5 Ways to Organize Your Child's Art!

Was getting organized on your list of New Year's resolutions? If you have young children, your house is probably overrun with art. In addition to the gazillions of drawings children create at home, once they start school they create new little masterpieces practically every day. With both wall and fridge space quickly disappearing, what are you to do with your little one's creations? Here are some ideas for organizing and displaying your children's art.

1) Create a Family Art Gallery. Do not limit your kid's art to just the refrigerator door or your child's room. Pick a room in the house as your family's art gallery. Fill the walls with your family's art. Select a room that is "family friendly" such as the family room or media room. Or, use a hallway. Purchase or make beautiful frames to properly display the art. When family or friends visits, proudly give them a VIP tour! Thanks to mylittlebookcase.com for the adorable family art gallery example photo!

2) Create "Look Books." There are now several online services such as ArtKive and Blurb that will print images of your artwork and bind them in a soft cover or hardcover book. Create a new one for each year of your child's life. Look books also make great gifts for grandparents!

3) Create Functional Art. With today's technology your children's artwork can be printed on a wide variety of items by companies such as Shutterfly that you can use around the house. Examples include decorative pillows, serving trays, mugs, blankets, and yes . . . even shower curtains! Fill your house with these items and your children's artwork will never be far away.

4) Create a Digital Gallery. One of the best ways to manage a large amount of artwork is to go paperless. Make digital images of your child's artwork by scanning it or taking photos of it and save it into an online image organizer. You will be able to easily email images of your child's latest creations to grandma and grandpa, and you will be able to take a sentimental look back at it for years into the future.

5) File it Away. Even if you create look books, a gallery and home accessories with your child's art, there are bound to be many originals that you are not prepared to discard. Place the artwork in letter or legal size folders, labeled with each child's name. Place the set of folders in a large but shallow lidded box that can be easily stored under a bed. You can easily add to it. Go through the box from time to time and decide which of your little one's masterpieces you are ready to let go.