If your spring cleaning tasks have unearthed a mound of kid art projects that you can’t bear to part with (and honestly, you really need to spare yourself the heartbreak of having your child see his or her masterpiece in the trash), we have some solutions for you. From turning crafts into wall art to archiving their creativity, here are 4 ways to continue to admire your child’s artwork while still keeping your home organized and clutter-free.
Find Use for Empty Frames
Using thrift store frames with the glass and backing removed, Jean Van’t Hul of The Artful Parent has created an entire wall dedicated to her children’s artwork. One of the greatest advantages of this solution is that you can change out the artwork regularly—changing with the seasons or with the whims of your child’s artistic inspiration. Take a picture of the wall each time you change the art—giving you an ongoing archive of your child’s talent.
Hang with Clothes Pins
An even simpler solution is to attach clothespins to a piece of trim and hang it in on the wall (we suggest the wall of a playroom or children’s bedroom). Jen from Iheartorganizing.com gives step-by-step instructions that include painting the clothespins in bright, vibrant colors to really accent your child’s artwork. Hang the trim low enough that your children can actually put up and take down their own projects.
Write a Book (literally)
Several online photo services like Shutterfly and Snapfish offer templates for creating books filled with your own images. We especially love the platform Shutterfly has created (called Mini Masterpieces) which includes a design layout and copy specifically for children’s artwork. There is nothing better than watching your child’s face light up when the published book arrives in the mail. Great addition to your coffee table.
Go Out on a Ledge
Gallery ledges are great for displaying all sorts of artwork and photos, but can be especially fun when they are filled with your child’s creations. While you can certainly go out and purchase these ledges, Ana White shares easy step-by-step instructions for creating your own. She suggests painting them the same color as your wall so the art really pops. Another plus with the ledges is that it lets you display three-dimensional pieces as well, finally giving that dinosaur statue a place to live.
Talk to us: How do you display or archive your child’s artwork?