What can I do with adult coloring books?

Hillela G.
by Hillela G.
My mom just got me a few adult coloring books and a new pack of colored pencils as a present. I think she was thrilled to be getting me coloring books again icon .
I know there are a lot of interesting projects to be made with them, where do I begin?
Have you ever used one? Made anything interesting? Or just have ideas for what I can do with them?
Thank you!!!

  25 answers
  • Johnchip Johnchip on Feb 19, 2017

    Have them laminated and use as placemats and table mats for bowls etc. They will then also make great gifts as well.

  • Tan20629544 Tan20629544 on Feb 20, 2017

    Anything you can do with any other paper you can do with yours. Try copying a drawing and using glue stick put them together to make personal wrapping paper. Or color a page just using blue and white or whatever your kitchen/bath room colors are, frame it and hang it! Or cards- cut out your favorite bit and glue that to a blank card or use the colored page to make a card! Cover a pill container or a can to make pretty holders for paperclips etc. Just remember to use a container that is straight up and down. Make a orgami coin purse or better yet cover your pretty paper with clear contac paper and make a strong folder. The possibilities are endless!

    PS It is possible to break the spine of any coloring book by working groups of page back and forth so you can pull out a whole page with no rips...

  • Susan Susan on Feb 20, 2017

    Grab you some transparent salad plates.Trim your pages from the coloring book. Get Mod Podge and cover the underside of the plate. Add the trimmed colored print and smooth it down really well.Let it dry well. ModPodge over the back of the print and make sure it is sealed really well. Add a plate hanger and hang it as art work. Use as a cluster and they are very impressive.

    • See 1 previous
    • Johnchip Johnchip on Feb 21, 2017

      Remeber, storage space is always a premium. Flat memorabilia mayy be kept, 3-D will not

  • Em Em on Feb 21, 2017

    If you still need to "get rid" of some of them, try some elementary schools who might love to have them as donations.

  • Bev Hansen Bev Hansen on Feb 21, 2017

    I am going to line my cupboard backs and laminate some for under plants!!

  • Mable Mable on Feb 21, 2017

    I do adult coloring all the time, you may want to try the gel pens instead of pencils as the colors are much more vibrant!

  • Lynne Lynne on Feb 21, 2017

    I color all the time some I have framed and others I've used in my scrap booking. Or donate them to a senior center or elementary school. My 84 year old neighbor comes over to my house every Wednesday and colors with me. She's trying to get me to start a coloring club. Similar to a book club which I think is a great idea. Just make sure they bring their own books and pencils.

  • Ms_9030076 Ms_9030076 on Feb 22, 2017

    I think coloring several in a similar color scheme and then using Modge Podge to add them to a floating shelf, bookcase shelves, or even updating the frame on a mirror would be neat options. You could also use them as backing for family photos in picture frames.

  • Sal20918934 Sal20918934 on Feb 22, 2017

    My daughter brought me a set when I was in the hospital in January. I also wondered what I could do with the finished pictures.The ones in an allover design such as paisley or other interesting patterns I thought I would use as picture mattings since I have several family photos I've wanted to frame and thought it would add an interesting dash of color.

  • Lisa Battisti Lisa Battisti on Feb 22, 2017

    Plates from Goodwill and your picture!

  • Kat Kat on Feb 23, 2017

    wow, what wonderful ideas! I've wondered the same thing, what to do with them when finished....got another...someone mentioned giving to schools....how about giving to NURSING HOMES, REHABS, HOSPITALS, etc? the bright colors will cheer them up

  • Lee Macneil Lee Macneil on Feb 24, 2017

    FirmlyTracing over un-colored page with an old pen or pencil onto wooden placques to make designs for wood burning! and or coloring onto the wood!

  • Stacia Boston Stacia Boston on Feb 24, 2017

    If you have any old wood windows you can mod podge them on the individual glass, I'm going to try this as I have some!

  • Stacia Boston Stacia Boston on Feb 24, 2017

    You can make refrigerator magnates with the clear plastic or glass round discs

  • Ell17880696 Ell17880696 on Feb 24, 2017

    You can buy small glass cutting boards (or large) at dollar tree for a dollar. Cut your coloring to fit and mod podge it. Spray with fixative after drying. It becomes a trivet.

  • Sherry Asplund Sherry Asplund on Feb 25, 2017

    I have a clear backed iPhone cover. My husband snapped a picture of one of my colored pictures and printed it out to fit inside my phone case. Now I get to see it all the time!

  • I color a LOT! I also use felt tipped pens, easier on my arthritic hands, so I switch back and forth. I have literally hundreds of pages and will frame some of them. Some I turned into greeting cards.

  • Linda Linda on Feb 27, 2017

    Depending on the size....you may need two together....laminate for cool placemats you can change out at will! Or you could use a coloured paper behind to frame it, and then laminate both the "art" and coloued paper together for a nice bright placemat.



  • I would string a few like ones up and create a colorful banner. Then hang it on the mantle or even over a window.

  • J.b. kelly J.b. kelly on Mar 08, 2017

    I have used them for book covers ,they keep the books clean and look so pretty on the shelves

  • Katy Katy on Mar 09, 2017

    I used a large one as a backdrop for a collection of family photos between two pieces of glass (one of those "Family" picture frames with pictures "floating" between a glass front and glass back). With very narrow mat to outline each photo on top of the colored backdrop, it reminds me of small area rugs or pieces of furniture positioned strategically on top of a large room rug that pulls it all together.

  • Lisa Battisti Lisa Battisti on Mar 17, 2017

    Here are the framed pics I promised. Btw I got the frames at Goodwill for $2 each.

  • Susan Sheldon Susan Sheldon on Mar 17, 2017

    Great ideas! What about picking your 12 favorites and making a calendar?

  • 861650 861650 on Mar 21, 2017

    The website, www.doverpublications.com has adult coloring books with many subjects. It has fine art, real history, nature and so much more. Great for matting and framing.

  • Cindy Miller Utley Cindy Miller Utley on Mar 26, 2017

    I wrote a simple thank you note on the back of each picture and sent them to the local VA hospital at Christmas.