Colleen Vanderlinden
DCL
How to Reuse Your Kids' Artwork
I am one of those parents who has a hard time getting rid of anything even remotely related to my children. Clothing they've long outgrown (but I'm too attached to to donate) is stored in a closet. Toys they loved as babies fill a keepsake box. Their very first scribbles are tucked safely into another box.
The problem is, so is almost every drawing or craft they've done since.
It was manageable until my oldest started Kindergarten this year. Now it seems like she comes home every day with a few new "surprises" (as she likes to call them) for me. If I keep everything, I'll be buried in construction paper very soon. With that in mind, here are a few ideas for keeping those precious pieces of kiddie art without letting them take over your home.
5 Ideas for Reusing Your Children's Art
1. Frame the best pieces. Kid's art is generally pretty vibrant, and looks great framed simply. You can even swap out the artwork to display new pieces every few weeks or so.
2. Make a book. Get the kids involved in choosing a few pieces of artwork with the same theme (animals, plants, drawings of family, etc.) and putting them together in a book. It can be kept on the shelf and enjoyed by the entire family - or given as a gift to your loved ones.
3. If you can bear it - cut them up to use as bookmarks (laminate them and they'll last a very long time.)
4. Cut a few up to make into simple puzzles for the kids. This works best if you glue the drawing to cardboard first. When the glue dries, cut the picture into simple shapes.
5. If you decoupage, try decoupaging a favorite drawing onto a wooden box or other item.
Of course, another good way to preserve your kid's art forever is to scan them. This way, you can recycle the actual paper, and you can still look at that treasured piece of art whenever you want to.
So, it is possible to keep those beloved drawings around and not have your house over-run with paper. A little creativity, a little organization, and you're set!