Very Cozy CB_Draft

CREATIVE SOUL CARE

60 Calming Designs to Soothe Your Gentle Soul

60 Calming Designs to Soothe Your Gentle Soul

The Very Cozy Coloring Book © 2026 by Mandy Ford and Better Day Books, an imprint of Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.

Publisher: Peg Couch

Book Designer: Llara Pazdan

Editor: Jules Hostetter

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ISBN: 978-0-7643-7235-3

Printed in China

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Published by Better Day Books, an imprint of Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.

Better Day Books

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Hello, creative soul! Welcome to The Very Cozy Coloring Book. I’m Mandy Ford, and I’m a licensed illustrator, author, lettering artist, teacher, graphic designer, and all-around creative soul living the small-town life in Indiana with my husband, twin teens, and our cozy orange cat, Melvin.

I am in a stage of life now where I want to be as cozy as possible, as often as possible. That includes coffee in my favorite mugs, magical books to read, nature scenes to enjoy, the comfiest of clothes, lots of art supplies, and an abundance of cat snuggles. I illustrated these pages with all those things in mind, and I hope you can feel that energy as you color each one.

In this book you will find happy patterns in my signature whimsical style, lettered phrases to help you embrace the cozy life, and magical scenes for you to explore. This is my fourth book with Better Day Books and my first time partnering with them on a coloring book. What a delightful journey!

Being an artist is without a doubt part of my soul’s purpose, and I love nothing more than creating illustrations and lettering that make you smile and give you that warm, fuzzy feeling. Coloring is also a fantastic way to reset your nervous system and remind you how easy it can be to find joy and connect with peaceful energy.

So, grab your favorite coloring supplies, make a yummy drink or snack, find a comfy spot to color, and get lost in my very cozy world. You are going to love it here!

Sending you all the cozy energy,

We sat down with Mandy to learn a little more about her and her artistic journey. Join us!

How did you get started in art and illustration? What media do you use most frequently?

I’ve been drawing since I was old enough to hold a crayon, and I do believe becoming a professional artist was in the stars for me. Other than art classes in grade school, I don’t have formal training—simply lots of practice and passion! I started my art business 13 years ago, and it has grown and transformed so much since my early days. I share more about my artist journey in my first book, Field Guide to the Soul. Most of my artwork is created digitally, using Procreate on my iPad. Occasionally, I pull out my paints and collage supplies, which is such an enjoyable analog experience and change of pace.

Do you have any art-making rituals or routines?

In true Enneagram 4 fashion, I create when the mood strikes and when I feel inspired, so there isn’t much routine involved for me. I do believe that the act of creating when inspiration hits is, itself, a ritual—one of honoring my soul’s purpose, recognizing when creative bursts of energy arrive, and realizing the ideas that come to the surface. Creating art

What do you struggle with as an artist?

As a full-time working mom, it is challenging to find enough time to create everything I would like. Oh, to have an extra day every weekend purely for creating! The upside to this is that I never run out of ideas. When I was younger, I struggled with comparing myself to other artists, but my forties have brought a clarity and confidence that I’m so happy to embrace. If you keep creating long enough, you will find your unique voice, and the imposter syndrome will fade into the background.

Are there other creative pursuits you enjoy?

I am more than slightly obsessed with scrapbooking and art journaling and have been since my twenties. I also find so much creative satisfaction from decorating my home, and I enjoy collecting vintage and thrifted treasures.

What advice can you give readers who want to spend more time being creative?

My biggest piece of advice is to simply get started and allow yourself to create as much as possible without judgment or self-imposed rules. We are all creative beings, and making things with our hands and our innate creativity is one of the biggest gifts we have as humans. As Maya Angelou said, “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”

This is your fourth book with us! What inspired the designs in this book?

One of my biggest life goals as a 40-something woman is to be as cozy as possible, as often as possible. The illustrations in this book are an extension of that! I am an obsessed coffee drinker,

cat lover, homebody, and nature admirer, and I recently rediscovered the joy of fiction reading, which are all very evident in the illustrations in this book.

What is a perfect cozy day for you?

The perfect cozy day for me would be sleeping in without an alarm and waking to the sound of rain on a cool autumn morning. Enjoying my coffee on the porch or sofa with a good book, snuggled up with my cat Melvin. Staying in my comfy clothes all day. Time to art journal or scrapbook would be included as well, along with a mix of my favorite comfort foods and sweet treats. I’d end the day watching a favorite show or movie with my family.

What do you hope readers will get from this book?

I hope they will find the joy and peaceful energy that can be found in carving out time to relax and connect with their creativity. I hope they will get lost in these cozy illustrations and find a place of magical comfort. And I hope using their hands to create something beautiful will help to calm their nervous systems and be a place they can come whenever they need a reset.

How can we learn more about you and your art?

You can find me online at www.mandyford.co and @mandyfordart on socials. I’d love o connect with you!

