Organizing School and ART WORK

Something thing I have done -

I got this idea from a Mom's festival. I went to Michaels with a coupon and bought one of the large size black art portfolios. They have clear plastic sleeves in them and you can store art work.

Hey T.,
I was an elementary teacher for 17 years and used to make large envelopes to store my students art. I made the envelopes out of poster board. Then I used book tape around the edges and folded a small flap over the top. I allowed the kids to decorate it and take it home on open house night. It's a great way to organize work from year to year. You could just get a plastic tub to store them all in.

I read an article about getting a clean large pizza box from your local pizza place to store art for each year. It is flat and easy to stack with others. It is big and can fit those large projects. I like a lot of the other suggestions but maybe for K and 1st this might be a good idea. It is also slender so you have to be selective. YOu can sort all later.

Like someone else suggested... keep all class pictures, awards and report cards in a big album (easy to put in pages). I just received mine and had a great time looking through it.

Good luck.

CC

I bought a file box and filled it with hanging files...one for each child. Then on labels that I attached to each hanging file I put their age/grade...one for each year. Each time there is something I want to save, I file it. At the end of the year I go through it again to clean out things with less meaning. I try to write information on whatever I'm keeping about the project or what my child said about it, etc. (usually before I file it). This helps with the memories later in life. I suspect that when my children are grown, I will hand the ONE box over to them as their childhood keepsake.

A memory of my own...

My mom kept a lot of my projects and put them in a box that she handed to me as an adult. There was no organization to it so I didn't know how old I was when many of the projects were completed. They also had little meaning because I couldn't remember the projects. I threw away almost everything she gave me. Now it's hard for me toss all the wonderful and adorable pictures, writings and artwork my children create. But, I try to keep my own experience in mind so that what I'm saving and how I'm saving it will have meaning when my kids are adults.

FYI...I also put class pictures, awards, report cards, and anything else of meaning in folders. For me, kindergarten was the most full folder. Projects are folded to fit and there were many that really showed a lot of who my child is.

I had the same problem. My solution: I keep a tote under my bed. Each time one of my kiddos brings home something that is tote worthy I write the date on the back and maybe a short description and then they know where to put it. At the end of each school year we go through the tote together and keep only a portion of what has been tossed in there through out the year. Then I put those saved projects in a second tote that is labeled with each of their names. My goal is to scan them into the computer and make a digital book for either myself or them (depending on if they want the originals later in life). I also took the best project from Kinder and had it framed and displayed in their rooms. Now there are no art projects laying around cluttering the counter tops since everyone knows their place and understands the importance of keeping it safe in the tote.

Keep the big ones and use them as wrapping paper to make as a more meaningful gift.

Photograph and develop the photos in 4X6 prints, no computer needed. much easier to keep.

You absolutely need to get a new computer and a flatbed scanner (or one that comes on your printer) and just do it. It is so awesome! How wonderful to have a coffee table book of your child's artwork!! Make sure that you save the files according to date, such as "2009-09-16 fire truck" so that you can keep track of the chronology when you make the book.

We use a home-made portfolio.

I went to the art store and picked up 2 pieces of black (darn, I don't know what to call it....it's probably matting board...regardless, about the size of posterboard, but about 5 times thicker...like chipboard). Grand total 8 bucks.

Then I bought a whole bunch of black artists paper that was approximately the same size. They were 27 cents each...but if you don't care about the color, you can just buy a large artists notebook...watercolor paper is stiffer...for about 10 bucks). $10-$20

Hole punched 5 holes (actually had kinkos do it since I was in there anyway for another project). Free

Put in binder rings. (3.50 for a package of 8)

Attach the art with spray adhesive (you can buy it cheapest at the art store where you get the board from). About 5 bucks.

Voila! Slides behind/under any piece of furniture, or leans up against the wall in your child's room, or you can even display it on an easel if you like.

Now I'm an artist, and I have this thing about presentation....but you could do the same thing with posterboard and a big book of drawing paper for about 5 bucks instead of 35.

:)

We also turned one 4 foot by 10 foot section of wall into a "fridge". (Hehehe...our fridge got too small) We were planning on painting, so we didn't bother putting up corkboard. We use pushpins and just secure all my son's recent art in a big collage on that wall. Then we periodically take it all down and put it in his portfolio. ::blushing:: We still haven't painted. But we will! Someday....that is. Hopefully someday soon. At that point we'll undoubtedly either put up cork board or a home made batting board. Depends on how industrious I'm feeling. 90% chance on the cork.

R

Hello!
Here is my only idea for now
Hang rope or string around the your childrens bedrooms or playrooms, even your kitchen. Hang it up high like a border. Use clothes pins to hang the artwork and after it fills up, take it down and have them, (and yourself), handpick your favorites. Keep your favorites in a scrapbook. Then you start the hanging artwork all over again with the new projects. I looks REALLY cute! Good luck and have fun!!

