Here is how to make your own family coloring pages.
This idea is inspired by our family members and loved ones who have passed away, whom we always think about. Especially during the holiday season and other special occasions!
I thought this would be a cute way to honor them and incorporate their spirit into family activities. I promise your guests will have a great time coloring these pages and sharing stories and memories.
Make your own family coloring pages
We all have those photographs we love, so how about turning them into an activity that everyone can participate in and have so much fun! The best part is you do not need a lot of technical skills.
In this tutorial, I will show you two ways to create your own family coloring pages. The first one is by using Procreate, which is an app on, the iPad Pro.
The second tutorial is definitely more universal. All you need is tracing paper and marker. You can print off copies from a home printer or have them professionally copied. (Honestly, I just use my home printer!)
And check out the end of my post, because I have other various activities to try!
Tips for family coloring pages
– Make time to practice! It looks a little easier than it is. But once you practice a bit, you’ll get the hang of it. Invite any little kids to help you! What a great way to spend quality time together.
– Strive for universal line weight (lines all the same thickness). This is using the same amount of pressure for all your drawings. Mine are a little all over the place because I wanted to finish! But if I made these professionally, i’d take time to make everything look even.
– Look for photos with a clear and simple composition. Too many elements can make the coloring page cluttered and confusing.
– Photos with high contrast between the subject and background help in distinguishing outlines easily. Clear outlines are essential for creating effective coloring pages.
– Choose photos with good lighting. Well-lit photos have clearer details, making it easier to trace the essential elements. Avoid overexposed or underexposed images where details are lost.
– For portraits, ensure that facial features are distinct and visible. A front or slightly side-facing photo is usually best, as profiles can be tricky to trace for coloring purposes.
– Don’t trace teeth. Just don’t. It looks weird.
– Opt for photos with simple or minimal backgrounds. Busy backgrounds can be distracting and difficult to convert into coloring page format.
– Photos where family members are expressing emotions can be more engaging. Smiles, laughter, or even surprised expressions add character to the coloring pages.
– Select photos that have personal significance or capture special moments. This makes the coloring activity more meaningful.
– Ensure the main subjects in the photo are not too small. You can enlarge the subject if needed.
– If the coloring pages are for children, choose photos that are simple and fun. For adults, you can opt for slightly more complex images.
More tips!
– Use clear, high-resolution photos. Blurry or pixelated images can be challenging to trace and may not produce good coloring pages.
– Aim for a balance where the photo has enough detail to be interesting but not so much that it becomes too complex to color.
– If you have black and white photos, consider using them. They can provide a good base for tracing due to their inherent contrast and clarity.
– Don’t forget to leave enough blank space for coloring, don’t make the design too busy!
Method One: Tracing
This method is perfect for a group project, because all you need is a picture, tracing paper, a pencil and a Sharpie. Enlarge your photograph to the size you want for the coloring page. However, you can always enlarge your drawing when you make the copies at the end. This method is good for older kids, as well as kids of all ages.
Print out the selected photographs. Ensure they are printed in a size that is easy to work with, typically on standard A4 or letter-sized paper.
Set up a well-lit area where you can comfortably trace. Good lighting is essential to see the details in the photographs through the tracing paper.
Place a sheet of tracing paper over the printed photograph. You can use small pieces of tape to secure the tracing paper to the photo to prevent it from moving while you trace.
Use a pencil (so you can erase!) to trace the main outlines of the photograph. Focus on the shapes of faces, bodies, and any significant items or features in the photo.
Simplify the details for ease of coloring. For example, instead of tracing every strand of hair, just outline the hair shape.
Once the basic outlines are traced, add necessary details like eyes, noses, mouths, and clothing lines. Remember, the goal is to create a coloring page, so keep the details simple and bold.
After tracing, lift the tracing paper and check your work. Go back and make any necessary adjustments or strengthen any lines that are too faint.
If you are satisfied with your tracing, you can go over the lines again with a thicker permanent marker to make them darker and more defined. This is helpful if the pages are going to be photocopied or scanned.
Make copies on a home printer (draft print is fine). You can use regular office copy paper or go with a heavier paper if desired.
