How to Print and Bind Your Own Coloring Book

Making a homemade colouring book is a practical way to turn digital artwork into a personalised activity for children. With free printable pages, a home printer and a few inexpensive supplies, you can create a small book for rainy afternoons, classroom work or long car trips. Learn more about About.

Present Contemporary Art offers printable designs across animals, nature, sport, holidays, cartoons and seasonal themes. The pages can be downloaded without registration, so families and teachers can choose a selection that suits a child’s age and interests.

For Australian homes, A4 paper is the easiest choice because it is widely available at Officeworks, Kmart, supermarkets and newsagents. A standard inkjet printer can handle most pages, while a local print shop may be useful when you need several copies or stronger paper.

A bound colouring book also makes a thoughtful birthday gift, holiday activity or quiet-time resource. You can keep the design simple with folded pages and staples, or create a more durable booklet with a hole punch, ribbon or plastic binding comb.

Choose Pages And Plan The Book

Start by selecting a clear theme, such as Australian animals, ocean life, dinosaurs, football, Christmas or summer holidays. A focused subject gives the book a consistent feel, while a mixed collection works well for younger children who enjoy changing topics.

Download the images and place them in the order you want before printing. Include a title page, then arrange easier pictures near the front and more detailed illustrations towards the back. For additional creative activity ideas, browse this creative resource while planning games or writing prompts to accompany the colouring pages.

Check every file at print preview stage. Look for unwanted cropping, blank pages and images that are too close to the edge. If a page contains a large illustration, select “fit to page” rather than allowing the printer to enlarge it beyond the printable area.

Prepare Paper And Printer Settings

A4 copy paper between 80 and 100 gsm is suitable for most children’s colouring books. For markers, choose paper around 120 gsm or place a spare sheet behind each page to reduce ink transfer. Cardstock is useful for the cover, although very thick sheets may not feed smoothly through a home printer.

Set the printer to black and white when you want a traditional outline book, or use colour for themed covers and activity pages. Select the correct paper type in the printer menu, and print one test sheet first. This prevents a full stack of pages being produced with the wrong margins or orientation.

Useful supplies for an Australian home project include:

• A4 paper and one sheet of cover cardstock
• Printer, spare ink and a paper trimmer
• Ruler, pencil, scissors and glue
• Stapler, hole punch or bookbinding thread

Keep the pages in a clean, dry place while the ink sets. In warmer areas such as Brisbane or Darwin, humidity can make freshly printed sheets curl, so allow extra drying time before stacking them.

Compare Simple Binding Methods

The best binding method depends on the number of pages, the tools available and how often the book will be handled. A short booklet is quick to assemble, while a thicker book needs a spine that can open more comfortably.

Binding method	Best for	Equipment	Durability
Two or three staples	Small books of up to 20 sheets	Long-arm or standard stapler	Good for occasional use
Fold and glue	Thin activity booklets	Glue, clips and a flat surface	Moderate
Hole punch and ribbon	Decorative home projects	Punch, ribbon or yarn	Good and easy to repair
Comb binding	Classroom or repeated use	Comb machine and plastic comb	Very good
Sewing through the fold	Handmade gifts	Needle, thread and awl	Very good

For a professional-looking classroom copy, comb binding is convenient because pages can be added or removed. Officeworks and independent stationery shops commonly offer binding services, which can be useful when producing several books for a Melbourne playgroup or a school holiday programme.

For a small family project, stapling is usually enough. Place the pages in order, fold the stack carefully and press the crease with a ruler. If the booklet is too thick for a standard stapler, divide it into two smaller signatures rather than forcing the pages together.

Make The Cover Practical

A cover should be slightly stronger than the inside pages and easy to identify. Add the child’s name, the theme and a simple border. A coloured title such as “My Australian Animals” can make the finished book feel personal without using too much ink.

Consider adding a blank ownership page inside the front cover. Children can draw a self-portrait, write their favourite animal or record the date the book was made. For a group activity, leave space for the class name or the name of a childcare centre.

A transparent book cover or self-adhesive film can protect the front from grubby hands. Avoid laminating individual colouring pages if children need to use pencils, as the smooth surface may resist some media. Laminate only the cover when a hard-wearing finish is needed.

Add Activities Beyond Colouring

A well-designed colouring book can include simple tasks between illustrations. Add tracing lines, matching exercises, counting prompts or a page where children invent a story about the picture. These extras are especially useful during Australian school holidays when families want screen-free activities.

You can also tailor pages to local interests: native birds for a nature walk near Sydney, reef creatures for a Queensland theme, or gum leaves and koalas for an early-learning project. Avoid overcrowding the page, leaving enough white space for large crayons and beginner pencil control.

Small additions that improve the finished book include:

• A contents page for longer collections
• A “this book belongs to” page
• A few blank drawing pages
• A final certificate or colouring challenge

Assemble And Store The Finished Book

Before binding, tap the stack on a flat surface so the edges align. Place the cover and back sheet in the correct position, then secure the chosen binding. Test the first and last pages by opening the book fully; if the paper pulls or tears, loosen the binding or use a wider margin.

Store completed books flat in a drawer, document wallet or sturdy basket. Keep them away from direct sunlight, spilled drinks and damp areas, particularly in beachside homes where salt air can affect paper and metal staples. A labelled storage box makes it easy to rotate seasonal designs for Easter, winter, Christmas or summer.

The result is inexpensive, reusable and easy to customise. With carefully chosen illustrations, suitable Australian paper and a binding method matched to the book’s size, a stack of loose printouts becomes a durable creative resource for home or classroom use.