Little Man loves to color. It’s a fun activity for any age (I still haven’t grown out of it!). Recently I discovered an easy way to make my own coloring sheets for him out of our family photos using a free photo-editing software from google called Picasa. You can download Picasa here if you don’t already have it or another photo shop program installed on your computer.
Next, you will need to go through your digital images and select which ones you want to use as coloring sheets. For simplicity’s sake I always end up making a special folder on my desktop for them and copy/pasting each image into the new folder. One of the photos I’ve don started out looking like this:
Once you know which photos you want to use you select one of them in Picasa. When you have the image selected, there should be a little sidebar of editing options to the left of the image. You want to select the paintbrush with the blue background that will be at the top of the sidebar. Clicking this option will take you to a variety of image processing choices. you want to choose the “pencil sketch” option. You can play around with the settings on that option until the image looks the way you would like it to. Ours turned out like this:
Now all that’s left is printing the images and coloring!!! I usually insert the photos into a word document for easy printing and I always print several of each photo.
These are super fun for older kids to use colored pencils to focus on little details, but it’s great for younger kids too! My son thought it was the greatest thing that he could color his grandparents, friends and best of all, himself! We have lots of fun with our own personal coloring sheets!
These make fantastic gifts as well! Instead of giving a generic photo book to grandma/grandpa give them a custom book with photos colored by the grandkids! This would be a super fun and simple craft for mother’s day and father’s day as well!
Have you ever made custom coloring sheets? If not, are you planning to try it?
Click here to find out how to make a coloring book out of all the sheets that you’ve made. Would make a fantastic Christmas gift!!!
Raisa Fernandez says
That’s a lovely idea! It’s great to look back at your kids’ colouring skills when they are older with these colouring sheets you have prepared for them! =D
Paula says
so true! I keep a lot of them tucked away in a box, it will make great reminiscing as they get older <3
Gail @http://biblelovenotes.com says
I love this idea. I need to do it. Thanks.
Michiko says
Great idea! Gonna have to check it out. Thanks!
Ally Ferguson says
I think this is the coolest idea ever!
Beckey says
What an awesome idea! I’ll have to use this for the grand baby. He loves coloring – and pictures of himself! :0)
(visiting through link up at Beauty for Ashes)
Ashley Ditto says
These are absolutely adorable! What a great idea!!
Sharon says
These are cute. I forwarded them to my daughter in law for our little granddaughter. Her other grandparents live on the other side of the world (literally) and she doesn’t know them as well. This would be a great thing to do a few times before they arrive so she can get to know them a little. I think I’ll pin it on my “Grandma Ideas” board, too.
Visiting through Time Warp Wife
Kassi @ Truly Lovely says
How fun to be able to color pictures of your loved ones or yourself!!! Bet lots of kiddos would love that!
Naomi@WhatJoyIsMine says
Paula…what a creative idea! Thank you for sharing it at WJIM. I will have to try it. Blessings to you.
Amanda says
What a cool idea! I’ll have to try that. I think my kids would really like it.
Reb @ Sink or Swim says
So cool! This would be great for flower/outdoor shots as well!
Bethany Learn - Fit2B Studio says
What a great idea! I have picasa but have never explored that option. Found you through the Family Fun Linkup! If you’d ever like a blog about the “beauty of the imperfect core” as it relates to diastasis and abdominal health, please let me know!
Danni@SiloHillFarm says
What a cute idea! Adorable kids too!
Loretta | A Finn In The Kitchen says
I used to work with picaca quite a bit, but never knew this was possible! Thanks for sharing. I pinned because my daughter loves to color and I’m sure she’d get a kick out of coloring pictures of us and her :)
Jocie@TheBetterHalf says
super cute, Paula! Those little ones are adorable!
Jeni says
This is such a great idea! My little girl would love this!
Tehila says
What a great idea!!! I’ll definitely be using this for various occasions. I may even be tempted to colour one in myself (I LOVE colouring in :-) )
With blessing as you abide in Him,
Tehila
Roechelle says
Such a sweet idea, I can see me creating coloring books to gift away. Easy, thrifty and personalized. Love it
AnnMarie says
Great idea to make picture of the kids for them to color! I already have Picasa and I am paying monthly for it so I may as well get some more use out of it. Thank you for this….pinned and trying!
Jenn says
Really fantastic idea! Perfect for my kiddos…thank you for this tutorial!
Marlys @Thisand That says
I have used the sketch option in Picassa but never would have thought of using it for colouring pages. What a great idea. Found you over at the Weekend Re-treat.
