What to Do with Finished Coloring Pages – 30+ Creative Ideas to Reuse, Display & Gift Your Art

You’ve just finished a gorgeous coloring page. The colors are layered perfectly, the details are crisp, and you feel that quiet satisfaction that only comes after a truly good session. And then… it sits in a pile. Or worse, it gets folded into a drawer and never seen again.

If you’re wondering what to do with finished coloring pages, you are absolutely not alone. Whether you color for stress relief, as a creative hobby, or as a family activity with kids, your finished artwork deserves far more than a dusty stack. Every completed page represents real time, effort, and creative expression — and there are dozens of ways to honor that.

This complete guide covers 30+ creative ways to use coloring pages after you’ve finished them, from simple framing ideas to advanced DIY projects, personalized gifts, seasonal decor, and even ways to build a meaningful art practice around your printables. We’ll also walk through exactly how to decorate coloring pages, turning them from simple printouts into professional-looking pieces, and share the best DIY printable coloring page crafts for every age and skill level.

Let’s make sure your artwork never goes to waste again.

Why Your Finished Coloring Pages Deserve a Second Life

Before we dive into the ideas, let’s talk about why this matters. Printable coloring pages — whether they’re intricate mandalas, whimsical floral designs, seasonal scenes, or motivational quote pages — are a form of art. You made creative decisions. You chose the colors, the blending style, and the shading depth. That’s nothing. That’s yours.

Beyond the personal value, reusing your finished pages is also:

Eco-conscious. Giving your printed artwork a functional or decorative second life reduces overall paper waste. If you’re someone who cares about how colorists can help our planet, transforming finished pages into lasting items is a natural extension of that mindset.

Budget-friendly. Handmade decor, gifts, and craft supplies from your own artwork cost next to nothing beyond what you’ve already spent.

Deeply satisfying. There’s something uniquely rewarding about completing a page and doing something meaningful with it. It closes the creative loop in a way that simply filing it away never does.

Now let’s get into the ideas—organized so you can find exactly what suits your style, space, and skill level.

Part One: How to Decorate Coloring Pages – Display Your Artwork at Home

1. Frame It as Wall Art

The most natural home for a beautiful coloring page is on your wall. This works especially well for detailed adult designs — think floral coloring pages, mandala pages, or intricate botanical scenes that genuinely look like fine art when framed.

Mount your finished page on cardstock or mat board, then place it in a simple frame. Neutral frames (black, white, or natural wood) work for almost any interior style. For a cottage feel or a more rustic space, distressed wooden frames add warmth.

Pro tip: If you want your framed page to look truly polished, consider mounting it with a white mat border — this elevates any artwork instantly and is how professional galleries display prints.

2. Build a Gallery Wall

One framed piece is lovely. A whole gallery wall is a statement. Collect five to ten finished pages that share a similar color palette or theme — perhaps all warm autumn tones, or all soft florals — and arrange them in matching frames for a cohesive, curated look.

This works especially well with seasonal coloring pages that you rotate throughout the year, or with a series of mandala coloring sheets in graduated colors. Gallery walls are also a beautiful way to display children’s artwork when they’ve completed several pages from a theme.

3. Create Seasonal Rotating Decor

One of the most popular creative ways to use coloring pages is to swap them out with the seasons. Frame a set of four pieces — spring florals, summer botanicals, autumn leaves, and winter snowscapes — and rotate them as the year changes.

This approach turns your coloring practice into an ongoing home decor habit. You always have a reason to pick up your pencils again, and your home always feels fresh and intentional. Explore spring coloring pages, autumn coloring pages for adults, summer coloring pages for kids, and printable winter coloring pages to start building your seasonal rotation.

4. Create Nursery or Children’s Room Art

Coloring pages make wonderfully affordable nursery art. Animals, unicorns, magical creatures, and nature scenes look charming in a child’s room — and unlike expensive prints, you can update them whenever your child’s tastes change.

Coloring pages with unicorns, magical creature designs, and fantasy coloring pages are all beautiful choices for nursery walls. Let your child help color them for an extra layer of meaning.

5. Mount Pages on Canvas Panels

For an even more gallery-ready look, use gel medium or Mod Podge to adhere your finished coloring page directly onto a stretched canvas panel. Trim the edges neatly, seal with a matte varnish, and you have a piece that genuinely looks like original canvas art.

