Help Make Coloring Pages!

So you want to help make a coloring page for us to use?  Great!  There are just a few guidelines you should be aware of before you pull out your drawing pens or Photoshop program.

1.  Drawings must fit on an 8.5x11 piece of paper.

2.  Must include an outline of a 6inch by 6inch origami crane.  If you follow this link you will be directed to a picture with an outline of a crane.  Simply print this picture, cut out the outline, and trace around it!  If you are doing yours digitally go here for a PNG file.  Or, if you would like I will send you a real origami crane.

3. Make sure your crane outline is the right size!  The measurement from the top wing-tip to the bottom should be just under 3 inches.  Go HERE to see an example.

4.  We are going to fold the pictures in half so they can fit in a gallon baggy (that’s the way OWH ships Any Hero Mail) so please make sure the crane outline is on one side of the page or the other (that way we don’t have to ruin the crane by folding it in half.)  You may also put the crane right in the middle like in this picture and we can fold the sides in to the center.

5.  Pretty obvious, but keep your pictures happy!  Soldiers don’t want to see images of death (skulls and crossbones) or of explosions.

6. Have fun!  (and if you want to make more than one, go ahead!)

7. I will have lines on the back of the pictures for writing letters.  You can sign your picture if you want but I can also provide contact info (your name, your website, e-mail, whatever you want) on the other side.

Not sure what to draw?  Need inspiration?  Go HERE.

Drawing a picture with paper and pen?  Go HERE for additional guidelines and suggestions.

Doing a picture digitally on the computer?  Go HERE for additional guidelines and suggestions.

Want to fold an origami crane yourself?  Go HERE.

Children's Coloring Pages

Here are the coloring pages that have been created so far.  If you donate a coloring page it will end up in this post for the world to admire!

Coloring page created by Hannah Rab

Coloring page by Hannah Rab

Coloring page by JustByJo.

Coloring page created by JustByJo

Coloring page created by JustByJo

Coloring page created by JustByJo

Welcome!

**This is a sticky post and will stay at the top of the page!**

I devised this "Cranes of Thanks" project because I love origami, working with children, and the "heroes" that defend our country!  I am teaching youth to fold paper origami cranes which will be placed on a coloring page with a letter on the back to be sent to our soldiers overseas.  This project will continue until we have completed 1,000 Cranes of Thanks!  All of the supplies have generously been funded by DoSomething.org.

Click HERE for some examples of children's coloring pages.
Click HERE for examples of what teens could make.