This Secret Ingredient Takes Adult Coloring Book Art to the Next Level

If you're anything like me, you know that there's nothing better in the world than taking 20 kid-less minutes to yourself to chill in your flannels with a cup of joe, some Crayola pencils, and a Johanna Basford coloring book. ​But what if we told you there was a simple way to make your coloring experience even better and turn your doodles into a borderline masterpiece you'd actually consider framing?

Thanks to D.I.Y. blogger and crafting wiz Alisa Burke, there is. She recently shared with me a non-complicated, genius hack that'll majorly up your color-blending skills without any fancy shading techniques required. The secret? Keep a bottle of baby oil nearby at all times and use a dab of it to make your colors richer.

It's simple:

1. Start lightly coloring your base.

​

2. Apply a drop of baby oil to a cotton swab and gently brush outward to blend and enhance colors.

3. Give it a few minutes to let it dry and voilà!

​

Then, it's just a matter of finding the perfect spot on the fridge to not-so-humbly brag about your artistic achievement because, at this point, you're well on your way to becoming the next van Gogh ... well, kind of.