This technique works especially well with neo-deco or art-deco coloring pages and detailed geometric designs that benefit from a clean, substantial presentation.

Part Two: How to Decorate Coloring Pages to Elevate Your Artwork

Before your finished pages can become the beautiful items described in this guide, it helps to know how to decorate coloring pages after the base coloring is done. These finishing touches can turn a simple printed design into something that genuinely impresses.

6. Add Shading and Depth

If you’re working with colored pencils, go back over your finished page with a second or third layer of color to deepen shadows and add dimension. Learn proper shading techniques for coloring — adding a darker tone to one side of every shape instantly makes your work look three-dimensional and professional.

7. Try Color Blending

Blending takes your coloring from flat to luminous. Use a colorless blender pencil, a cotton swab, or a blending stump to smooth transitions between colors. If you’re using markers, layer a lighter color over a wet, darker one while it’s still slightly tacky for a beautiful gradient effect. Our guide on color blending techniques walks through exactly how to achieve smooth, professional results with every medium.

8. Add Washi Tape Borders

Frame your coloring page — literally — with decorative washi tape. Choose a tape that complements your color palette and apply it around the edges of the page for an instant, charming border. This works beautifully for greeting cards, scrapbook pages, and display pieces alike.

9. Embellish with Glitter, Gems, or Embossing

For pages intended as gifts or keepsakes, add dimensional embellishments. Clear glitter glue applied over watercolor backgrounds adds sparkle without overwhelming the design. Small adhesive gems at focal points (flower centers, mandala rings, butterfly wings) add texture and elegance. Heat embossing powder applied over clear embossing ink creates a raised, professional finish on any detail.

10. Use Metallic Ink or Gel Pens for Details

Once your base coloring is complete, go back in with a gold, silver, or copper gel pen to outline focal elements or add fine details. This works especially beautifully on mandala coloring pages — a thin gold outline along the outermost ring transforms the entire piece. Our coloring tools guide can help you choose the right pens and supplies for this kind of detail work.

11. Mount on Textured Backing Paper

Before framing, glue your coloring page to a piece of decorative or textured cardstock that’s slightly larger than your coloring page. This creates a layered mat effect without needing an actual frame mat — and the texture of the backing paper adds visual interest that elevates the whole piece.

Part Three: DIY Printable Coloring Page Crafts for Gifts

Your finished coloring pages make genuinely thoughtful, personal gifts — and most of these DIY printable coloring page crafts cost very little to make.

12. Handmade Greeting Cards

This is one of the most popular and versatile ways to use finished coloring pages. Cut your page down to a panel, fold cardstock to the right size, and adhere your colored panel to the front. Add a handwritten message inside, and you have a card that’s infinitely more personal than anything from a shop.

For birthdays and holidays, this works beautifully. For Valentine’s Day specifically, check out these ideas: DIY personalized Valentine’s Day cards and our complete guide on printable greeting cards. And for winter occasions, DIY winter greeting cards made from your finished coloring pages are a warm and creative choice.

13. Laminated Bookmarks

Cut your coloring page into long, narrow vertical strips — about 2 inches wide and 7 inches tall. Run them through a laminator, punch a hole at the top, and thread them through a ribbon or a tassel. These make lovely, thoughtful teacher gifts, stocking stuffers, or book club favors.

Choose sections of your coloring page that have particularly satisfying details or color combinations. A strip from a detailed floral coloring page or a section of a garden mandala makes an especially beautiful bookmark.

14. DIY Laminated Placemats

Full-page coloring pages laminated and used as placemats are a brilliant solution for children’s tables, holiday gatherings, or themed parties. They’re wipeable, reusable, and endlessly charming.

For a complete step-by-step tutorial on exactly how to do this, including the best laminating methods and sizing tips, see our DIY coloring placemats guide. For Thanksgiving specifically, Thanksgiving coloring activities include placemat ideas that make the holiday table feel festive and personal.

15. Personalized Gift Wrap

Large finished coloring pages — especially ones with all-over patterns or botanical designs — make surprisingly beautiful gift wrap for small to medium gifts. Fold and tape as you would regular wrapping paper, then add twine, raffia, or a ribbon for a finished look.

This is particularly lovely during the holiday season and eliminates the need for purchased wrapping paper entirely. Pair it with a handwritten tag cut from another coloring page scrap for a completely coordinated, zero-waste gift presentation.

