It could be because I’m a mom, or maybe I’m just a kid at heart, but I love coloring book pages. There’s something about sitting somewhere just mindlessly coloring pictures that is very relaxing and therapuetic to me. And I of course love receiving colored pages from my hubby and the kids. Since I love coloring, I thought I would give you a couple unique gift ideas using coloring pages.

To find coloring book pages you can try a site like Coloring Book Fun or find more specific coloring book pages by typing exactly what you’re looking for on Google’s Image search. Another fun thing you can do is make your own coloring pages by editing your digital photographs. I used Kodak’s Easy Share Software to make this one of my 8 month old daughter:

(This is her dad’s favorite picture of her trying to play Playstation with him!)

Now that you have some great ideas on where to find the coloring book pages, here are some fun ideas you can try:

1. Make a Personalized Coloring Book: This can be a great gift for a kid or an adult. You can use your photographs to make the coloring book or pick pictures that all fall under the same theme. For example, if the person you are dating likes Precious Moments figures, you could make one with those cute couple and friendship pictures. For a professional look, you can have it printed out and bound by Kinkos or punch holes in the pages and tie together with string or put in a 3 ring binder or folder. Don’t forget to attach some crayons or color pencils.

2. Frame the Pictures: Adding a frame around anything always makes it more special. Don’t forget to add a special message or your signature to the picture. To give them a little class you can always matte them to a different colored background picture. You can also use multiple smaller pictures and collage them together in one large frame.

3. Make Magnets: You can use smaller coloring book pictures and cut them out after you color them. You can use inexpensive contact paper or have them laminated to protect the picture. Attach a magnet to the back and you now have some adorable magnets you can use to hang up future coloring book pages on your fridge.

4. Send Your Pictures Via Mail: Use an 8×11 envelope and mail your colored pictures to someone at work or at home. Make the outside of the envelope look very professional and they will be really surpised! You could also hide the coloring book page in one of 55 places to leave love notes for them to discover.

5. Decorate a Blank Wall: What would your partner do if they came home and saw an entire wall of pages you colored for them? Or a border around a room? Make sure you use a sticky tack or other adhesive that won’t damage the walls when you take them down.

6. Decoupage: You can glue your colored pictures to just about anything. A piece of furniture, a keepsake box, a lampshade – the options are pretty much endless. For tips on how to decoupage, check out Wikihow.

7. Transfer them: If you’re technologically inclined, you can always scan the pictures to your computer and then print out onto iron on transfers to put on t-shirts, pillowcases, sheets, and any other kind of fabric covered material you can think of.

8. Make Memories Coloring Together: It’s always fun to color with another person or get the whole family involved. You can use a 3 ring binder and sheet protector sleeves to keep the pictures you color in a keepsake album to look back at and remember the fun you had coloring for years to come.

I bet you never thought there were so many things you could do with coloring book pages, did you? While I was writing this I tried searching online for different things you could do with coloring book pages to see if there were any ideas I missed. I had a hard time finding anything even remotely relevant so hopefully this will be a nice resource for all you craftsters out there

If you have any other unique ideas for coloring book pages, feel free to leave them in the comments below – I’d love to hear them!

(It is usually after ideas like these I can’t help but think of the Beastie Boy’s song “She’s Crafty”)

The first thing to do is to decide on a central theme. You can get just about all of your materials from a store like Wal-Mart or anywhere else that is easily accesible to you. Some of the items you may not even buy – which we love even more! Sample themes include sports, music, places you’ve been together, appreciation for a person, “survival kits”, cooking, movies, poetry, work-related, special memories, their favorite hobby, etc. etc.

Next, choose your “box”. The box can be any container – a jar, a teapot, a basket, a shoe box, cigar box, candy box, a safe, a soup can…whatever it is that is big enough to hold the objects you plan on giving the person. Be creative – you can decorate the box any way you’d like if it’s not right to give it “as-is” using paint or gluing stuff to it. (Be careful with too much glue though!)

Your third goal is to collect as much as you can that relates to your theme. Start saving “momentos” if you don’t already – reciepts, ticket stubs, napkins, pebbles from a place you visited, programs, take-out menus – mostly things you would normally consider to be trash. Another fun place to look for things are dollar stores – you can quickly find a plethora of little items that can have meaning that relate to your theme – and do it for less than $10 in most cases. Dollar stores are great for gadgets, household items, minature toys, novelty items and so much more.

All that’s left now is to assemble the gift. Usually you will want to include a handwritten note or card you print that kind of explains everything to the recipient. Most people would not be too thrilled to open a gift and see a gum wrapper for example. But if you explain the meaning of that gum wrapper, suddenly it transforms you into a thoughtful person. Alternatively, you can use little tags on each item, or string them together for more effect.

And that’s it! Voila! Instant “In-A-Box” gift ideas!

Just please don’t go Justin Timberlake’s route in this Saturday Night Live spoof… (Warning, this references mature content which may not be suitable for all audiences! If you are easily offended, do not click on this link!)