ColorNest
In Christmas folklore, elves are Santa's helpers who build toys in his workshop at the North Pole all year long. The image of toy-making elves became popular in the United States in the 1850s through illustrations and poems. Modern toy manufacturing is done in factories worldwide, but the friendly workshop elf remains a beloved symbol of handmade holiday magic. Gift wrapping as we know it — using special colored paper with ribbons — became common in the early 1900s.
Coloring ideas: give the elf's outfit classic Christmas colors — a green jacket with red trim and small bells, striped green and red stockings, and shoes in a darker green. The gift box can be bright red with a gold ribbon bow. Give the wrapping paper roll a warm golden background with white stars. Color each tiny toy on the table a different bright color to suggest a busy, colorful workshop.
Younger kids can color just the elf and the gift box while skipping the detailed tabletop items. Older kids can try to give each tiny gear and toy part its own color, creating a lively, detailed workshop scene.
