5 Creative Ways to Save (and Display) Your Children’s Artwork

If you have children in school, you are probably familiar with the avalanche of artwork that arrives home on a daily basis. From stick figure drawings and handprint turkeys to rainbows and flowers made entirely out of tissue paper, kids are always excited to share their latest artistic creations.

But after a while, the endless array of pictures and paintings begins to pile up. There is, after all, only so much room on the refrigerator, and you can only stash so many years of art projects beneath your bed or at the bottom of your closet. Eventually, parents need a storage solution that allows us to save and display the art that we treasure – without feeling as though our lives are being overrun by construction paper.

Looking to simplify the process of saving your child’s favorite art? These 5 creative display options can help, and will even eliminate some of the guilt you feel when it’s time to dispose of the original pieces permanently.            

1. Scan the artwork into your phone or computer.

Thanks to modern technology, parents can now store our kids’ artwork digitally, without needing to keep every piece of paper that comes through the door. Once you scan the art into your computer, you can display a favorite piece as a screensaver, or create a slideshow of projects your kids have completed over the years. Many parents also like to upload the images to a site like Shutterfly, where the artwork can be memorialized on calendars, mugs, canvas prints and more.  

If you prefer to store the artwork on your phone, check out an app called Keepy, which allows users to save special memories and then “create a memory playlist” to share with friends and family. Art projects are just one of the many things you can keep with this app; photos, videos and even voiceovers are all part of Keepy’s appeal.

^{Photo: keepy via Facebook}

2. Make a coffee table book.

You can also transform that scanned artwork into a professional-looking photo book with the help of a site like Blurb or Plum Print. Kids will love seeing their art compiled in a real book, and appreciate that they’re able to show it to family and friends whenever they like. The books also make wonderful keepsakes over the years, and best of all, take up very little room in your home.    

3. Create an “art wall.”

Art – even the kind that is created by a 3 year-old – is meant to be seen. So why not integrate your kids’ artwork into your home’s décor? Designate at least one wall in your home as an “art wall,” and then fill it with artfully arranged collages of your children’s best work. Use patterned mats to create a gallery effect in a bedroom or down a long hallway, invest in colorful frames that really pop for the playroom or, if you’re feeling crafty, get busy and create your own peel and stick wall decal frames.

^{Photo: indiemats.com}

If you plan to change the artwork frequently, you can also opt for a simple clothesline with several clothespins so that it’s easy to clip and unclip pictures on a regular basis. And once every piece of art has been properly admired, don’t hesitate to replace it with something new and discreetly dispose of older work.

4. Turn the artwork into a gift.

Can’t bring yourself to throw away a picture, but don’t want to keep it in the house? Maybe it would make the perfect gift for Grandma or a special aunt (who can then display it on her fridge). Kids’ artwork can also be repurposed into wrapping paper, gift cards or thank you notes for use on holidays, birthdays and other special occasions.

5. Design your own postage stamp.

Yes, you actually can turn the work of your pint-sized Picasso into a postage stamp. It’s entirely legal – and approved by the U.S. Postal Service too. Visit www.PictureItPostage.com to learn how to create these personalized stamps, which will then enable you to mail your child’s artwork all over the world. How’s that for putting it on display?   

Do you have a system for saving your children’s artwork? How do you display drawings and paintings in your home?

5 Creative Ways to Save and Display Your Child's Artwork http://t.co/O0V3RQ8JCR @IndieMats @Keepyme

— STL Parent (@stlparent) April 18, 2014