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Practical Uses for Doodles
by Dia   5/2007

Sometimes people say, “you have too much time on your hands with all that silly doodling.” Perhaps, but there are practical uses too. Besides being fun and relaxing, that is. For example: 

Greeting Cards
After I scan in the drawings, I scale them to the size of the greeting card I want and then print them on photo paper. From there I use rubber cement to glue them to a lightweight card stock that I’ve cut to size and folded in half. I have a box of card stock cut and folded to fit the envelopes, as well as a supply of “photos” ready to affix to the card stock when I need a card. I make several months’ worth of birthday cards at a time and even keep track of who I sent which image to. Cards can also be printed directly onto blank greeting cards, however, since I doodle with a black pen I wanted a choice of paper colors besides white and ivory. 

Stationery
It’s also quite easy to design and print your own stationery. Doodle on a white piece of paper the size of the desired stationery. Scan the image and then print out on the kind and color of paper you choose. Even holiday stationery can be done this way. 

Gallery
I’ve taken several of my favorite doodles and had them printed as 8” x 10” photos, then framed and hung them on our hallway wall. I enjoy them every time I walk by and it’s nice to have them on display. 

Scrapbook
Doodling the pages of scrapbooks has become quite a popular activity as I’ve learned through the search engines. There are many good websites on the subject. I personally am not a scrapbooker, just a doodler, however I do admire the creativity and work that goes into them.

Children
I loved it when my mom would color with me. Imagine drawing with your child and coming up with your own creations. The doodle can even be colored afterwards. In fact, you could create your own coloring books. 

Doodle Game
Played kind of along the line of “Hangman’s Noose,” only instead of trying to hang your opponent, you’re building a picture together. It doesn’t matter if it makes any sense when finished because there’s no competition, nor a winner or loser. Everyone wins and unlike most games, you end up with something to hang on the refrigerator.  

Send in your ideas on creative uses for doodles and we’ll add them to our website. These few are to spark your imagination.