Meet Mae: Coloring Her Way Back to Calm with Disney Magic

When Mae left her review of Art of Coloring: Disney 100 Years of Wonder, it didn’t just tell us what she thought about the book—it told us something about the moment she was in.

“I hadn’t colored anything in years,” she wrote. “But this book made me feel like myself again.”

At Lay It Flat, we receive numerous reviews from customers who love our spiral-bound format, but every so often, someone shares a story that stops us in our tracks. That was Mae. She wasn’t just talking about pencils and paper—she was talking about rediscovering joy.

So we followed up.

 

A Disney Girl Through and Through

Mae has always been a Disney girl. The kind who still tears up during The Lion King, who collects vintage VHS covers “just because,” and who once rewound her Beauty and the Beast tape so many times it broke. But she’s not the loudest fan in the room.

“Disney’s always been part of the background for me,” she told us. “It’s woven into my life in quiet, comforting ways.”

So when Mae saw the Disney 100 Years of Wonder coloring book, it felt like something familiar calling her home. Not just because of the characters, but because it felt intentionally designed for someone who knew Disney by heart and wanted to reconnect creatively.

“It’s not just nostalgic,” she said. “It’s beautiful.”

A Soft Place to Land

Mae didn’t buy the coloring book for a project. She bought it after a particularly overwhelming week. The kind of week where your brain is too full, your phone won’t stop buzzing, and you realize you haven’t done anything with your hands—not for fun—in way too long.

“I needed something tactile,” she said. “Something that wasn’t about productivity. Just something calming.”

Coloring felt like a low-pressure way to get back into creativity. No rules, no blank pages to fill from scratch—just lines and space, waiting for color.

And the book, with its 100 illustrations spanning classic to modern characters, was the perfect match.

Spirals Matter

We asked Mae what made her stick with the book, and she immediately brought up the spiral binding.

“I didn’t think it would matter that much,” she said. “But wow—it made such a difference.”

Like many of our readers, Mae found that the Lay It Flat design turned what could’ve been a minor frustration into a reason to keep going. No weights to hold the book down. No, trying to press it open with one elbow while coloring with the other.

“It’s such a small thing, but it made me want to pick it up more often,” she said. “The book stays open wherever you need it, and that makes it feel like it’s meeting you halfway.”

Coloring as a Mood Mirror

One of the things Mae loved most about the book was how it allowed her moods to guide her. On calm evenings, she’d color soft palettes—purples, blues, gentle greens. On stressful days, she gravitated toward bold, saturated tones.

“It became like a visual journal,” she said. “I could flip through and remember exactly what I was feeling when I worked on a page.”

The variety of characters gave her space to choose. Some days, it was the classic princess designs. Some days, it was Chip' n' Dale. Some days, it was one of the lesser-known characters who reminded Mae of her younger self, spirited and strong-willed.

And because there were no rules, no pressure to finish a page in one sitting, she found herself returning to the book again and again.

A Thoughtful Gift in Disguise

Since falling in love with the coloring book herself, Mae has bought two more copies for friends: one for a person recovering from surgery, and another for someone going through a breakup.

“Coloring is such a gentle form of care,” she told us. “It doesn’t push you. It just invites you to slow down.”

For both friends, she wrapped the books with a set of colored pencils and a note that read: In case you need a little color right now.

That’s Mae in a nutshell. A gift giver at heart. She doesn’t give things for the sake of giving—she gives them to say, I see you. I’m thinking of you. Here’s something beautiful to hold onto.

Why This Book, Exactly?

What sets Art of Coloring: Disney 100 Years of Wonder apart from Mae is that it doesn’t talk down to you. It respects the adult who still loves Disney. The art is intricate without being overwhelming, stylized without being stiff.

“It feels like a love letter to the fans,” she said. “It’s designed with care.”

Each page is printed only on one side, so you don’t have to worry about colors bleeding through. The illustrations range from bold outlines to more delicate detail work, which made it easy for Mae to follow her mood and energy level.

And the spiral binding? It meant every page stayed flat, no matter how long she spent shading in the trees or experimenting with blues in a scene from a Disney classic.

 

Final Thoughts

When we asked Mae what she would say to someone thinking about picking up a coloring book again, her answer was simple:

“Do it. Don’t overthink it. You don’t have to be an artist. You don’t even have to finish the page. Just color a little. See how it feels.”

And her advice for choosing the right book?

“Pick something that means something to you. Something you’ll want to come back to. For me, that was Disney. But whatever it is for you, make sure it’s spiral-bound. Trust me.”

A Book That Brings Color and Calm

At Lay It Flat, we believe that creativity doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes it starts with a familiar face, a pencil in your hand, and a book that stays open while you do the rest.

Mae’s story is a reminder that coloring isn’t just a childhood activity—it’s a form of rest. A way to reflect. A quiet act of joy.

And in her case, it all started with a book that felt like coming home.

Explore Art of Coloring: Disney 100 Years of Wonder—a spiral-bound celebration of Disney’s most iconic characters, perfect for Disney lovers, creative minds, and anyone who needs a little color in their life.