Kids who love coloring produce a lot of pages. That’s wonderful, but the stacks pile up fast. Here are creative ways to use finished pages, plus tips for deciding what to keep.
Turn them into something
Cards
Fold a colored page into a card for a birthday, holiday or thank-you. See coloring pages as kindness cards.
Gift tags
Cut out small characters and punch a hole for ribbon. Holiday characters from Trace Then Color: Cartoon Christmas Characters make great gift tags.
Wrapping paper
Tape several colored pages together to wrap small gifts. Grandparents love it.
Bookmarks
Cut a strip with a character at the top. Laminate or cover with clear tape.
Puppets
Cut out characters and tape them to craft sticks for a puppet show.
Magnets
Glue a small character onto a magnet sheet.
Placemats
Laminate colored pages for personalized placemats.
Collage
Cut pieces from old pages into a new collage.
Give them away
- Mail them to relatives.
- Give them to teachers, neighbors or care homes.
- Include them in letters and packages.
Animals are almost always a hit: Trace Then Color: Cute Cartoon Animals.
Keep the best
- A portfolio per year. Keep five to ten favorites.
- Write the date and age on the back.
- Photograph the rest before recycling.
Let kids help decide
Ask your child to choose favorites. Many kids happily let pages go once they’ve been photographed or turned into something.
Recycle respectfully
Recycle pages out of sight, or after your child has agreed. Finding a cherished picture in the recycling can hurt feelings.
Questions parents ask
How many pages should I keep?
A handful per year is enough to show growth without clutter.
My child wants to keep everything. What can I do?
Offer a special box with a size limit. When it’s full, they choose what goes.
Is it OK to throw away kids’ art?
Yes, especially if you keep favorites and photos. Involve your child when you can.
About Kevin Coulston
Kevin Coulston is a cartoonist and member of the National Cartoonists Society who has written and illustrated more than 100 drawing, tracing and coloring books for kids, including the Trace Then Color series. Meet Kevin or browse all his books on FirstArtBooks.com.
