If you’re an adult coloring book fan, you’ll agree there’s never a problem in finding more things to color, however there’s often the problem of knowing what to do after you’ve finished coloring in.
There are only so many walls to hang framed coloring pages, and it’s a shame to just leave them all in a box or folder.
So what else can you do with all those coloring pages after you’ve colored them?
I’ve searched the web to find you 29 crafty things you can make with your finished coloring pages. These ideas range from simple to super-crafty, and include some great ways to showcase your adult coloring pages, turn them into colorful DIY gifts or repurpose them into something totally unexpected!
If you have any other ideas, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below 🙂
1. Turn your coloring pages into wrapping paper
This one is super easy, and is a great way to recycle your finished coloring pages to make a personal gift! Just wrap your gifts in any coloring page, or grab some of my printable wrapping paper (pictured) with a Christmas theme that you can print and color.
Repeating patterns (like my printable wrapping paper) work really well because you can join multiple pages together to wrap a larger gift, or print them out on larger paper at a local print shop.
2. Use a coloring page to create these cute gift bows
Turn your coloring pages into gift bows with this tutorial by Rachel from linesacross.com
I love how cute these look, and they add a colorful touch to any gift! Once you get the hang of it, it takes about 5 minutes to make a bow.
Check out the full gift bow tutorial here.
3. Create a DIY name plaque with your favorite coloring page
Turn some wooden letters and your coloring pages into a beautiful name plaque to hang on your bedroom wall!
This tutorial from modpodgerocksblog.com uses Mod Podge and teaches you how to cover some wooden letters with your favorite coloring page patterns.
4. Make a coloring gift bag
Use a coloring page to make a DIY gift bag! Lia Griffith has a wonderful tutorial on how to make your own paper gift bags with scrapbook paper, but you can easily customize this to use a coloring page instead.
See the paper bag tutorial here.
You can also use some of my free coloring templates to make your own Easter gift bags or Valentine’s Day gift bags.
5. Customize a cell phone case
Take your finished coloring page with you everywhere as a custom cell phone case!
A great alternative to a boring black case (like mine) and a great way to show off your coloring without carrying your books around.
Check out the tutorial over at Check out the tutorial at Moms & Crafters.
6. Give your old furniture a coloring book makeover
Instead of throwing out that old furniture, why not upcycle it with some coloring book art!
This tutorial from plaidonline.com uses coloring pages to make this fun painted side table.
You’ll want to set aside some time for this one, and expect to use a LOT of coloring pages! You’ll probably also want to make sure your family is happy to let you showcase your final piece in the house before you start 😉
7. Make your own envelope liners
Give a boring envelope a surprising special touch when the recipient opens it! Rather than buying expensive envelope liners, you can make your own with this tutorial by Jessica from thebudgetsavvybride.com
The tutorial uses scrapbook paper, but you can easily use a coloring page instead!
8. Use your coloring pages to create a cute dry erase board
These DIY whiteboards are ridiculously easy and cheap to make. You can make them in just a few minutes.
In this DIY whiteboard tutorial by One Little Project, Debbie uses some patterned scrapbook paper and offers some templates for weekly menus and shopping lists, but you can also follow this tutorial using a coloring page to make your own unique template that you can change at any time. This would be a great way to use some of my coloring calendars and planner printables.
9. Give your shoes a make-over
These shoes are so cool, and you can make your own! In this tutorial, the artist has used comic books, but you could replicate this with coloring pages.
This looks tricky, but you should be able to get it done in two to three hours for both shoes. I can’t wait to grab some modge podge and give it a go!
10. Make these pretty coasters with your finished coloring pages
Here’s another good Mod Podge project – Make these pretty coasters! This tutorial by Stephanie from gardentherapy.ca will show you how to cover an old coaster with your finished coloring pages, and seal them so they’re water resistant.
Functional and pretty, and this seems like a pretty easy project that doubles as a great DIY gift.
11. Try this adult coloring Ikea table hack
This coloring page Ikea table hack is pretty cool! In this tutorial, Mark shows us how he created this crafty drawing table using an Ikea table and some coloring pages. I like the half-colored version he’s made, although you could use finished coloring pages for this too.
Make sure you set some time aside for this one 🙂
12. Cover your journal and pencils with coloring pages to create this cute journal set
This journal set makes a great personalized gift for a friend.
In this tutorial by plaidonline.com, you’ll learn how to use a coloring page to cover some pencils and a journal to make a matching gift set.
13. Create a huge coloring poster
This is a fun project BEFORE you color in your pages. Follow my tutorial to turn any coloring page into a giant poster you can color in with the whole family or classroom – or create amazing giant art that will make a statement on your wall!
I used the “Dream Big” coloring page from my website, but you can use any coloring page for this.
14. Turn your coloring pages into origami bows
Paula from fromprincepaperie.com made these cute origami paper bows from her coloring pages, following a tutorial from origami-instructions.com, but using a coloring page instead of traditional origami paper.
You could use coloring pages to try other origami patterns too!
15. Create a coloring page bookmark
Cut out your finished coloring pages, laminate them and turn them into pretty bookmarks for you and your friends!
You can either use your own coloring page or check out my range of coloring bookmarks you can print and color
(pictured: Free Valentine’s Day bookmarks)
16. Make this stunning paper rose bouquet
These paper flowers by Valerie at 100layercake.com are absolutely gorgeous!
This tutorial uses pages from an old book, but you could try this with your coloring pages for a really interesting effect. It’s a bit of a fiddly project, but the end results are definitely worth it.
