Holly Sprig with Patterned Berries for Christmas

A sprig of holly fills the page, with spiky-edged leaves branching out from a thick, knobby stem at the lower right. Clusters of round berries sit along the branch, and each one has its own small pattern, such as dots, tiny flowers, swirls, and pinwheel shapes. Three round Christmas ornaments hang in the middle of the leaves. They are covered in zentangle-style designs, including petal shapes, scrolls, scalloped bands, and little dotted borders. The holly leaves are drawn with long center veins and angled sections, which leave plenty of open space for shading. Try coloring each leaf section in two or three shades of green so the folds look dimensional, then choose a different color scheme for each ornament so the three stand apart. Fine-tip markers or colored pencils work well for the small berry patterns. It makes a nice quiet activity for older kids, teens, or adults during the holidays.