Method Two: Procreate
This is my favorite! I love Procreate on my iPad Pro. I made all of these designs this way. Basic Procreate skill level is helpful, but it’s pretty easy to learn.
Choose clear, high-contrast photographs of your family members. Photos with simple backgrounds work best for coloring pages.
Open the Procreate app on your iPad and import the selected photographs. You can do this by creating a new canvas and then tapping on the “Actions” menu (wrench icon), selecting “Add,” and then “Insert a photo.”
Adjust Photo (Optional): You may want to adjust the brightness, contrast, or grayscale the photo to make the tracing process easier. Use the “Adjustments” tools in Procreate for this.
Tracing the Photograph
Create a New Layer: Add a new layer on top of the photo. This is where you’ll do your tracing.
Select a Brush: Choose a brush that suits line drawing. A basic hard brush or inking brush is a good choice.
Trace the Outline: Trace the main outlines of the photo. Focus on the outlines of the faces, bodies, and any significant clothing or features. Simplify details to make it suitable for coloring.
Add Details: Add essential details like facial features, but remember to keep it simple. The more complex the drawing, the harder it will be to color. AND it will look less flattering.
Finalizing the Coloring Page
Once you’re done tracing, hide or delete the original photo layer. You should be left with only the line drawing.
Adjust Lines if Needed: If some lines are too faint or too thick, you can adjust them using the eraser tool or by redrawing certain parts.
Exporting and Printing
Export the Image: Tap on the “Actions” menu, select “Share,” and then choose your preferred format (like JPEG or PDF).
Print: Send the file to your printer, or you can email it to a computer connected to a printer.
Things to remember:
Because these are family members and loved ones, keep them for personal use only. And always ask permission first!
Add loose designs around the outside to offer more room to color.
These family coloring sheets can be made for any occasion throughout the year – birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s day, Easter, Thanksigiving. Draw motifs to match.
You can even bind them together to make a family coloring book. Add in text as well!
What to do with your family coloring pages
– Organize a coloring contest within your family. Set a time limit, and afterwards, everyone can vote on their favorite colored page. Prizes or special treats can be given for different categories like ‘most colorful’, ‘most creative’, etc.
– Compile all the different coloring pages into a family coloring book. You can do this by scanning the pages and printing multiple copies or simply binding the original pages together. This can be a cherished keepsake or a unique gift to other family members.
– Use the colored pages to create personalized greeting cards. Cut out the colored images and glue them onto cardstock. Add messages for birthdays, holidays, or thank you notes.
– Encourage children (or adults) to create stories based on the colored pages. This can be a fun way to engage in creative storytelling and can be especially entertaining if the pages depict family members in various scenarios.
– Frame your favorite colored pages and use them as unique wall art. This is a great way to decorate a child’s room or a family area in your home.
– Incorporate the colored pages into a family scrapbook. Alongside photographs and mementos, these pages can add a personalized and colorful touch to your memory keeping.
More ideas for family coloring pages
– Use the coloring pages as a fun educational tool, especially for young children. They can learn about colors, practice fine motor skills, and even explore family history in an interactive way.
-Create placemats os people can color before the food is served.
RELATED: Thanksgiving Trivia Placemats
– Use the colored pages to create personalized gifts. For instance, you can make bookmarks, placemats, or even laminate them to create coasters.
– Turn the coloring pages into a game. For example, after coloring, family members can guess who colored which page or recall stories related to the photographs used.
– Scan and upload the colored pages to create a digital album. Share it with family and friends, or use it as a virtual background during online family gatherings.
– Host themed coloring nights where each person colors a page that corresponds to the theme (e.g., holidays, seasons, favorite movies).
– Have a family art swap where everyone colors a page and then exchanges it with someone else. This can be a fun way to share art and see different coloring styles.
– Use coloring as a relaxation and bonding activity. Set aside a regular family coloring time where everyone sits down to color and chat together.
– They can be used as embroidery patterns as well!
Using your family coloring pages in these creative ways can bring more fun, bonding, and lasting memories to your family activities. It’s a great way to celebrate your family’s uniqueness and creativity.
