Candy Canes with a Bow

Four striped candy canes cross in a bundle, tied with a large bow whose long ribbons curl down to the bottom of the page. Holly leaves, red berries and small pine sprigs fill the gaps. The spiral stripes create lots of narrow bands to fill, a nice challenge for children from age 6 who like careful coloring.

Level

Medium

Areas to color

197

Ages

Ages 6+

Time to color (estimate)

40–60 minutes

Paper

A4 or US Letter, standard printer paper

Try a different pair of colors on each cane: red and white, green and white, mint and pink, or red and gold. Darken the inside folds of the bow and keep its top edges lighter, so it looks like a soft velvet ribbon.

Use a light gray or pale blue for snow shadows: it makes white areas look three-dimensional.

Red and green side by side can look flat; add gold or a warm yellow to lights and stars to make the page glow.