If you are looking for a fun activity that you and your children can enjoy, try a project that will allow your child to make his or her own coloring activity book and stencils. Making your own coloring book and stencils for you and your little ones to use for craft projects is no problem with these easy steps.
Adult supervision required.
How to Make Your Own Stencil
To make your own strong stencils that you can use over and over, use card stock, poster board, or empty cereal boxes. Adult supervision required.
What You Need:
Coloring Pages or Themed Pictures from Magazines
Paper Board, such as Card Stock, Poster Board, or an Empty Cereal Box
Ballpoint Pen
Hole Punch
Safety Scissors
Bounty Paper Towels
Craft Paper
Bingo Dabber
Step One: Use Your Paperboard Sheet as Your Base
Put the themed pictures or coloring pages on top of the paperboard. If you decide to put more than one shape on each piece of paperboard, make sure to leave at least 1 inch between each shape, because stencils get hard to use when the shapes get too close together.
Step Two: Trace around the Outer Edge of The Shape
Make sure you press the shape down hard with the ballpoint pen. Lift the picture off of the paperboard and check to see if the outline of the picture shows on the paperboard. You should see the shape you just traced indented in the paperboard.
Step Three: Use the hole Punch to Cut a Hole
Cut a hole near the center of the shape or as far inside the traced lines as you can get. Use the scissors to cut out the shape along the indented lines.
Step Four: Test Your Stencil
Put your stencil over a piece of craft paper and use the bingo dabber to fill in the shape with ink. Lift the stencil straight up so the ink does not smear, and check to see how your stencils worked.
How to Make a Coloring Book
Instead of buying a pre-made version, help your little ones create their works of art that they can color today or save for another afternoon. Choose a theme, use a favorite story line, or piece together an imaginative array of pictures for an artistically awesome time.
What You Need:
Two Pieces of 8"x10" Construction Paper
Five or Six Pieces of White 8"x10" Drawing Paper
Hole Punch
Safety Scissors
Yarn
Markers
Crayons
Shape Stencils
Instructions:
Step One: Choose A Theme
Creating a coloring book is a great activity to entertain your child while helping them use their imagination and develop emerging skills such as hand-eye coordination and sequencing. Start the coloring book project by brainstorming theme ideas. Choose a general theme such as animals or something more specific like "Under the Sea."
Step Two: Create a Cover from Construction Paper
Help your child write the title of the coloring book and their name on the front. If your child isn't yet able to write the letters on their own, write the words lightly with a pencil so he or she can trace over them with a marker. Ask your child to draw a picture on both the front and back cover. The picture should go along with the book's theme.
Step Three: Place the White Drawing Paper Inside of the Cover
Punch two holes on the left side, one inch from the top and one inch from the bottom. Preschoolers often are not able to punch all the way through the stack of papers. Have an adult complete this step.
Step Four: Bind the Coloring Book Together
Cut two six-inch pieces of yarn. Have your child thread one piece of yarn through the bottom hole and the other through the top. Tie them in a knot or bow to hold the book together.
Step Five: Create a Design on Each Page
Use the stencils and markers to create unique designs on each page. Help your child trace themed stencils or put together different shaped stencils to create designs.
Finally your child can use the crayons to decorate the pages of his or her new coloring book!