Mandy Ford is a licensed illustrator, lettering artist, graphic designer, and teacher who is passionate about using her creative gifts to make others feel seen, cared for, and loved. She is the founder of the Soul Care Creatives Club and the author of Field Guide to the Soul, KindKids Let’s Draw Nature, and KindKids Let’s Draw Cute Stuff. In addition, Mandy has partnered with Spirituality & Health magazine, Mohawk Rugs, Paper House Productions, Inked Brands, Legacy Publishing, and Big Picture Classes. She resides in the Indianapolis, Indiana, region, where she runs on hope and coffee (sometimes in reverse order).

To learn more, visit www.mandyford.co and @mandyfordart on Instagram.

Coloring might seem like one of the easiest activities out there, and maybe it is—but that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from some expert coloring advice and casual tips and tricks. Here are some of my personal coloring tips that will help you level up your coloring skills and elevate your experience!

Set a cozy mood

Pick a spot to color that is comfortable, quiet, and relaxing. This can be your favorite chair, the corner of the sofa, your dining room table, or even your bed. Make sure the lighting is warm and bright enough to see well, your seating is comfy, and you have plenty of surface space for your book and coloring supplies.

Pick a palette

Choose colors that make you feel warm and cozy. One of my favorite combinations is a light turquoise and golden yellow.

Make it personal

Get comfy

Cozy coloring requires cozy apparel! Grab your softest socks, leggings, sweater, and blanket to complete the cozy vibes.

Choose a sentimental item from your home and use it for your color palette inspiration. Examples could be a favorite coffee mug, your grandma’s necklace, your go-to floral dress, or the vintage paint-by-number you thrifted.

Try something new

Choose colors you ordinarily never use and see how they make you feel—you might find a new favorite!

Create a kit

Make a coloring set in a basket or tote that includes all your favorite supplies so you’ll be ready whenever and wherever the mood strikes. Choose a container that is easy to carry to different spots like your couch, patio, or bed— wherever feels the coziest!

Mixupthings

Do you typically gravitate toward markers or colored pencils? Mix things up by trying a different medium or combine a few different types for a new coloring experience.

Be unexpected

Use unexpected colors for everyday items, like purple for plant leaves or pink for cat fur. It is fun to break the rules!

Inspire yourself

Look around your house and peruse your wardrobe—what colors do you see the most and notice that you gravitate toward? What color combinations make you feel cozy and happy? Use those colors on your coloring pages and you are guaranteed to love the results.

Explore color

When in doubt, use the color wheel! Grab a pair of complementary colors for a high energy vibe or choose analogous colors if you want your page to feel cozy and serene.

Everyone has their own way of approaching a pattern, and that’s what makes coloring fun! If you’re having trouble knowing where to begin, follow along with this step-by-step coloring sequence to see how each color can be added one by one to combine into a terrific final result. Keep in mind that there are no rules—just intuition and enjoyment. This is an example of just one way it can be done, so don’t be afraid to explore and let yourself be carried away by the process!

Here are five cozy color palettes you can jump right into with your coloring! Do your best to match your media to the colors shown in order to re-create the overall effect of each palette, and have fun figuring out how you want to use each color within the palette in your chosen design. Of course, feel free to adapt any palette by swapping out or adding colors to suit your aesthetic or mood.

This page features 25 blank swatches where you can test the colors of your tools. Simply fill each swatch and write the color name down for future reference.

I hope you are ready to settle into a cozy chair with a warm drink and start putting pencil to paper! Pick any page that speaks strongly to you to start. If you are feeling creatively blocked or hesitant to start laying down your first strokes of color, try using the Coloring Worksheet on the back of the coloring page! In this space, you can work on establishing a color palette until you feel confident enough to flip the page over to the front and color in earnest. Every coloring page is perforated, too, allowing you to remove it and get into your most comfortable position.

I hope you find quiet cheer in every page you color!

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Grab a warm, cozy drink to sip on while you color this page.

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Try adding some honey and a dash of vanilla extract to your morning coffee. These cozy flavors will warm you right up!

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Look out the window and daydream more often—you might find it encourages you to be calmer and more creative! Give it a try right now—what do you see?

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Make time for a short meditation session this week. Your mind and body will thank you for it.

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If you could live in a mushroom cottage or a tree house, which would you pick and why?

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Observe your environment and try to use the colors you see as a palette for this coloring page!

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What book have you been looking forward to reading for a while? Start it today, right after you finish this coloring page!

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Do you consider yourself an introvert, extrovert, or somewhere in the middle? How does this affect the way you interact with the world around you?

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“Hygge” is a Danish word for a feeling of comfort and familiarity in time spent simply relaxing and enjoying the moment. How can you incorporate more quality downtime like this into your life?

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Try adding a gentle pattern to the background of this coloring page!

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Imagine your ideal home, both inside and out. What are some ways you can incorporate elements of this dream into your current home?

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Color each cat in this design with different colors and characteristics like spots or stripes.

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Take some time to write, scrapbook, or do junk-journaling today—find a way that works for you to record recent memories in a creative way.

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Make it a point to find joy in something small today.

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Treat yourself to a rewatch of your favorite show! You can make a dedicated night of it or put it on in the background while coloring this page.

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Grab a guidebook on trees or birds, go for a refreshing walk, and do your best to identify some different species!

