How to Use Free Coloring Pages To Create A Custom Coloring Book

Free coloring pages give children endless opportunities to express themselves through coloring. There's no need to buy expensive coloring books that may only have a handful of good pictures to color, you can download and print free coloring pages at home and create a one of a kind custom coloring book made especially for your little one. Free coloring pages make it easier than ever for your child to create a masterpiece and create a custom coloring book. Here's how!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer and internet access
• Printer and paper
• Three ring binder
• Hole punch
• Crayons or markers for coloring

1. Visit websites that offer free coloring pages (see resources below) and choose free coloring pages to download. Are you making a custom coloring book with a theme? Perhaps your child is especially fond of puppies, or Christmas is just around the corner. Choose designs of free coloring pages that your child will enjoy coloring. You may choose free coloring pages yourself, or have your child help you choose the designs that he or she likes best.

2. Follow the instructions on the website chosen to print free coloring pages. Some will have a print icon directly by the image, others will work best if you save the image to your hard drive first, then print. To save the image, right click the image of the free coloring pages, click "Save As," then click a place in the box to save the image, such as the Desktop. You may then double click the icon on your desktop, and click the printer icon to print your free coloring pages.

3. Use a hole punch to place holes in the free coloring pages where the rings of a three ring binder will fit, and assemble your custom coloring book. You may find with smaller children you need to reinforce the holes, or you may choose to wait until the free coloring pages have been colored to fill in the custom coloring book.

4. Create a label for the front of your custom coloring book, or let your child decorate the cover of the binder with stickers. You may add more coloring pages as your child grows, or create new ones with new themes as your child's interests expand over the years.

5. Let your child choose his or her favorite free coloring pages to display on refrigerators or in a picture frame to display in their bedroom. This can be rotated in and out of the custom coloring book, or done separately. Let your little artist showcase their masterpieces proudly!

Resources

• Crayola Free Coloring Pages
• About.com Family Crafts / Free Coloring Pages

[evascarlet]

on 11/28/2009 Great idea! I bet kids just love this one...

[paigeturner]

on 11/28/2009 This is such a useful idea!5*

[grimsleygl]

on 9/25/2009 Good idea! My grandchildren love looking on the internet with me for pages that I then print out for them! A couple of the older ones like to do the color online thing as well. I like your idea of putting the pages into a notebook for them. 5*'s

[centexmom]

on 7/1/2009 I've done this. Kids love it!

[AllFYB]

on 5/6/2009 Great Idea to Create a custom coloring book. I have a 7 year old friend's birthday coming up. I am definitely gonna do this for him. Thanks