Creating Custom Coloring Books

Guest blogger Lynsey Purl is a senior communications specialist at FedEx Office®. She is a very creative mom of two and has previously blogged for Out of Office.
As a mother of two, I am constantly struggling for creative crafts and gift ideas. My children absolutely love to color and their poor crayons are worn down to nubs. At ages five and two, they have flown through countless coloring books, the contents of which are proudly displayed on the fridge (and let’s face it, eventually tossed in the trash).
But why continue to stare blankly at random coloring book characters on your fridge when you can have a personalized piece of art at your finger tips? Creating personalized coloring books is a fun and easy way to entertain or yes, even educate your children. The books also make for a fantastic birthday gift that you can be certain no other child will bring to the party. No duplicate gifts here! (Hint- this is also great for helping younger children associate faces of family members and friends in a fun way. See, I said educational!)
To begin, find your favorite digital photos. Once you have chosen the photos, pull them up on your computer in Adobe® Photoshop. Go to “Filter,” click on “sketch” and choose “Photocopy.”
You will instantly have a new page for your personalized coloring book.
I recommend playing a bit with the detail and contrast of the photo until you get it just right. If you are a little more on the Photoshop savvy side, you may want to use the “Magic Eraser” tool to smooth out the spots on the face and body.
Remember, be sure to save as a copy so you don’t replace your original. Repeat these steps until you have all the pages for your book. Be sure to save the pages on a USB jump drive or CD.
For the final step in this project, I recommend going to your local FedEx Office for a personal consultation. The fantastic team members there walked me through my options for printing, binding and finishing to find the right look. I chose the tape binding for a soft and professional looking finish (check to make sure this is available at the FedEx Office location nearest you). Coil or even comb binding would work well too, as it is simply a matter of personal preference.
Voila! You have a beautiful and personalized coloring book.
Want to make them really last? Ask to have your book laminated and coil bound. Dry erase makers or grease pencils work perfectly for this option. Now the kiddos can color to their little hearts’ content, wipe and repeat!
Related FedEx Office Solutions: Binding, Lamination, Finishing Services
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