Let's Draw Funny Faces: a little book

If you sat next to me in high school, or college, at the dmv or anytime when I was on the phone - you probably know I like to doodle silly faces.

They were like legos for me. I'd start with eyes, and then figure out where a nose would fit. Then you'd begin to see a personality, so I'd draw a mouth to match. The features would define the facial structure, so building the cheeks and chin around them was a natural next step. This was a lot of fun for me, addictive and endless. I never knew what the faces would look like when I started, and there were never two alike. 

I've been wanting to make a little book like this for a long time, ever since I woke up in the middle of the night with the memory of that funny cartoon book from the 80's with different eyes, noses and hairstyles, that you trace to make a million different characters? Remember that? I forgot the title. 

Anyway, after making L's drawing book, I was on a roll. I made this book in an afternoon. It's by no means exhaustive, but a handy little reference, let's say. It's not necessarily meant for kids like the last one, it has more words and more complex shapes. Mostly, this was just fun to make, and I hope it will be fun to draw from!

Like the other drawing book, it only includes minimal space for drawing, so it's best if paired with a blank book. Download your copy here, available until July 25th. The book is available in the shop. See my tips for making books in the previous post.

What do you doodle?

Make a book

Since I make several printable coloring books, and hope to do more, I thought I'd show you how I put them together. It's super easy.

First, you need to print the pages front and back. This is easy/hard depending on how familiar you are with your printer, or how awesome your library is. I've got connections at the library, so no big.

You have several options for assembling the books:

1. Our library has a long arm stapler which I use to put two staples along the center fold - make sure the spiky points are on the inside of the book.

2. A regular stapler won't reach the center fold. (Is there a size between regular and long arm? I don't know.)  You can fold the book closed, and put two staples along the folded edge, very close to the edge. I don't like this as much because you lose space on the inside, and it just doesn't fold as nicely. But if you crease your fold nicely after stapling, it works out okay.

3. My favorite method is to sew the spine. I use regular sewing thread, set my stitch length to 5 and just sew straight down the fold. Okay, sometimes I sew a little wiggly - but I'm not a perfectionist, people. I don't back stitch on the ends because that puts too many holes in the paper.

Trim the threads and add a dab of elmer's glue on each end to keep the thread from unraveling. Ta da! You can only do this through 5 or 6 sheets of paper, much more will break your needle so use a stapler!

I make blank books this way often to throw in my bag for the kids or to use when I'm out of sketchbooks. I use a different color thread for each kid - which helps tell them apart, but also just makes them seem a little more exciting.

I originally learned the sewing method here, where she makes really lovely journals using fancy papers.

Let's Draw!: a book for kids

I like to draw. I doodle all the time. I just jump in and do it.

But when L wants to draw, she's afraid to try. "I'll mess it up! It won't look right."

I worry this is my fault. Because she sees how quickly and easily I draw something and it looks like the thing (not to say it's an amazing drawing, just, you know - a horse with four legs and a head). I don't want her to be so afraid that it won't look right that she doesn't try.

Because honestly, drawings that don't look right, can still be full of so many good things that are so easily lost when you are pursuing a correct drawing.

Top: Mommy and Daddy 
kissing at their wedding
Bottom: Untitled

Because art is about so much more that representation. It's about play and process, looking and seeing and interacting, taking risks, moving things with your hands. It's a way of learning and engaging the world.

So what can you do?

I don't know if this is the right way to approach this only-sort-of-important-(but-really-maybe-very-important) matter of creativity to my kids. I was an art major, but I skipped all the art for children classes, so seriously - I don't know how to teach. But here's what I'm doing:

I made L a little art book with few words, and step by step pictures of how to draw basic things: a house, a dog, a bird, a girl, a giraffe, etc. I tried to keep the drawings simple and not at all fancy. I am hoping she'll see that simple shapes go together to make pictures, and that if she can draw these simple shapes (and she can), she can draw anything.

Of course, I also don't want her to think this is the "right way to draw a dog" and just copy it over and over. But I hope - hope - instead it will give her the confidence to put shapes together and make up her own pictures.

The book is more of a reference than a coloring book, so I also made her a blank book to go with it. I showed her how to follow the steps first, but then she did most of these drawings by herself while I chased her sister around the room. She added stairs to her house (so you can get from the door to the window), and connected the sidewalk to the road. She really took it as a prompt, and then didn't worry that it looked a little different from the book, which made me really proud (relieved). So far, I'd say it's going pretty well.