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Try lighting a soothing scented candle while you color this page for ultimate coziness.

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Plan a café date with a friend you haven’t seen in a while. And keep your phones tucked away in your pockets!

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Create a cozy spot in your home and dedicate an hour or two of your time this week to peacefully reading there.

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Even if it’s cold, bundle up in your favorite scarf and spend some time outside. Enjoy the fresh air by taking a walk or just relaxing on the porch with a warm drink.

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Try arranging the books on your shelves in a new order—by color, genre, or any other way you’d like!

The Very Cozy Coloring Book © Mandy Ford

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Start planning and saving up for the cozy getaway of your dreams today. Where will you go?

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Try using a cool-toned, wintery color palette to color this page!

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Take regular and meaningful breaks from work, whether it’s your day job or your current creative endeavor.

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Do you enjoy cooking and baking, or does it feel like a chore? What’s one way you could make the experience cozier?

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It’s so important to have a joyful, comfortable space for yourself at home. What’s something you can you do to make your home cozier?

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Set up a reading nook somewhere in your home if you don’t have one already!

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What would be your favorite part of living in (or just relaxing in) a cool underground space?

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If you’ve never tried knitting or crochet, give it a shot—it can be a very soothing and meditative practice!

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No matter how large a cup of tea you have or how long a book you’re reading, be mindful about savoring every sip and enjoying each page.

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Use an autumn-themed color palette with browns, oranges, reds, yellows, and greens to color this page!

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Grab your headphones and put on your favorite music while you color— don’t be afraid to sing along!

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Create a book nook (a mini diorama that fits into a bookshelf) by either buying a kit or making one out of things you already have!

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Try a special comforting beverage like a golden latte or a London fog!

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If you could be any animal in the world, what would you be?

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Spend a little time today making your home workspace extra cozy—add a stack of your favorite books, some knick-knacks, or a fun pencil cup!

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Use a notebook or an app to document your to-be-read list and log your reading habits. You can start simple and see what info you like to track.

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Write down lots of fun ways to cheer yourself up or practice self-care on slips of paper and put them in a jar to randomly pick from on a rainy day.

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Take ten minutes to write a gratitude list, including things both big and small.

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Take a moment today to meditate, even if you think you can’t or don’t know how. Simply sit in silence, breathe deeply, and focus on letting thoughts gently come and go.

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Try adding a background color gradient to this coloring page!

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Is there something you enjoy collecting? If so, what about it is interesting or exciting to you? If not, what collection would you like to start?

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Houseplants can improve your mood as well as the air quality in your home! Propagate a cutting from a friend’s houseplant or buy a simple plant that’s easy to take care of.

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Set aside at least one hour this week for quiet me-time.

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Make time for a trip to your local coffee shop today! Stay for a while and enjoy the atmosphere.

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Bring a special treat with you next time you’re on the go—your favorite snack, coffee, or something else that brings you joy.

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Envision your dream fall or winter getaway. What are some things you can you do to make it happen?

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Make a list of cozy books, series, or authors to turn to next time you’re feeling down and want to relax or be comforted.

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Every day is a special occasion! Get out your special teapot or teacups and use them just because.

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What is something you can do to create more magic or whimsy in your life?

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Write a sweet note and brew a cup of tea or coffee for a loved one. You don’t need a specific reason to show affection and care!

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What are some self-care rituals you’d like to incorporate into your daily life? Start by implementing at least one of them today.

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Take a gentle step out of your comfort zone by spending some time alone in a new place—bring your current read to a new coffee shop or a bookstore you’ve never been to before.

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How’s your mug collection looking? Grab your favorite one and brew a cozy cup of tea to sip while you color this page.

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Here’s a gentle challenge for you: Color this page with as many shades of green as you can.

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Describe your ideal day at home and imagine it (or live it!) while you color.

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Practice mindfulness while drinking your morning coffee or tea—truly savor each and every sip, instead of, for example, scrolling distractedly.

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Do you consider yourself to be a homebody? What meanings does the word hold for you (both positive and negative)?

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Get cozy in your favorite sweater! What makes it your favorite—the material, the colors, or something else?

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Do something special for yourself today. Cook a fancy dinner, write a note to your future self, or just take some me-time.

Business is personal at Better Day Books. We were founded on the belief that all people are creative and that making things by hand is inherently good for us. It’s important to us that you know how much we appreciate your support. The book you are holding in your hands was crafted with the artistic passion of the author and brought to life by a team of wildly enthusiastic creatives who believed it could inspire you. If it did, please drop us a line and let us know about it. Connect with us on Instagram, post a photo of your art, and let us know what other creative pursuits you are interested in learning about. It all matters to us. You’re kind of a big deal.

www.betterdaybooks.com better day books

Give your soul the creative care it needs with this coloring book full of heartwarming illustrations that celebrate the joy of slowing down. Each page is perforated for easy tear-out, making it simple to display your art or share it with someone you love. The book begins with a 16-page introduction offering practical coloring tips and soothing suggestions to help you create your own cozy rituals.

With gentle prompts included on every page, you’ll not only color to your heart’s content but nourish your creative soul in the process!