16. Handmade Gift Tags

Cut small rectangles, ovals, or tag shapes from the most detailed sections of your finished coloring pages. Punch a hole, thread with a string, and write your gift message on the back. These are far more beautiful than any store-bought tag, and the recipient often keeps them long after the gift is unwrapped.

17. Envelope Liners

Cut your coloring page to fit inside an envelope — just slightly smaller than the envelope interior — and glue it in place before folding. When the envelope is opened, the recipient is greeted by your artwork. This is an especially charming detail for handwritten letters, party invitations, or thank-you notes.

18. Custom Notebook Covers

Adhere your finished coloring page to the cover of a plain composition notebook or sketchbook using Mod Podge. Apply two or three sealing coats over the top for durability. The result is a personalized, beautiful journal or notebook cover that’s completely one-of-a-kind.

This makes a wonderful gift for a friend who journals, a student heading back to school, or anyone who appreciates handmade touches. Combine it with our ideas for creative journaling and coloring for well-being to make the notebook feel like a true self-care package.

Part Four: Creative Ways to Use Coloring  Pages Craft Ideas for Kids and Adults

The best coloring pages and craft ideas for kids and adults are those accessible at multiple skill levels — simple enough for younger children to enjoy, yet satisfying enough for adults to find meaningful. Here’s a whole section devoted to exactly that.

19. Scrapbook Elements and Memory Pages

Cut out individual motifs from your finished coloring pages — a single flower, a butterfly, a decorative border, a mandala circle — and use them as embellishments in scrapbooks, memory books, or journaling pages.

This is a wonderful activity for kids who love cutting and pasting, and for adults who maintain a creative journal or use art therapy and journaling for well-being. The hand-colored elements add warmth and a personal touch that no purchased sticker could.

20. Wall Bunting and Paper Garlands

Cut your finished coloring pages into triangles, pennants, circles, or banner shapes, and string them onto twine or ribbon for festive garland. These are wonderful for birthday parties, classroom displays, baby showers, and seasonal celebrations.

Holiday coloring pages are particularly fun for this — imagine a string of hand-colored Christmas ornaments, Valentine’s hearts, or Halloween shapes strung across a mantelpiece or window.

21. Halloween Crafts

Halloween offers so many opportunities for DIY printable coloring page crafts. Finished Halloween pages can be used as window decorations, spooky garlands, treat bag embellishments, or party placemats. Our Halloween coloring guide for parents and kids, along with last-minute Halloween printable crafts, is packed with ideas to turn your finished pages into seasonal magic.

22. Thanksgiving Table Games and Decor

Coloring pages are a particularly creative resource at Thanksgiving. Use finished pages as placemats, or — before they’re colored — as a creative table activity for kids during the meal. Once finished, those same pages can become a garland or wall art for the day.

For inspiration, see 5 creative ways to use coloring pages for Thanksgiving games, which include fun activity ideas that double as decor.

23. Valentine’s Day Cards and Decorating Activities

Valentine’s Day is one of the best occasions for coloring page crafts, especially for kids and teens. Finished pages can become cards, window decorations, gift wrap, and more. For decorating techniques and ideas, see 10 creative ways kids and teens can decorate printable Valentine’s Day cards — it’s full of accessible, fun techniques suited to every age.

24. Vision Board Elements

Cut out meaningful elements from your finished motivational quote coloring pages and incorporate them into a vision board. The act of having colored those affirmations yourself makes them feel even more personal and powerful when you display them as daily inspiration.

25. Puzzle Making

Print a design twice — once colored and once blank for reference — and glue the colored version to a thick piece of cardboard or foam board. Once dry, use a craft knife or scissors to cut it into irregular puzzle pieces. This makes a delightful, personalized puzzle for kids to reassemble and is a surprisingly engaging craft for rainy days.

26. Art for Bulletin Boards and Classroom Displays

For teachers, parents, and homeschoolers, finished coloring pages make vibrant, affordable classroom art. Cultural competence coloring pages for kids are particularly wonderful for classroom bulletin boards — the hand-colored artwork sparks conversation and celebrates creativity.

27. DIY Clipboard Inserts

Slide your finished coloring page under the clip of a clear-backed clipboard for a charming, personalized desk accessory. Swap it out with a new page whenever you want a refresh. This is a simple but satisfying way to display your artwork every single day.

