Preserving Children’s Artwork

I’ve been thinking a lot about what to do with my children’s artwork as it is beginning to pile up and my four-year-old is creating some nice pieces. I’m getting some framed; but I’m also looking for creative ideas aside from the usual refrigerator, clothesline or wall display. I took Eva’s “Mud Monster” that she drew last spring and digitized it for my embroidery machine (above). Someone’s getting a Mud Monster pillow for Christmas! Eva really enjoyed being involved in the process and was proud of the finished product. I’m thinking of offering customized kid’s designs in my shop, but it’s a pretty time-consuming process. We’ll see.

But with all this technology readily accessible, you can have your kid’s artwork made into tees, coasters, large-scale canvases, mugs, bags, magnets, calendars, stationery, mouse pads, uhm…playing cards, and lots more. These are all great (for you and your family). Here are a few other ideas:

-Take photographs of the artwork before you pitch it. Make a collage or a DVD.

–Totally Out of Hand: They can create customized jewelry from your child’s artwork.

-Make wrapping paper. Assuming your kid approves of this use of her artwork, sounds like a good idea and also a great way to reuse something! We go through a lot of paper in our house.

-Collage it. At the end of the year, you and your child can cut up the work and choose the best images to be made into a fabulous collage. I see this turning into a possible decoupage project — literally, an art table.

-Sew it. I like the free-hand sewing that I’ve seen lately and it lends itself well to children’s designs. Check out this creation from angry chicken. Or you can quilt it — take a look at this quilt square from sewcatherine. Don’t have a sewing machine? Re-create the work of art with felt and embroidery floss.

-Shrink it. I love shrinky dinks and keep meaning to make something. The possibilities are endless with miniature plastic! Just trace the artwork or have your child draw directly on the plastic. Check out this link for making your own. Caution on that plastic in the oven thing.

–Artimus Art: Not tech-savvy or crafty? This site lets you mail them your artwork where they will upload it and create an online gallery for you, then store it in climate-controlled storage (better than the floor of the closet?). You can also order a bound book.

-Have your child illustrate his own books. We keep an extra long stapler around the house and make blank books for Eva to draw and write stories. These “books” occupy her for several days and can be stored easily or given as presents. You could also have your child dictate a story to you and print out the text.

Other thoughts, ideas, links? Please comment.