Christmas Color by Number

What is on these pages

Eight festive subjects in a calm mosaic style: a decorated tree with gifts, a patterned ornament, a green wreath with berries and a bow, an eight-point star, a lit candle with holly, a wrapped gift, a poinsettia and a snowy cabin at night. The palettes stay soft and warm, with deep greens, berry reds, gold and cream.

How color by number works

Each cell holds a number. Find the number in the legend at the bottom of the page, pick a pencil or marker that matches the swatch name, and fill every cell with that number. Work one color at a time, from light to dark, so you do not smudge the lighter areas. The picture appears slowly as the cells fill in. Each page comes with an answer key in full color, so you can check a cell or see the finished picture before you start.

Holiday ideas

Print a few pages for a quiet evening in December, or color one and frame it as a small decoration. Pages printed on cardstock can be folded into greeting cards after coloring. For gold and silver areas, a metallic pencil or gel pen adds a little shine.

Printing tips

Download the PDF in US Letter or A4 and print at 100 percent (actual size), not "fit to page", so the numbers stay crisp. Smooth paper of 90 to 120 gsm (24 to 32 lb) takes colored pencils well. For markers, heavier paper or cardstock stops bleed-through. Keep a spare copy of the line sheet if you want to try a second palette.