Creating Art
As a mom of two energetic little ones, I’m always on the lookout for creative ways to engage their imaginations (and, let’s be honest, give myself five minutes of quiet). One of my favorite discoveries was making our own coloring books! Not only has this become a fun family tradition, but it’s also turned into a surprisingly rewarding creative outlet for me, and a stepping stone for those of you who might be interested in making your own. It’s what led to me publishing these coloring books to help my fellow parents!
And yes, you can create your very own coloring book for your children. Whether you’re a parent, a teacher, or just someone who loves doodling and is willing to put it to some practical use, I hope this little guide helps you get started.
Why I Started Making Coloring Books
It began with a rainy weekend. I was at home, stuck inside due to the rain, and my kids were a bit bored. They were feeling under the weather, too. I had some art supplies left over from a project, so I just…started drawing. To keep them busy.
I drew a few animals and gave them to the kids. To my surprise, they loved it. They were still very, very young at this stage, so we didn’t go any deeper than just coloring the subjects. That’s why the coloring books I’ve printed out for you all the enjoy are simple, fun, and stress-free, too.
Pick a Theme
Start with something your kids (or you!) are excited about. For our first few, we went with:
- Animals from Around the World
- Silly Monsters and Magical Creatures
Themes give the book a cohesive feel and help you come up with new ideas quickly.
Keep the Drawings Simple
You don’t need to be a professional illustrator. In fact, kids often prefer simpler images with bold lines and open spaces. Some might prefer a professional look, but that taste—at least for my kids—hadn’t developed yet. If you’re targeting a very young audience, super simple is the best.
Here’s how you can sketch, too:
- Use a Tablet or iPad if you have it. There are free apps like Autodesk SketchBook for you to use.
- Each page has one main image, with bold outlines and not too much detail.
- I leave plenty of white space so little hands have room to color freely.
And yes, stick figures are totally okay, if you have place in the rest of the scene for color!
Interactive Prompts are Optional but Fun
Sometimes, I’ll include little prompts like:
- “Draw your own monster friend!”
- “What color is your unicorn’s hair?”
- “Add clouds, stars, or a rainbow to the sky.”
I’m still experimenting with them, but what I chose to include was to simply sketch the name of the drawing.
Assemble and Print
Once I’ve got about 10–15 pages drawn:
- Scan or photograph each one
- Arrange them in a Word doc, Canva file, or PDF editor
- Print them at home on regular paper (or thicker paper for markers)
- Staple them into a booklet or pop them into a binder
Don’t Forget to Test with the Toughest Critics (Your Kids!)
Before sharing a coloring book with others, at least their designs of all the things that will need coloring, I have the luxury of conducting some testing first. I hand it to my kids and wait. If they lose interest after one page, I know it needs work. If they ask, “Can I color another one?” that’s a win!
Kids are honest and hilarious, and they often give me the best ideas for new books.
Creating a coloring book doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s okay to keep it simple, messy, and imperfect. The real joy is in making something from your own hands and heart—something that brings joy to someone else, especially a child. Especially your child!
Whether you’re doing it for fun, to share with your own children, or to start a creative business, I promise: you don’t need to be an artist. You just need a spark of imagination and a bit of quiet time (nap time counts!).