Draw a Comic Strip for the Holidays
Create a holiday-themed comic strip by planning panels, drawing characters, writing captions and speech bubbles, and experimenting with layout to tell a festive short story.
Step-by-step guide to Draw a Comic Strip for the Holidays
How to Make a Comic Strip
Step 1
Pick a holiday theme and choose two or three main characters for your comic.
Step 2
Decide a simple story with a beginning a middle and an end for your holiday scene.
Step 3
Choose how many panels you want and sketch rough panel shapes on scrap paper.
Step 4
Make tiny thumbnail sketches of each panel showing the main action and where captions will go.
Step 5
Try a different panel order or sizes on a second thumbnail to experiment with the layout.
Step 6
Pick the thumbnail layout you like best to use for your final comic.
Step 7
Use the ruler to lightly draw the chosen panel borders on your final paper.
Step 8
Pencil sketch the characters and main actions inside each final panel.
Step 9
Pencil add speech bubbles and captions inside the panels where the characters will talk.
Step 10
Carefully ink over the pencil outlines and speech bubble borders with the black marker.
Step 11
Erase the pencil marks after the ink is completely dry.
Step 12
Colour each panel using your colouring materials to bring the holiday scene to life.
Step 13
Share your finished holiday comic strip on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can I use if I don't have a ruler or a black marker?
Use a straight cardboard edge from a cereal box as a ruler to lightly draw the panel borders and a fine-tip black pen or permanent marker to carefully ink over the pencil outlines and speech bubble borders.
My ink smudged or the pencil didn't erase cleanly — what should I do?
Test your black marker on scrap paper first, wait until the ink is completely dry before you erase the pencil marks, and keep your pencil lines light when sketching the panel borders and characters.
How can I adapt this comic activity for different age groups?
For younger kids, use only two large panels with simple characters and help them with the ruler and inking steps, while older kids can choose more panels, experiment with different panel orders and sizes in thumbnails, and add detailed captions and backgrounds.
How can we make the finished comic more special or advanced?
Add collage elements or textured paper as you colour each panel, include sound-effect lettering and varied panel sizes from your chosen thumbnail layout, and photograph or scan the final comic to share on DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to Draw a Comic Strip for the Holidays
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Facts about comic strips and visual storytelling
✍️ Charles M. Schulz drew Peanuts for nearly 50 years, producing over 17,000 comic strips in his lifetime.
🖼️ Most newspaper-style comic strips use 3–6 panels to set up, act, and deliver a punchline or short story.
🗯️ Speech balloons were used in medieval and Renaissance art and later became a standard way to show speech in comics.
🎄 The word "holiday" comes from "holy day" — many holidays began as special religious or cultural celebration days.
🎨 Using just 1–2 accent colors in a holiday comic makes it feel festive and keeps coloring or printing quick and easy.
How do I create a holiday comic strip with my child?
What materials do I need to draw a holiday comic strip?
What ages is drawing a holiday comic strip suitable for?
What are the benefits and fun variations of making holiday comic strips?
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