12 creative ideas to store your kid’s artwork

This newsletter topic came from a reader suggestion I received, and it really inspired me, so I asked a few people around me how they stored or displayed their kids’ Art!

While I was writing this, my Instagram algorithm kindly served me this news: Rihanna turned her kids scribble into a Tattoo so I thought you should know that this is also an option.

I keep around 1% of my kids’ artwork. As much as I love everything that they make, trust me, I cannot keep it all, they produce a lot. On friday afternoons, as my oldest unpacks his school folder, we flip through it, and he will tell me all about it, what he learned, what he drew, etc. When he is off to bed, I will keep just the one or two drawings that I really like and toss the rest. I write down the date and his description of it.

I keep my favorite drawings in these colorful Hay boxes and the larger ones in a classic Canson drawing folder; I have one per kid. When they get full, I do another pass at it and trash some more. This is the easiest way for me to store everything while I think about what to do with it.

I keep the most meaningful ones: the first time they draw a representation of something, which is around three years old, my portrait for Mother’s Day, and all his birthdays and Santa wishlists that are gold.

1- In the Trash! Make sure they don’t see it, or they will complain and want to take it back. It’s a secret! :)

3- Tape it directly to the wall: It seems this is the most popular option. Hang it right there where you can see it. You can use this magic European sticky paste if you want an invisible look. I let my children hang whatever they want on their bedroom wall, and they usually like to rotate artwork themselves.

Gabby Llewellyn has made a full wall in her kitchen nook, and Ella Parkes has a great wall display too.

3- Frame it! It’s fun to collect vintage, affordable frames at flea markets, goodwill or garage sales.

4- Digitize it and make it into a book. My mom made a book for me a few years ago. It is nice, but it’s quite some work to make and personally I think a lot of details and colors get lost, like the brushstrokes, etc.

5- Photo Scrapbooks. I like the idea of making it into a photo album; you can write the dates and add a description. It’s a meaningful and fun project that doesn’t require any digitizing. On a chic, large-sized album or a Japanese Washi paper cover album.

6- Shadow Boxes for the small 3D art. This is a good option if you have voluminous work.

7- Cork boards on the inside of a door closet. Brilliant idea if you want to keep your house clean. It can be a transitional place and you can still look at it everyday and smile.

8 - Pin it on a fancy fabric ribbon board: This is a typical item in traditional French bourgeois interiors. Families will pin recent things such as invitations, mail, holiday cards, and their kids’ art, usually in the hallway where coats and shoes are store, also sometimes in their bedrooms or office. There are many different types, and you can customize your ribbons and fabric.

9- In a large transparent binder. This is also a great idea to keep all the flat drawings in one place until you decide what to do with them. They are well protected, and you can label them per year.

10- On the Fridge: It works if you have a big fridge. And it’s a good excuse to collect fun magnets as souvenirs from your travels around the world. A weird horse cookie magnet + my kids’ favorite Japanese animal clips.

11 - Displayed on a shelf like expensive Art: Walker Hart’s mom kept every piece that her kids made and turned a room into a museum. Every time I visit, I am in awe. I love this room, it’s pure happiness to me.

12- Wire-and-clips display system. Hang twine or wire with mini clothespins. They can hang it easily themselves and rotate it as they wish.

Did I miss anything? Hope you found a little inspiration and please share any ideas you have. I ll’ leave you with a little music this week, an artist I found recently Tango, from Akofa Akoussah.

Much Love,

xxx

Marina

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