Printable Colouring Pages as Party Bag Fillers: A Brilliant Alternative to Plastic Tat

Colourful children's party bags filled with printed colouring pages and mini pencil sets on a white surface

Party bags. Every parent knows the drill — a small bag stuffed with plastic toys that break within minutes, sweets that cause a sugar crash, and stickers that end up on the furniture. But it doesn't have to be this way. Printable colouring books are one of the best party bag fillers you can give — affordable, creative, screen-free, and something children will actually use long after the party is over.

Here's why colouring books make brilliant party bag fillers, and how to put them together.

Why Colouring Books Beat Plastic Toys Every Time

The typical party bag toy lasts about ten minutes before it breaks, gets lost, or ends up in the bin. A colouring book, on the other hand, provides hours of entertainment — and parents genuinely appreciate receiving something that isn't more plastic clutter. In an era where many families are trying to reduce waste and screen time, a beautifully illustrated colouring book is a gift that stands out.

The Cost Advantage of Printable Colouring Books

Here's where printable colouring books really shine for party bags. With a physical colouring book, you're paying per copy — and costs add up quickly when you're catering for 15 or 20 children. With a printable, you pay once and print as many copies as you need. Whether you have 8 guests or 30, the cost per bag stays the same.

Our 4-in-1 Kids Colouring Book Collection gives you four themed colouring books in a single download — print as many copies as you need for your party. And our Free Animal Colouring Book is a lovely option if you want to include a freebie alongside another gift.

Football Party Bag Ideas: The Perfect Themed Touch

Hosting a football-themed party? Printable party bag fillers are a brilliant way to carry the theme through to the party bags without spending a fortune. Whether it's a World Cup celebration, a birthday party for a football-mad child, or a viewing party for the big match, themed printables make the perfect finishing touch.

We have a brilliant range of football printables perfect for party bags:

All are instant download PDFs — print as many copies as you need for your guests from a single purchase.

Ideas for a football-themed party bag:

  • Country flag colouring sheets — let each child pick their favourite team's flag to colour in
  • England Football Stars colouring pages — a hit with any football-mad child
  • A mini pencil or crayon set — pairs perfectly with the colouring sheets
  • A personalised certificate — award each child a fun football title (Top Scorer, Best Goalkeeper, Most Enthusiastic Fan)
  • A kraft paper bag with a football sticker — simple, eco-friendly, and on theme

How to Put Together a Colouring Book Party Bag

Creating a colouring book party bag is simple and takes very little time:

  • Print your colouring book — print on standard A4 paper or upgrade to 120gsm for a more premium feel. Staple the pages together or bind with a treasury tag.
  • Add a small pencil or crayon set — a mini pencil set from a pound shop or supermarket pairs perfectly with a colouring book and keeps the cost low.
  • Pop it in a kraft paper bag — a simple brown kraft bag with a ribbon or sticker looks lovely and is much more eco-friendly than a plastic party bag.
  • Add a personalised label — print a small label with the child's name and a thank you message for a finishing touch that feels really special.

Which Colouring Book Themes Work Best for Parties?

The best party bag colouring books are ones with broad appeal — themes that most children will enjoy regardless of age or interest. Animals, nature, and fun illustrated characters tend to work well across the board. For themed parties, you can choose a colouring book that matches the party theme for an extra-special touch.

Our 4-in-1 Kids Colouring Book Collection includes four different themes in one download, so you can mix and match pages to suit your party or give each child a different book — a lovely personal touch that costs nothing extra.

Age Ranges: What Works for Which Age?

  • Ages 3–5 — simple, bold outlines with large areas to colour. Animals and familiar characters work brilliantly.
  • Ages 5–8 — more detailed illustrations with a mix of simple and complex areas. Activity sheets with colouring elements are also a hit.
  • Ages 8+ — more intricate designs, pattern-based colouring, and illustrated scenes with lots of detail to work through.

The Eco-Friendly Party Bag

More and more parents are looking for ways to make children's parties more sustainable. Printable colouring books tick several boxes: no plastic, minimal packaging, printed on paper (which is recyclable), and genuinely useful rather than disposable. Pair with a kraft paper bag, wooden pencils, and a small homemade treat, and you have a party bag that parents will actually thank you for.

Paper is one of the most widely recycled materials in the UK — according to Recycle Now, paper and card can be recycled up to seven times. So when the colouring is done, the pages can go straight in the recycling bin — no plastic waste, no guilt.

Other Printable Ideas to Include in Party Bags

  • A personalised certificate — print a fun award for each child (Best Dancer, Funniest Guest, Most Enthusiastic Party-Goer) for a personalised touch they'll love.
  • A puzzle or activity sheet — a word search or maze themed around the party is a brilliant addition. Our Kids Educational Activity Sheets include a great mix of puzzles suitable for primary school children.
  • A bookmark — a beautifully illustrated printable bookmark is a practical, lasting gift that costs almost nothing to produce.

Printable Resources for Party Bags

All resources are instant download PDFs — order today and print as many copies as you need, right from home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are colouring books good party bag fillers?

Yes — colouring books are one of the best party bag fillers you can give. They're creative, screen-free, and provide hours of entertainment long after the party is over. Parents genuinely appreciate receiving something useful rather than more plastic toys, and printable colouring books are incredibly cost-effective when you're catering for a large group.

How much do printable party bag colouring books cost?

With a printable colouring book, you pay once and print as many copies as you need — making the cost per bag very low, especially for larger parties. Our 4-in-1 Kids Colouring Book Collection gives you four themed books in one download, so you have plenty of content to work with regardless of how many guests you're catering for.

What age are colouring book party bags suitable for?

Colouring books work brilliantly for children from around age 3 up to age 10 or 11. The key is choosing illustrations that match the age group — bold, simple outlines for younger children, and more detailed designs for older ones. Our collections include a range of complexity levels suitable for different ages.

How do I present a printable colouring book as a party bag gift?

Print the pages, staple or bind them together, and pop them in a kraft paper bag with a mini pencil set and a personalised label. Printed on quality paper and presented neatly, a printable colouring book looks and feels just as impressive as a shop-bought one — often more so, because of the personal touch.

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