Crayola Fun

This topic is mostly Nana Fun and only remotely sewing related, but I think it’s wonderful.  To see the needlework connection, you will have to read to the end of the post, beyond the explanation. This program turns any digital photo into a coloring page!  And you can even add fun extras, such as hats or funny hair or mustaches.

Before the start of the school year, I bought new boxes of Crayolas for  Robert and Laurel.  Though I hadn’t noticed the box cover promo for this free–except for the cost of the crayolas–program,  Robert spotted it immediately and couldn’t wait to get started.  That boy can spot a .com from across the room.

#1--digital photo

Much to my chagrin, I just couldn’t seem to get around to checking this out until this past week.  Robert was delighted and so were Laurel and I. It is soooooo neat!

Just go to the website www.crayola.com/colorme and click on the free  trial or log in with the code stamped inside the lid of the crayola box.

We’re starting a diary/coloring book of memories from this school year.  Laurel’s sewing and Robert’s “shopping”–his term for shop class–will be documented and recalled even more vividly as they relive the activity with crayons.  Here  is an example, using a photo from our trip to North Carolina. 

#2--print out of photo

My three grandchildren are sitting on the back porch swing of the historic Mast General Store.  For fun, we have added mustaches for the boys and hats for all three. There are muscle-man arms, a variety of hair styles and so much more, just to delight.

#3--added hats and fun extras

Thrilled as I am about the fun of this program, I plan to apply it to more educational purposes.  We have studied famous art, from Edward Hicks Peaceable Kingdom to the Mona Lisa.  After our brief discussion, with the simple goals of familiarization and appreciation, coloring the actual image would have been so enriching to their experience.  And that’s just what we will do after we examine Rousseau’s La Carriole next week.

As we study geography, the children can color downloaded photos of landmarks and landforms.

Finally, here is the sewing connection.  Taking that idea a step further, I also plan to do a coloring book/diary of the children wearing garments I have made for them. I will print the pictures and insert them into a loose leaf notebook for easy addition of new pages. Again, such a collection of images will strengthen their memories.

It looks like “coloring,”  ala www.crayola.com/colorme, will become a major addition to our homeschool curriculum.