If your child loves colouring and you enjoy adding little magical touches to their day, creating a personalised colouring page with an Ai tool like ChatGPT is such a lovely idea. You can make a one of a kind page featuring your child, their favourite things, or even a special scene with their Elf on the Shelf.
Best of all, it is completely free and surprisingly easy, even if you have never used AI tools before. If you prefer other tools like Google Gemini you can also use the same prompts in that too, it’s just personal preference.
Whatever tool you use, this is a really sweet idea for late in December, as Christmas draws near. An elf bringing a coloring page that shows them and your child together feels thoughtful and personal, and it works beautifully as a gentle elf farewell idea at the end of the season.
Why a Personalized Coloring Page Feels So Special
Children instantly light up when they see themselves in an activity. A coloring page that includes their name, their hairstyle, their favourite jumper, or a fun scene they recognise makes the activity feel magical rather than generic. It becomes something they want to keep, colour carefully, and proudly show off.
For parents, it is a screen free activity that still uses technology in a creative way. You are not downloading random printables or scrolling endlessly. You are making something just for your child in a matter of minutes.
Using ChatGPT to Create a Coloring Page
ChatGPT can generate images based on detailed descriptions you give it. By asking for black and white line art with clear outlines, you can create a colouring page that is easy for children to colour and print at home.
You do not need design skills. You simply describe what you want in words, and ChatGPT turns that description into an image.
When you write your prompt, it helps to be clear about three things. First, who is in the picture. Second, what they are doing. Third, the style of the image, making sure to ask for simple black and white line art with no shading.
Personalized Coloring Page Example Prompts You Can Copy and Edit
Here are some example prompts you can adjust to suit your child. You can change hair colour, clothing, activities, age, or setting to make it feel just right.
A simple personalised colouring page prompt could be:
“Create a black and white colouring page for children. A young child with shoulder length curly hair is smiling and holding a teddy bear. Simple clear outlines, no shading, white background, printable colouring page style.”
If you want to include your child’s name in the design, you can add:
“Add the name ‘Ella’ at the top in simple bubble letters suitable for colouring.”
Replace with your child’s own name as required.
Personalized Elf Coloring Page Idea
One of the most fun uses for this is a Christmas Elf surprise. Imagine your child waking up to find a coloring page where the elf is pictured right next to them, waving or holding hands.
This works especially well as a gentle elf goodbye.
Here is an example elf themed prompt:
“Create a black and white coloring page for kids showing a Christmas elf standing next to a smiling child. The elf is wearing a striped hat and scarf. The child looks about 6 years old with short brown hair. Simple outlines, no shading, colouring book style, white background.”
You can even make it more personal by adding something your elf has been doing that week, such as baking, reading, or building Lego together.
A Sweet Elf Farewell Idea
If you are looking for a calm and meaningful elf farewell idea, this works beautifully. Instead of a big setup, your elf can leave a note saying they wanted to remember their time with your child. Alongside it is a coloring page of the two of them together.
It feels thoughtful without being over the top, and it gives your child something to sit and do while processing that the elf will be heading back to the North Pole.
You could also save another copy of the coloring page and bring it out again next year, which adds another layer of magic.
If you want to make it extra special, you could even combine with using these official shelf on the shelf printable letters, and make your coloring page tiny and put it inside the envelope!
Download the elf on the shelf you’ve got mail printable here at the official site.
Tips for the Best Results in Making Personalized Coloring Pages in ChatGPT
When creating coloring pages, always include phrases like black and white, line art, no shading, and simple outlines in your prompt. This avoids grey areas or overly detailed drawings that are hard for kids to colour.
If the first image is not quite right, you can tweak your prompt and try again. Changing just one detail, such as the pose or facial expression, often makes a big difference.
Once you are happy, download the image, print it out, and it is ready to go.
A Simple Way to Add Magic to Everyday Play
Using ChatGPT to make personalized coloring pages is a fun, creative way to add something special to your child’s day without spending money or hours preparing. Whether it is an everyday coloring activity, a rainy afternoon idea, or a memorable Elf on the Shelf moment, it turns a simple page into something meaningful.
It is one of those small touches children remember, and once you try it, you will probably find yourself making colouring pages for all sorts of occasions.
Using Photos for your Personalized Coloring Pages
If you want the coloring page to look even more like your child, you can upload a photo and ask ChatGPT to use it as a reference.
Then use a prompt like this:
“Use the uploaded photo as a reference for the child’s appearance only. Create a black and white children’s coloring page based on this image. Keep the facial features recognisable but simplify them into friendly cartoon style line art. Use clear, bold outlines, no shading, no grey tones, and a plain white background. The child should be smiling and standing next to a Christmas elf in a playful pose. Make it suitable for kids to colour, printable on A4 paper.”
If you want a non-elf version, this works well too:
“Using the uploaded photo as a reference, create a simple black and white coloring page for children. Simplify the child’s features into clean cartoon line art with clear outlines. No shading, no textures, white background, colouring book style. The child should be shown doing a fun activity like playing, reading, or holding a favourite toy.”
And if you want to be extra clear about accuracy without realism:
“Use the uploaded image only as a visual reference for hair, face shape, and general features. Do not create a realistic portrait. Convert it into a friendly, age-appropriate colouring page with simple outlines, no shading, and lots of open space for coloring.”
This approach works really well for elf coloring pages, birthday surprises, or keepsake printables, because it keeps the magic of “that’s me” while still being easy and fun for children to colour.
We hope you enjoyed our guide on how to creae your personalized elf coloring pages free ready for Christmas eve, or if you already have your elf farewell planned you can save this idea for next year.
More Elf Ideas
If you enjoyed this personalized elf coloring pages printable idea, and love coming up with creative elf moments, there are so many simple ways to keep the magic going without lots of prep. From tiny goodbye notes and personalised letters to small creative surprises like drawings, jokes, or colouring pages, these little touches often become the most memorable. A handmade or personalized idea, like an elf coloring page made just for your child, can feel far more special than an elaborate setup.
- 80 Simple Elf Ideas For Toddlers
- Naughty Elf Ideas That Will Make the Whole Family Laugh
- Free Printable Elf on the Shelf Christmas Eve Goodbye Letters
- DIY Life Size Snow Globe Elf Finale Idea
- Elf on the Shelf Treasure Hunt With Mini Ducks
- Magical Sick Elf Recovery Superfood and Letter Printable
- Paper Plate Elf Craft
More Printable Coloring Pages
If your child enjoyed this activity, there are plenty more printable coloring pages to explore. From seasonal designs and personalised pages to simple themed coloring sheets for everyday fun, printables are an easy way to encourage calm, screen free creativity at home. They are perfect for quiet afternoons, early finishers, or adding a creative moment into your daily routine.
- Christmas coloring chubby santa pages
- Elves coloring pages
- Free Printable Elf Coloring Jigsaw Puzzle for Kids
Browse our printable category or search our site as we have so many coloring pages and printables for all kinds of themes!
Elfontheshelf.com also has a bunch of free printable elf on the shelf coloring pages which you can grab, especially if you want to make sure your coloring features the official elves.
Our personalized pages are not intended to represent the official scout elves and are just a generic Christmas elf.
Check out these options if you do want something with the official elf on the shelf.
Printable elf on the shelf activities from elfontheshelf.com
Elf on the shelf color by number
Elf on the shelf coloring pages from elfontheshelf.com
Images shared with permission from elfontheshelf.com
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Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.