Show us your drawing book!
Make your own drawing book by folding and stapling paper, designing a decorated cover, then filling pages with themed sketches and drawing prompts.
About this activity
Make your own drawing book by folding and stapling paper, designing a decorated cover, then filling pages with themed sketches and drawing prompts.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Gather all your materials and ask an adult to stay nearby to help with the stapler.
- 2
Step 2
Pick 6 to 12 sheets of plain paper and stack them neatly so the edges line up.
- 3
Step 3
Place one piece of cardstock on top for the cover and one on the bottom for the back.
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Step 4
Fold the whole stack in half along the short side to make a book shape and hold the edges together.
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Step 5
Run your finger or a ruler along the folded edge to make a crisp crease.
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Step 6
With an adult helping, staple two staples along the folded spine about an inch from each end.
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Step 7
Trim any uneven edges with scissors so all the pages line up smoothly.
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Step 8
On the front cover, lightly sketch a big title and your book theme with a pencil.
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Step 9
Color and decorate the cover with colouring materials and stickers to make it pop.
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Step 10
On the first inside page write a list of drawing prompts or a table of contents for each page.
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Step 11
On each page write its prompt at the top and then draw a themed sketch below the prompt.
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Step 12
Take a photo of your finished drawing book and share your creation on DIY.org
Fun facts
How do I make a simple drawing book at home?
To make a simple drawing book, stack 6–12 sheets of plain paper and fold them in half to create a booklet. Fold a heavier sheet for the cover and decorate it with markers, stickers, or collage materials. Align the folded edges and bind with a long-arm stapler or place two or three staples along the fold, then reinforce the inside with tape. Add page titles or drawing prompts and trim any uneven edges for a neat finish.
What materials do I need to make a homemade drawing book?
You’ll need plain paper (printer or sketch paper), a heavier sheet or cardstock for the cover, scissors, markers or colored pencils for decorating, stickers or collage scraps (optional), a stapler (long-arm or regular), clear tape for reinforcing the spine, and a ruler to align pages. For younger kids, add pre-printed prompts or templates. Everything is low-cost and commonly available around the house or at a craft store.
What ages is the 'Show us your drawing book' activity suitable for?
This activity suits children ages 3–12 with adult help for the youngest. Preschoolers (3–5) enjoy decorating covers and scribbling with supervision; ages 6–9 can fold, staple with help, and follow themed prompts; 10–12-year-olds can design layouts and add more complex sketches. Always supervise stapling and cutting for younger children, and adapt paper size and prompt difficulty to match each child’s skill and attention span.
What are the benefits of making and using a drawing book?
Making a drawing book encourages creativity, fine motor skills, and sequential thinking as kids plan pages and follow prompts. Regular sketching builds observation, storytelling, and confidence while providing a low-pressure space to practice. A personal book also supports goal-setting and tracking progress, reduces screen time, and can become a keepsake. Collaborative books promote communication when families or friends contribute prompts and drawings together.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use if we don't have cardstock or a stapler?
If you don't have cardstock, use a flattened cereal box or thin cardboard for the top and bottom covers, and if you lack a stapler ask an adult to punch two holes in the folded spine and tie yarn or secure the fold with strong tape instead of stapling.
My pages keep slipping or the crease isn't crisp—what should we do?
Restack and square the 6–12 sheets, hold the edges tightly while folding along the short side, run your finger or a ruler along the folded edge to make a crisp crease, then have an adult staple near each end of the spine and trim uneven edges with scissors before decorating.
How can this activity be adapted for different ages?
For younger kids use 4–6 pages, simpler prompts, help with folding, cutting, and stapling, and offer large stickers, while older kids can use 12 pages, write a detailed table of contents on the first inside page and experiment with more advanced materials like watercolour or collage on each prompt page.
How can we extend or personalize the finished drawing book?
Make the cover pop by lightly sketching a big title, adding stickers or fabric, number pages to match the table of contents, glue in pockets or photos, and then take a photo of the finished drawing book to share on DIY.org.