Katie @ http:///www.countercultureliving.com says
Great idea! The kids will love this. Visiting from Cheerios and Lattes. :)
Christina @ Keeping Home says
How neat!
Tammy says
I like this idea from another angle – taking the “pencil drawing” renderings and allowing my daughters to trace them and use their skills to try to recreate the pencil “technique” that the software came up with. This is a fabulous idea. Thank you so much for sharing!
Angie says
What a great idea. I saw your post at “Time-Warp Wife.” Thanks for sharing.
Lisa @ Flour Me With Love says
This is such a cute and fun idea! Thanks for sharing at Mix it up Monday :)
Lisa @ Flour Me With Love says
Congratulations…this is being featured today!
http://www.flourmewithlove.com/2013/06/featuring-you_26.html#more
Mary at Sweetwater Style says
This is an amazing idea….wouldn’t these be fun for Grandma’s house! I am pinning this right now!
Jane says
I can’t wait to try this! I found your through Growing Home link up. God bless you!
BeBetsy says
What a fun idea!
Thanks for sharing on the BeBetsy BRAG ABOUT IT. We’d love it if you would link back to us! Have a wonderful weekend!
Sharon and Denise
BeBetsy
Follow us:
Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Bloglovin ~ Pinterest
Katie Adams says
Thank you for sharing on Blog Stalking Thursday! I have featured your project on Blog Stalking Thursday Features YOU! The post is going live later tonight. I would love for you to stop by and grab a feature button. Thanks again for sharing!
Flora Morris Brown says
Hi Paula,
Thanks for this post on creating coloring sheets. Since I have loads of photos, I have plenty to choose from for creating a family coloring book.
When I wrote my book, Color Your Life Happy: Create the Success, Abundance, and Inner Joy You Deserve, I had about 25 cartoons drawn with the intent of creating an adult coloring book. When we got ready to create the book, however, my illustrator suggested making inspirational cards instead. That’s what we did, with a cartoon on one side and affirmations or inspirational advice on the other. You can see them at http://florabrown.com/products-classes/everyday-happiness-cards/
Now that I read this post, I’ve returned to thinking about creating the adult coloring book. Hmm.
Cathy says
How fun! Tucking this away in my data bank to do with my future grandchildren!
I would love for you to share and link up at my weekly TGIF Link Party if you haven’t already this week. Your favorite posts, most popular, recent or new! The party is open every Thursday night and closes Wednesday’s at midnight. Followed by (Not SO) Wordless Wednesday! http://apeekintomyparadise.blogspot.com/. I would be honored if you join us! Have a wonderful week!
Hugs, Cathy
Resa Dance says
Cutest idea in the world – I just made some for my daughters, and plan to send some to my grandson. Thank you!!!!
Resa ~ Pitcher and Plate
Louise x says
I definitely have to look into printing some of these off! Stacey would love them. Thank you so much for sharing.
I’m one of the co-hosts for this weeks ‘I Love My Post Blog Hop’ which is how I found your fabulous blog :D
Your newest follower :D
Louise x
Confessions of a Secret Shopper
Michelle says
This is sooo cool, what a fun idea, can’t wait to try this!! :) Michelle
MsPriscilla says
Thank you so very much for the idea !!
I just made one for my grandson for xmas ;) Repining.
Lauren says
What a fun idea! Thanks for sharing this.
Paula says
Glad you enjoyed it. My kids LOVE these!!! :)
Janice kennedy says
You lost me when you said open in Picasa,,,,,,what is that or where do I find it? Is it a program or app I have to buy or is it already somewhere in my computer? Thanks for any info you can provide.
Paula says
It’s a free photo editing program that google offers. It is a download but it doesn’t cost anything to put it on your computer! :)
You can get it at the link below or use another photo editing software program if you prefer something else.
http://picasa.google.com/
Tina Truelove says
I absolutely Love this idea! I didn’t know this was possible as a DIY. I will definitely try this. Thank you!
Nancy says
Such a cool idea!
I don’t have Picasa, but I do have GIMP, which is another free graphics editor. GIMP doesn’t offer a one-click “pencil sketch” option, but you can achieve the same result in 4-5 steps. Not quite as easy, but also not impossible.
Grace Houle says
What an awesome idea!! Can’t wait to try it out with my kids. Thank you
Bernice Falco says
What a great idea!!! Thank you for sharing, I can’t wait to try this. I enjoy coloring and I have seven grandchildren. Thank you you again! Your children are adorable.
Adriana says
Do you know of another program that does this? Picassa is no longer offering this option.
ilyanarobin says
Really like your site, it is very informative for us. Thanks for sharing. You may also visit: https://mycoloringpagesonline.com/