Part Five: How to Decorate Coloring Pages – Advanced Projects for Teens and Adults

Once you’re confident with the basics, these more elevated projects take your DIY printable coloring page crafts to the next level.

28. Build a Seasonal Art Portfolio

Instead of letting pages accumulate randomly, organize your finished work into a seasonal portfolio — a dedicated binder or art folder divided by spring, summer, autumn, and winter. As your skills grow, you’ll have a beautiful record of your development as a colorist. Pair this with a seasonal art calendar to give your creative practice intention and rhythm throughout the year.

29. Create an Art Calendar

Print twelve of your best finished pieces and compile them into a hand-assembled art calendar — one per month. Bind the pages with binder rings and hang them as a wall calendar. This is a genuinely impressive handmade gift that people treasure far more than a purchased calendar.

30. Explore Color Theory Through Your Finished Work

Use your finished pages as a practical study in color theory basics. Look at what worked — which combinations feel harmonious, which feel electric, which feel too discordant. Understanding why certain pages feel satisfying helps you make better color choices in future sessions. This reflective practice is one of the most underrated ways to grow as a creative.

31. Create a Personalized Coloring Book From Your Designs

If you have a collection of finished pages you love, consider curating your best work into a personalized coloring book format — assembled, printed, and bound. This can be a beautiful keepsake, a gift for a fellow coloring enthusiast, or a portfolio of your best creative work over the years.

32. Collage Art

Cut finished pages into geometric shapes, strips, or abstract forms and assemble them into collage compositions. Layering pieces from a fashion coloring page, a floral design, and a mandala into a single mixed-media collage creates something entirely new and completely your own.

33. Art Journaling Spreads

If you keep an art journal, your finished coloring pages are a treasure trove of material. Cut out elements and collage them onto your journal pages. Use a colored section as a painted background, and journal over it. Tear the edges for a rougher, more organic look. For more on integrating coloring into a journaling practice, see our guide on art therapy: journaling and coloring for wellbeing.

Making the Most of Your Coloring Practice

Thinking intentionally about what you’ll do with finished pages actually changes how you approach the coloring session itself. You might choose colors that match your living room palette if you’re planning to frame it. You might take extra care with shading and detail if you’re planning to give it as a gift.

This intentionality deepens your practice. And if you’re looking to develop the skills that make your finished pages worth displaying and sharing, there are some excellent resources to explore:

• Coloring techniques for beginners and advanced artists — covering everything from basic layering to advanced blending
• Best coloring tools for adults — a complete materials guide to pencils, markers, and supplies
• Shading and texture techniques — for adding depth and dimension to every page
• Mandala coloring techniques — specialized tips for intricate mandala designs
• Mindful coloring for stress relief — on building a sustainable, nourishing coloring practice

When your technique grows, your finished pages naturally become more display-worthy — and the ideas in this guide become even more rewarding to pursue.

Where to Find Your Next Coloring Pages

Ready to fill your creative queue with pages worth keeping and displaying? Here are some excellent starting points:

• Free printable coloring pages — a broad collection to explore across multiple themes
• Coloring pages for adults — detailed designs for stress relief and creative expression
• Coloring pages for kids — age-appropriate designs that develop skills and spark joy
• Free coloring printables guide — the best free resources for kids and adults

And if you’d like to explore specific themes that make particularly beautiful finished pieces for display or gifting:

• Floral coloring pages
• Mandala coloring pages
• Fantasy and cottage coloring pages
• Motivational quote coloring pages
• Valentine’s Day coloring pages

Frequently Asked Questions about What to Do with Finished Coloring Pages

Q1: What is the best thing to do with finished coloring pages?
A: The best option depends on the page and your goals. For detailed, high-quality pages, framing or mounting on canvas gives the most impressive result. For simpler pages or cut sections, greeting cards, bookmarks, and gift wrap are quick, satisfying projects. For ongoing creative use, scrapbooking and art journaling give your pages the longest creative life.

Q2: How do I make my finished coloring pages look more professional before displaying them?
A: Focus on shading, blending, and finishing details. Go back over your work with a second layer of color to deepen shadows, use a blending technique to smooth color transitions, and add metallic gel pen accents to focal points. Mount on cardstock before framing and use a mat board for a polished, gallery-ready result. Our guide on color blending techniques is an excellent place to start.

