Adult Coloring Page Iron-On

Adult coloring is all the rage but until last week I hadn't taken the plunge to try it.  I thought, "oh, pish pash, I don't have time for that", but then, I got curious.  I mean, it couldn't hurt to try it, right?  

The urge hit me after I dropped my hubby and my two oldest sons off at the gym and my youngest son and I went to Michaels (yes, we always shop on these occasions!).  We walked in the door and there was a display filled with adult coloring books.  My interest peaked.  Then, I found a colorful display of Prismacolor pencils.  So. Many. Colors.  It was then I knew I had to give this a try so off I went to the register with my pencils.  When I got home that night, after feeding the sweaty hoard (my family after the gym) I chose a free coloring page (“Click here and select “free pages” to download your own free Prismacolor coloring pages!) and started coloring...and coloring and coloring.  
It took me three days to finish my coloring page but I started to look forward to coloring every night - it was so relaxing and it was a nice way to do something artsy and still be in the same room with my family while they watched TV and I played.

Once my page was done I realized I wanted to keep up with my new hobby but I needed something cute to carry my supplies in so I could take them on the go. I decided to make a tote bag and use my first coloring page to decorate it with.     

Iron-On Coloring Page Tote Bag

Supplies:

Plain canvas tote bag

Iron-on transfer paper

Scanner/printer

Iron

I started by scanning my coloring page and saving it as a .png file.  Once saved I opened the page in PicMonkey (you can use any editing program!) and edited it a bit.  

I bumped up the colors so they were a bit more vibrant, added the phrase, Live in COLOR, switched the image to a mirror image (this is important so that when you print it out it will be backwards but will be forward once you iron it on) and then printed it out on image transfer paper.I then ironed my coloring page on to the tote bag following the directions for the paper I was using.

Once my transfer was cool (it is so hard to wait this part out).....I peeled off the paper and voila - my bag was ready!

I put an eraser and sharpener into a small muslin bag - you'll need these - trust me!

I then put some more coloring pages on a clipboard and put everything in my tote bag.

I love that everything is in one place so that whether I'm at home....or on the go, I always have my coloring page supplies with me.

Have you tried this relaxing hobby yet?