It requires only basic guidance and material, and allows the creator to express the primal inexpressible, outside of the lines and outside of the rules.

Once Upon a Piece of Paper by Andrea D'Aquino encourages you to tune in and reignite the simple joy that comes from being creative through collage. In Once Upon a Piece of Paper, Andrea helps you get in touch with that inner artist with 112 pages of examples, guidelines and suggestions. Best of all, the book comes with a 100 page multi-hued paper pack to cause your imagination to soar. All you need to get to work is this attractively packaged kit in a beautiful hard-cover case, a pair of scissors and some glue.

Making the Stress Connection

Last year, colouring books seemed to be the perfect way to unwind and relieve everyday tension and connect with a simple and satisfying inner creativity. While colouring books are all the rage, the next generation comes to you in a book that will require you to have a little more focus, flexibility and active expression of choice and personality. Enter to win a copy of Once Upon a Piece of Paper by Andrea D'Aquino.

Stress levels are at an all-time high. Despite having all the modern conveniences to augment life, the rapid-fire pace of today's world, plus the constant tugs on one's personal space and time all takes its toll. In order not to bend then break under the weight of life in the 21st century, it is important to source out strategies to help you transform your life. Strategies can assist you find a new perspective, construct healthy boundaries and judiciously exercise your yes and no muscles. They can also help you determine what's important to you so you get more servings of the things you love.

If you're struggling to tame your stress, you don't have to do it alone. With many options available to you, I'd love to help you step onto a path that is just-right for you. Contact me to get started.

How to enter the giveaway:

  1. This contest is open to anyone of legal age, anywhere in the world.
  2. Contest closes at midnight PST on Friday, January 20th, 2017. One name will be drawn from a hat.
  3. To enter the giveaway, leave a comment.
  4. Earn another entry by subscribing to my mostly monthly newsletter. Let me know if you’re already a subscriber. You'll receive two entries.
  5. For extra entries to the giveaway, get social:
    1. On Twitter? Share the following: #Giveaway from @AuntieStress for Once Upon a Piece of Paper by Andrea D'Aquino, courtesy of @QuartoKnows: http://wp.me/p2PenP-1Qy #collage
    2. On Google+? Be sure to +MariannaPaulson when you share the link and you’ll earn another entry.
    3. Make your way over to my Pinterest Board called "Giveaways." Earn one entry by clicking “Comment” on the Once Upon a Piece of Paper pin, then leave one. Earn another entry by re-pinning this giveaway announcement.
    4. If you decide to share on one of your other social media sites, be sure to paste in the link in the comment section, below.

Good luck!


Related post:

10 Replies to “Book Review & Giveaway: Once Upon a Piece of Paper”

  1. I would love to have “One upon a piece of paper”. I totally agree with your premise that active creativity is an important part of every day. It can take your mind away from the pain and exercises your mind as well as your hands. Thank you for this wonderful give-away.

  2. Thank you for this lovely intro and opportunity to enter your giveaway, Marianna!

    If I happened to be the lucky draw, I would give the book to my daughter. She loves engaging in art, and I know she’d love this for both the fun of it, as well as the destressing benefits!

    Thanks again!

    1. I would share the book with my mom or give it to her ^ and I would imagine we both would benefit from it, and I love doing art with my mom and bonding with her through it.

  3. Hello Marianna,

    “Once Upon A Piece of Paper” certainly sounds fun as an activity unto itself. Also thinking it might be a way to get unstuck from problems nagging at the mind — the renewed creativity could give a boost to one’s problem solving capability.

    Love how you find such helpful resources. Will be tweeting so that others can be part of your drawing, too.

    Jackie Yun

  4. Yay!!! It will be so fun and refreshing to work a different part of my brain with “Once Upon a Piece of Paper”. Thank you for all you do via your blog and thank you for the serendipity of choosing my entry. 🙂

Add a comment!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.