Create a Dream-Inspired Comic!
Draw and write a short dream inspired comic strip using panels, characters, speech bubbles, and colors to tell a simple story.
Step-by-step guide to create a dream-inspired comic strip
Canva for Kids! đĽ Make Your Own Comic Book in Minutes!
Step 1
Close your eyes and imagine a fun or strange dream for one minute.
Step 2
Write one short sentence that sums up your dream story at the top of your paper.
Step 3
Use your pencil to divide the paper into four panels by drawing three light lines.
Step 4
Sketch your main character in the first panel using simple shapes.
Step 5
Draw any other characters you need in the next panels.
Step 6
Draw simple action lines or symbols to show what is happening in each panel.
Step 7
Draw speech bubbles or thought bubbles near the characters where you want them to speak.
Step 8
Write short words or sentences inside each bubble to tell your story.
Step 9
Trace important lines with a black marker or darken them with your pencil so they stand out.
Step 10
Color your comic and add small details like stars clouds or patterns to make it lively.
Step 11
Ask an adult to help you post or upload a photo or scan of your finished comic and share it on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use instead of a black marker, colored pencils, or regular paper if those are hard to find?
If you don't have a black marker use a dark pen, crayon, or thin paintbrush to trace important lines, color with watercolors or magazine cutouts, and use printer paper or cereal-box cardboard for the page while still writing your one-sentence dream at the top.
What should we do if the four panels or our character drawings look messy or the lines smudge?
Draw the three light dividing lines with a ruler in pencil and sketch the main character first using simple shapes as instructed in the first panel, then erase mistakes and only trace or darken final important lines with marker so smudges are minimized.
How can this activity be changed for much younger kids or for older kids who want more challenge?
For preschoolers, simplify to two big panels and use stickers or big crayons to make the main character in the first panel, while older kids can add more panels, detailed dialogue in bubbles, and complex backgrounds before tracing and coloring.
What are some fun ways to extend or personalize the comic after coloring and adding small details like stars or clouds?
Make a longer story by adding extra panels or stapling several pages into a book, include bold sound-effect words in bubbles, photograph each panel to create a simple stop-motion animation, and then ask an adult to help upload the finished comic to DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to create a dream-inspired comic strip
5 Tips For Making Comics
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5 Tips For Making Comics
How to make Comics/Webcomics from script to publish! | My comic creation process
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How to Make Your Own Comic | Toontorial | @cartoonnetworkuk
Facts about comics and storytelling for kids
đźď¸ Comics use sequential artâpanels placed in orderâto tell a story visually without long paragraphs.
đ´ People usually have several dreams each night, adding up to about 1â2 hours of dreaming every night.
đŹ Speech balloons have been used in illustrated stories and political cartoons for centuries to show dialogue and thoughts.
đ§ Surrealist artists (like Salvador DalĂ) often painted dreamlike scenes that are great inspiration for comics.
đ¨ Warm colors (reds, oranges, yellows) feel energetic while cool colors (blues, greens) make a scene feel calmâuse them to set your comic's mood.
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