Q3: Are these coloring page craft ideas suitable for kids?
A: Absolutely — many of the ideas in this guide are ideal for children. Bookmarks, scrapbook elements, gift wrap, garlands, and greeting cards are all simple enough for kids to do with minimal supervision. Coloring pages are one of the best creative activities for kids, and giving their finished work a purpose makes the experience even more rewarding.

Q4: What paper is best for coloring pages I plan to use in crafts?
A: For pages destined for laminating or heavy use (placemats, bookmarks), print on standard 80–100 gsm paper and laminate to add durability. For pages you plan to frame or display, printing on 120–200 gsm cardstock gives a heavier, more substantial feel that holds up to colored pencils and markers beautifully. For mixed media and embellishment work, watercolor-compatible cardstock is worth the investment.

Q5: How do I organize my finished coloring pages so they don’t just pile up?
A: Use a dedicated portfolio folder with clear sleeves — one page per sleeve — organized by theme, season, or date. Building a seasonal art calendar practice around your coloring gives each page a destination before you finish it. This forward-planning approach is one of the most effective ways to ensure your finished work is genuinely used and appreciated.

Q6: Can I use coloring pages as holiday gifts?
A: Yes, and they make wonderful ones. Framed coloring pages, personalized greeting cards made from your artwork, hand-assembled art calendars, and custom notebook covers are all thoughtful, handmade gifts that recipients genuinely treasure. For holiday-specific inspiration, explore our mindful gift ideas for the holidays.

Final Thoughts

Your finished coloring pages are not the end of something — they’re the beginning of something else. Every completed page is a versatile creative material that can become wall art, a heartfelt gift, a functional household item, a keepsake, or a building block for a larger creative project.

The key is to start thinking about what to do with finished coloring pages before you finish them. Plan a destination for each page as you color it. Does this one feel like it belongs in a frame? Is this pattern perfect for gift wrap? Would this mandala make a beautiful laminated bookmark?

When you color with purpose — knowing your work will be seen, used, and appreciated — the whole experience of coloring becomes richer. You slow down, you pay more attention to the craft, and the finished result reflects that care.

So pick up your pencils, choose a design that excites you, and color it knowing it’s going somewhere good. Your creative practice deserves that intentionality — and so does your finished art.

FAQ

Q1: What to do with finished coloring pages after I complete them?
A: There are many creative options when deciding what to do with finished coloring pages. You can frame them as wall art, turn them into handmade greeting cards, create bookmarks, laminate them as placemats, or use them for seasonal home decor. Finished coloring pages can also become scrapbook elements, journal inserts, gift wrap, or even a personalized art calendar.

Q2: How to decorate coloring pages to make them look more professional?
A: If you’re wondering how to decorate coloring pages for a polished finish, start by adding shading and layered color for depth. Use blending techniques to smooth transitions, outline details with metallic gel pens, and mount your finished coloring pages on cardstock before framing. Adding washi tape borders, embossing, or light embellishments can also elevate your artwork.

Q3: What are some creative ways to use coloring pages for gifts?
A: Some of the best creative ways to use coloring pages include making personalized greeting cards, custom notebook covers, laminated bookmarks, handmade gift tags, and decorative envelope liners. Finished coloring pages make thoughtful, low-cost handmade gifts that feel meaningful and unique.

Q4: Can finished coloring pages be used for home decor?
A: Yes, finished coloring pages work beautifully as affordable home decor. Frame them individually, create a gallery wall, mount them on canvas panels, or rotate them seasonally. Many people use creative ways to use coloring pages to refresh nursery art, office spaces, or holiday displays.

Q5: Are there creative ways to use coloring pages for kids’ crafts?
A: Absolutely. Creative ways to use coloring pages for kids include making garlands, scrapbook pages, puzzle crafts, classroom bulletin board art, placemats, and party decorations. Finished coloring pages give children a sense of pride when their artwork is displayed or transformed into something functional.

Q6: How do I organize finished coloring pages so they don’t pile up?
A: The best way to manage finished coloring pages is to use a portfolio binder with clear sleeves, organize them by theme or season, and decide in advance what to do with finished coloring pages before you start coloring. Planning their purpose — whether for display, gifts, or crafts — keeps your artwork meaningful and clutter-free.