Check out the full tutorial here.
If you want to try some different style flowers, check out these 20 DIY paper flower tutorials at itsalwaysautumn.com
17. Turn your finished coloring pages into keychains
Shrink your favorite coloring page designs to make these cute little coloring keychains!
This tutorial by diycandy.com is a great way to carry around a favorite quote or finished coloring page that you’re proud of. You are going to need a little bit of technical knowledge so you can scan, resize, and change the saturation (color) of your image, but the tutorial takes you through this step by step.
18. Make beautiful adult coloring seed packets
This quick and easy tutorial by Danielle at storypiece.net will show you how to make seed packets out of coloring pages.
They look just as cute uncolored as they would colored – a great little gift idea for a friend who loves gardening, and they are pretty quick to make.
19. Make a DIY coloring Christmas cracker
Make your own Christmas crackers out of coloring pages for a special Christmas treat for family and friends!
This tutorial includes a pre-made free Christmas cracker template you can use – or you can make your own with your own design. This cracker is included in the set of 8 printable Christmas crackers you can get from my store.
20. Decorate a tray with your adult coloring pages
This tutorial by Amy at modpodgerocksblog.com shows you how to create a tray with your adult coloring pages.
The tutorial uses cut up strips of coloring page to make a pretty tiled pattern, but you could try something similar with a whole page if you don’t want to cut up your beautiful coloring!
21. Upcycle a clock with a mandala coloring page
Turn a boring clock into something beautiful with this tutorial from Sue Chastain on how to make a coloring page clock!
Mandalas are perfect for this because of their circular pattern (especially if your mandala has 12 sides) but you could try any coloring page design and add some numbers (optional).
22. Make a personalized coloring greeting card
This one is super easy – Print your coloring pages half size and attach them to a piece of card to create beautiful coloring cards.
You can also use some of my printable coloring card templates for a special occasion or a last minute gift idea.
(Pictured: Free Mother’s Day card template)
23. Turn your coloring pages into these canvas magnets
Turn some mini-canvases into coloring page magnets with this tutorial by Bre from averageinspired.com.
This is a fun way to display your coloring pages on your fridge without feeling like you’re in kindergarten 🙂
For a different style magnet, you could use marble accents like the ones in this tutorial and swap the scrapbook paper for coloring pages.
24. Turn a mandala coloring page into a beautiful plate
Turn your favorite mandala or coloring page design into a plate with this simple guide from Lisa Battisti at www.hometalk.com.
This will be a nice surprise for your guests after they gobble up your delicious food!
25. Create some coloring page gift tags
Cut out a tag-size square or circle from your finished coloring pages and add some string to create a cute gift tag!
Alternatively, you can check out my ready-made coloring gift tag templates for special occasions, including Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas and Valentine’s Day.
(Pictured: Mother’s Day Gift Tags | 8 Pack)
26. Use a coloring page to make a DIY fortune cookie
This tutorial from burlapandblue.com will show you how to make these quick and easy fortune cookies from your coloring pages.
Include a special message for your friends and add them to a gift as an interesting alternative to a card!
Sugar-free, but still fun 🙂
Find out how to make them here.
27. Make DIY coloring ornaments for your Christmas tree
There’s a range of different ways to make coloring pages into ornaments – here’s a round up of DIY scrapbooking paper ornaments you can swap for coloring pages to make something from a page you’ve already colored.
Or you can use one of my printable ornament templates (pictured) and color it in for a 3D Christmas-themed ornament.
Check out my tutorial and grab a free ornament template here.
28. Upcycle an old suitcase
Maybe this decoupage suitcase is a little ambitious to make with coloring pages… but I’d love to give it a try!
This tutorial uses fabric to cover the case, so I’m not sure how well it will work with paper… but out of curiosity, I’ve already snapped up an old suitcase from my mom to try this one out. I’ll let you know how I go 😉
Check out the tutorial here if you’re feeling brave too!
29. Turn a coloring page into a flickering candle night light
In this tutorial, Sue shows us how she made this flickering flameless candle with a coloring page printed on translucent paper.
This would make a great night light! What a beautiful way to brighten up your room with some coloring.
So many ideas… which one will you try first? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!
If you’ve enjoyed this collection of coloring page crafts, please share using the links below.
I love your idea of the magnet on canvas my question is I want to take a full colored page from a coloring book and put it on an 8×10 canvas but paint the whole canvas before I put the page on with adhesive spray. My question is do I just put a coat of decoupage over it once it is on the canvas or is that going to ruin the coloring I did I used sharpies to color the coloring book image if that helps any, help or comments would be appreciated thank you so much.
I love these ideas and actually did decoupage a vintage suitcase. Wish I could post a picture! I color SO much and had so many pages! Lots of other great ideas to try. Thanks!
I make my coloring pages into a book, incased in plastic sheets, about 40 sheets
to a book, equals 80 colored pictures, and when it is full, I give them to nursing homes
in our area for their libraryso the patients can look through the books and if they want
a particular one for their room, they may remove the sheet and hang it in their room
So far, I have placed 24 books into nursing homes in my area totaling 1,920 pictures
in them. They are always excited to get my colorings and I am happy to share them.
Mary Wagner
.
Can’t wait to try some of the ideas listed. I was wondering what I would do with all my pages. And I do have ALOT.;)
SOME very good ideas here. Thanks
Great post! Thanks for including my tutorial in your list! 🙂
No problem! Thank you