DIY Activity Book for kids (or adults)

By PaperGiftsForEstefany

pixabay-kids-drawing

If you are looking for homemade gift ideas suitable for either children or adults, how about a custom made DIY activity book? Colouring pages for mom. Puzzles for Grandpa. Colouring, crafts and puzzles for the kids. Give your loved ones the gift of your own special creative touch; and one of the most valuable gifts of all… time.

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FREE PRINTABLE GIFT IDEAS

This is the first of a two-part series looking at free printable gift ideas. It started out as just one post, then got a bit too ‘eye-glazey’, so I’ve had to split it up. The rate I’m going, it may even make it into a three-part series. :o  Today we’re going to see how easy it is to make up our own DIY custom made activity book specifically tailored for your recipient filled with fun and free printables for them to enjoy. This gift idea is not just something fun for kids, but also a great idea for them to make and give to others. This would work well for birthdays, mothers’ day, fathers’ day, teacher appreciation, Christmas, just because, or any time of the year where you want to give a very special personalised paper gift. Even Grandpa might like a custom handmade DIY puzzle book especially chosen and handcrafted for him, especially if it’s made with love for him. How about a new trend of ‘Grandpa and Me’ Puzzle Book? It would also make a great boredom buster holiday activity. Children could make their own activity book, or make one for them to give away to family and friends.

Round out your custom handmade DIY gift package with some fun and free printable paper gifts: FREE Bible posters, FREE Bible bookmarks, or make a personalised Bible bookmark with your recipient’s name on it, FREE Bible wallet cards for your recipient to share around with family and friends, stickers you have made yourself. Optional extra gifts you may like to purchase to go with your package might include some new artistic supplies to inspire their creativity (e.g. colouring pencils, markers, watercolour paints, paint brushes, art or craft paper, glue, a pencil sharpener, a decorative storage box or folder that you have bought or handmade for them, etc). Okay, are you ready? Deep breath. Let’s get started…

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DIY Activity Book for Kids (or adults) custom made with choose your own colouring pages, puzzles, crafts, posters, bookmarks, stationery and other paper gifts; free printable

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MAKE YOUR OWN GIFTS ~ DIY ACTIVITY BOOK ~ FREE PRINTABLE

It’s as easy as these 4 steps. Then let’s have a look at each of these steps in greater detail…

  1. Choose your theme.
  2. Select what you want to go into your book.
  3. Print.
  4. Assemble.

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STEP ONE:  CHOOSE YOUR THEME

The first thing to ask yourself is:  What theme do I want? Do you want an activity book about one particular theme with different types of activities (e.g. colouring pages, puzzles, crafts)? Or just one type of activity (e.g. colouring pages)? Here’s some ideas to get your creative juices flowing…

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pixabay-book-frame

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STEP TWO:  SELECT WHAT YOU WANT TO GO INTO YOUR BOOK

Choose what you want to go into your activity book, by clicking on your theme (in the above section); and then pad it out with some free printables from your selected page. Here are some additional links you may like to check out to include in your package:

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STEP THREE:  PRINT

  1. Use plain paper for your colouring and puzzle pages. Take it one step further and create a custom made page border for your colouring and puzzle pages that your recipient will love (e.g. choose their favourite colour and a design they will like) to tie your theme all together. Check out this cool DIY Activity Book of Puzzles that I made for my dad to get you thinking. And you will also need to think about your margins and how they will go in your final presentation (i.e. how wide they will need to be).
  2. Use photo paper for posters, bookmarks, and maybe some of your craft pages, too. If you are going to all this trouble to make a custom made activity book for your loved ones, make sure it looks professional. You may also like to add a magnetic strip to things like posters, verse cards, or wallet cards so they can be hung on the fridge.

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pixabay-spiral-notebook

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STEP FOUR:  ASSEMBLE

As sponsors, this is what we do every time we make up a package for our children; so we’re already good up to here. Now, we just need to put it all together. There are several ways we can do this…

  1. COMB BINDING MACHINE:  If you are familiar with comb binding machines (e.g. that companies might use to present their custom made documents), this is probably your best option for a professional finish. Hole punch your activity pages and put them into a book, held together with a spiral binding comb (plastic or wire). For your back page cover, use a shimmering metallic piece of quality craft card in your recipient’s favourite colour. For your inside front page, a single piece of paper with your recipient’s name in large letters is fine (your page can be plain or decorated); and then protected by a piece of transparent plastic over the top (it’s called a ‘clear presentation binding cover‘) from your local stationery shop. Alternatively, you could use an additional piece of craft card that you used for the back cover. If you do not have your own comb binding machine, some companies (e.g. stationery shops, university bookshops, or perhaps libraries) may perform this task for you for a small fee. Simply present your book pages intact, front and back covers; make sure they are in the order that you want them; and they will do the rest.
  2. DIY FOLDER:  Make up a lapbook or file folder for your recipient. Or hole punch your pages and add them into your own (purchased or handmade) folder. Or insert your pages into plastic sleeves and then add them into your folder. Or if you are more adventurous, how about a harder and more durable cover like the one shown in the above picture? Simply cut a piece of harder craft paper (or cardboard) to size; cover it and decorate it in a way that will delight your recipient. Again, make sure you design a nice cover page with your recipient’s name on it to fit in the inside front cover. You might like to put your name on it, too (e.g. a special gift chosen for… (name)… with tons of love from… (your name).
  3. EXTRA FUN:  Things like posters and bookmarks can go into a special envelope pocket (e.g. inside the back cover). This can be made by cutting down an extra sheet of one of your front or back covers and adhering. Note: you will need to figure that out before your book binding or folder is completed.
  4. THAT’S A WRAP:  Gift wrap your masterpiece in a creative way that is sure to appeal to your recipient. And… that’s a wrap. Phew! I had fun… did you?! Let me know how you go.

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Tell them about Jesus!

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 2023

2 thoughts on “DIY Activity Book for kids (or adults)”

  1. Pingback: DIY Activity Book ~ Puzzles | Paper Gifts for Estefany

  2. Pingback: Gift Ideas… how about something free printable? | Paper Gifts for Estefany

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