In an issue of Parents a few months back, they mentioned putting rows of horizontal string/twine/yarn a couple feet apart in your child's bedroom. On each row, depending on how long it is and how much art work you have, get the appropriate amount of clothespins and you can hang the artwork that way. The idea is two-fold: you can keep the artwork out and you can decorate the room.

Another idea is to mat them on construction paper and laminate pieces of art then using them as place mats.

Here's a link that may also help: http://www.parents.com/family-life/home-garden/organizati...

(No, I don't work for Parents Magazine :), they just have a lot of really cute ideas)

Hope these help!

-S.

Check out www.yourtreasuresinprint.com

I made a 12x12 book with my son's artwork to send to his Grandparents who live in another state.

And, it helps us since you only have so much refridgerator door space....

T.

Since you are trying to eliminate clutter, I would make a folder for the artwork and save no more than 10 things at any time.

Hello.

I scan alot of my daughter and put them on cd. This works well with the shoe box diarama projects. Also, I have one rubbermaid bin that she fills with those pieces she considers worthy.

She is in second grade and we still have a ton of room in the bin. Portfolios are also nice and flat.

C.

I am all about NO CLUTTER. We have two daughters, both, very artsy crafty. Therefore TONS of art and stuff. Here is the rule in our house...30 days and then it's gone. The girls have 30 days to turn their "work of art" into a picture, a digital picture. Those pictures are then printed if they want and put in their "box". They each have one large blue rubbermaid container for their memories...they decide ehat goes in based on what fits. They pay for the printing by the way - so it keeps it down to the ones they REALLY RELLY want! You don't need a lot of computer speed to just turn artwork into pictures.

B.
Family Wellness Coach

Hello, I actually have a file in my file cabinet for each grandchild and put important papers and art in there. At the end of the year (or so) I clean out some of them. Also, I frame some of the art they do. I have it in my living room and it gives the wall a quaint look. Of course you can't do all of it this way. You could save it and then at the end of the school year, have them help you to make an art book with a cover.
K. K.

Try www.ShareMyKidsArt.com - I love this website! It's free and lets you store and organize your children's art. The thing I like it about the most is it has these little buttons so that you can email or upload to your facebook wall pieces of art; this is really nice for us because we live in California and my parents live in Hawaii and my wife's parents live in NY. If one of our children create something we want to share with the grandparents, we simple press a button.

The only thing is you need to scan or photograph the art, which seems like a hassle but it's actually fairly easy. Good luck!

Video tape your child showing and telling you about what they made. Then you can store it in a plastic bin with a lid. Keep only the extra special ones if you feel the need because believe me they add up quick. But you will have them all on tape and a sweet reminder of how they were at the age when they made it.

Art portfolio from an art store, comes in many sizes anywhere from $5 to $20 & up for more professional which is not probably necessary. Quick & easy!

Try the books at www.gathersortstore.com they are easy and fun to do with your kiddos!

I love this question!

My son just started preschool and we are already getting a good collection of his daily lessons and art treasures!

You've already received many creative solutions for alternative storage--lots of great ideas! I just wanted to share this one idea that I saw years and years ago, that stuck with me, and that is to affix those clear plastic display frames (found at any office supply store "sign holders" or literature holders) to your fridge, wall, or back of door, etc. These will hold multiple pages--you can keep the most recent or fave in front--and keeps your child's creations looking artistic AND tidy (no fly-aways)!

These clear plastic "floater" frames come in a variety of sizes and although most use screws, I have noticed some have either magnets or adhesive on the back for mounting. Mount open end up keep all papers from falling out :) This is our plan of action over the next couple of weeks LOL

Cheers,
M.

I don't know...my filing cabinet is busting at the seams with my daughter's school and artwork. I'd love to hear what's worked for other moms.

Thanks!
L.
www.OffRampPublishing.com

I've been buying big plastic storage bins that come with a cover. I get a new one at the beginning of the school year and label it with the year/grade/teacher. All school work and art work for that year goes in the bin and I keep then stacked in the garage. You don't say how old your kids are but once my son hit first grade there wasn't much artwork. We still have artwork up from preschool.

Hope this helps!

You've gotten some great suggestion for making them digital, but if you want to keep the originals I have an idea. Get a three ring binder with page protectors. Each artwork that comes home goes in a page protector. At the end of the week, go through it together with your child and have him/her pick the ONE to keep in the folder. You have the right to keep others that are special. The rest get tossed or mailed to other relatives. Do it each week and at the end of the month do the same; pick the one artwork from the month to keep. At the end of the school year you have a binder with just 9 to 12 pieces of fabulous art.
Artwork that seems especially good you can frame and hang at home.