So tell me, (seriously, tell me!) are your kids afraid to draw?
How do you encourage pressure-free creativity?
Check out my book Let's Draw, and tell me if your kids like it.
(It'll be here until July 25th before moving to the shop, so get it now!)
You can find this book in the shop.
Stay tuned for a post on how I assemble my books. I appreciate your comments!

I've started sketching a few more drawing books to come over the next few weeks. Some animals, dinosaurs, and silly faces. Let me know if you have any requests!

Printable Coloring Cards

"Hello" says the bull frog.
"Psst" whispers the squirrel, eager to tell his secret.
The bashful skunk beams with love.
A plucky duck shouts you "Hi!"

Four sweet animal cards for you to download and print, then fold the card in half, and color. (Update: Cards have been updated and can now be found in my shop.) Write notes on the inside and they are ready to be mailed to your grandma, teacher, uncle, and best friend.   I made these a long time ago, and I'm only just now getting around to sharing them.  I wanted to get the kids involved in sending thank you's and other letters.  Maybe I'll get around to do that soon, too.  :)

Weather Coloring Zine

Ever since I made L a little book last fall to learn the Lord's Prayer, I wanted to make more on all kinds of subjects.  They are so quick and fun to make, and she gets such a kick out of having her own little book.  I made a list of at least 10 books I want to make, things I want her to learn.  They emphasize coloring and letter recognition, but also each will teach her about a new subject and how to recognize it every day.

This little one is about the weather, with cheesy little smiley faces.  She colored each page and we talked about how the weather changes.  This isn't really a new subject, but I wanted her to start paying attention to what the weather is like each day so she'll understand when it's too cold to go out, or why we need to wear rain boots, etc.  The last page has a blank sky and tree so they can draw what they see right now. 

I try not to be too pushy about her color choices, which is hard for me sometimes.  Nevertheless, I thought it was funny that she colored the snow green.  These are so easy to make, I made her a couple of copies, plus one for J (who isn't much into coloring) and another for me. 

I'll be adding these as I make them, and you can find them all by searching the "printables" tag.  You can download this one here.  It's just one black and white page and you can read instructions on how to fold the paper here.

Phonics Coloring Book

I've been working on a Phonics Coloring Book to help L learn her letters. We're doing a little home pre-schooling, and I thought this would be fun. L loves all the school activities, as long as it's a little laid back. She's only 3 after all.

The printable version of the coloring book is now in the shop.  It includes a small book that you can print on regular letter paper with an opening for each letter of the alphabet.  Each letter has a picture to color and space for little ones to practice writing their letters.  In addition to the book, it also includes instructions for printing and assembling the book, and a full size coloring page for each letter, assembled as 2 easily printed pdfs.  I drew pictures of animals and objects that my 3 year old would easily know to help her recognize the sounds and associate them with the letter.  Also, I was careful to make the letters in fonts that actually look like the way you write letters, without all the extra flourishes, which can be confusing. 

I'm giving away coloring pages for the letters L-O-V-E and a composite page, which would make a cute valentine coloring page. Download here or buy the entire printable book here. Share the love!

Little Coloring Book Lessons

I made this little coloring book for L to help her learn the Lord's Prayer as part of our home/pre-school.  I saw the idea somewhere else, but thought the graphics were little cheesy, so I just made my own.  I also used all capital letters, because she doesn't recognize lower case letters yet.  She loved it, and is really proud of her little book.  I may have to do this with all of our bible lessons!  I'm getting excited imagining a whole library of tiny little coloring books made by L. 

It's a single page that you color, then fold and cut into a little book.   Download the page here.  You can find directions for folding this kind of zine on ehow.

Nature Walk Coloring Book

Eek! My first drawing project in quite some time. I've really enjoyed playing around and making these little drawings. This is a collection of 18 line drawings of things you might find on a nature walk like caterpillars, acorns, rainbows, and fireflies; each with a little fact. I've put it together into a 24 page coloring book, that measures 6.5 x 5.5" It is printed on 100% recycled paper, except for the cover, which is 80 or 30% - I already forgot! I thought this would be a fun project for me to make, and a nice stocking stuffer for all the kids we're related to.

I'll be putting a few books in the shop, and also a printable coloring book which includes the pages of coloring book, along with instructions for assembly, as well as 18 full page coloring sheets, which would be great for class settings.

I'm thinking of making a larger size book, if there is any interest. It may be around soon. But not in any rush, since this is the first of two in the No New Projects Project. :)