if you’re like me, anything your kid makes is “AMAZING!” but there are some pieces you just want to save forver because they are so sweet and so meaningful. it might be that little scrap of paper that has the doodle of the two of you on it (bonus points if you’re both smiling in the illustration!) or the watercolor painting that actually looks like some really expensive abstract art. trust me; i save it all. i have stacks and stacks of doodles, drawings, paintings, sticker creations, and a million other pieces of art piled up all over my house. honestly, it’s too much. so what do you do with the most special of the special pieces? here are some ideas (and i’m calling this part I, because i know there will be parts II and III as i complete a few other projects around my home :)):
frame and hang your kids’ artwork
frame them! put these pieces of art on the wall and show them off proudly. i have a couple spaces in my home that i use to show off the kids’ artwork and honestly, it makes me smile EVERY time i see them. i’m also really strategic about if i want artwork for a certain room, i give the kids the supplies in colors that match what i’m envisioning and let them go to town. i love letting them use paint (well i love the finished product) but i’ve also found that stick on jewels and foam stickers make for some cool art, too. i have a file folder of cool paintings + artwork i save that my kid’s do, and rotate them through with seasons, as they get older, etc. i keep ONE file folder, and that’s it! i edit it and it helps me feel better about recycling pieces as they come up with new, cool works of art.
turn your kids’ art into a wearable piece of art
i love, LOVE something personalized, and there’s nothing more personal than turning a doodle or work of art into a wearable. people will ask you about it, you’ll get to explain the back-story, and there’s nothing more special than that, IMO. if there were one way i would recommend for what to do with your kid’s art, it would be turning it into a custom graphic shirt. i actually started punch with that idea; personalized wearables, and it’s been a cornerstone of the biz for over a year now. how fun, right?! seriously, i get so much joy out of taking artwork and putting it on something that is hopefully a favorite piece that someone reaches for over and over.