Unique and beautiful ways to organize and display your kids’ artwork in your home!
From the time our kids begin to color we become art collectors. Collectors of one of a kind, priceless works of art – our children’s art! After 10 years and four kids, you start to accumulate a fair share of googley eyed preschool projects + glittery {sometimes gooey} works of art, let me tell you!
We could fill our home to overflowing with the kids special projects, but I’m going to share a few quick tips on how we’ve gotten a handle on our art collection. PLUS scroll down to see how we are displaying the kids artwork thanks to my helpful collage templates – you’re going to love this!
The every growing piles of the kids artwork can definitely get overwhelming, but my solution to keeping the it from taking over our lives has been to designate a rubbermaid bin in the basement for each child. I wrote their names on their bin with black sharpie and inside we store their artwork, special school papers + other mementos. It’s nothing fancy but at least it’s sorted and all in one place.
Before their artwork goes into their bins, I collect it in two metal baskets that are easily accessible in the closet in my craft room. I like to go through these baskets periodically and transfer anything we want to keep into their bins, but its been months since I’ve gotten around to doing this.
This week the project simplify challenge is all about piles so I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to get a handle on our pile of the kids artwork! Yesterday I sat down and got all of the kids art sorted + dated and it’s now safely in their corresponding bins in the basement. Yay! It feels so good to have that done. But I couldn’t stop there…
Since I had all their artwork sitting out in front of me anyway, I decided it was high time we got some of it on display! After photographing some of the kids favorite art pieces I created this fun collage that we can hang up! The kids think its so fun and I think – why didn’t I do this sooner! I just love it! Keep reading to find out more about my new children’s art collage templates + for some quick tips on photographing your child’s artwork!
I actually prefer photographing my kids art rather than scanning it. Some of it can be a bit bulky and doesn’t fit in the scanner well and I find it much quicker to take photos than to scan. Photographing or scanning your child’s art can is a great way to cut down on the amount of art you feel like you need to keep. Sometimes I photograph a child holding a piece of their art and then we can chuck it – you definitely can’t keep it all.
Tips for photographing your child’s artwork
1. Photograph in a well lit area. Near a window, on a covered deck or in an open doorway.
2. Use a higher f-stop setting on your camera ensuring more of your image will be in focus. Don’t have the ability to manually change your camera settings? Try shooting in landscape mode.
3. Stand directly over top of the artwork. Be sure you aren’t blocking your light source.
4. Pay attention to how straight you’re holding your camera. Your camera should be parallel to the art piece. Check your view finder, the straight edges of the view finder should be parallel to the edges of the art work. Make slight adjustments to the angle of the camera until they are.
To display some of my kids artwork I created a couple of templates in Photoshop that I can use to quickly and easily create a collage using the photos I’ve taken of their art. You know how much I love collages and templates by now, right? You can find further proof here and here. They’re such a great, simple way to display or document a collection of photos and using a template makes it easy to create a unique, eye catching collage! You can find a full length tutorial on using my digital templates here!
I’ve created four templates for displaying children’s art
8×10 – 20 image collage
11×14 – 20 image collage
8×10 – personalized collage for 16 images
11×14 – personalized collage for 16 images
You can see what the personalized template looks like {image above} without the child’s artwork added. It can be customized however you like – switch up the fonts or change the colors to match your child’s room. I just love this version and can’t wait until we’re settled in our own place so I can do one for each of the kids room’s!
I hope you enjoy this fun + simple solution for displaying your child’s artwork. Have you found a fun way to show of your child’s artistic talents? Please share with me in the comments!
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Rebecca, I love this idea!! thank you so much for sharing. I have a collection of my children’s artwork as well and had been wondering how best to keep them. Love the idea of photographing and displaying them too. and thanks for the photography tips too 🙂
What a great idea! We are at the point where my children like to draw multiple pieces of art each day, and color and paint, and glue etc. I have been leaving a few pieces out, but then the majority ends up in a bin. I really should go through that bin, but I can’t seem to let go of any of it! But, taking a picture and then making a book or collage out of it is definitely something I could do!
Where did you get those white frames? Love this idea. My daughter has so much artwork.
The frame is from Walmart @Jen Peitz. 🙂
What a great idea. thanks for sharing. My children are now 14 and 15, but I still have a big pile of old artwork that I’ve been meaning to photograph (I also find it way easier to snap a photo than to scan). This post is great inspiration for me to get on with that process – and to get the resultign images up in our house instead of just sitting on my computer.
I absolutely ADORE this and will be getting one of the templates ASAP. You are such an inspiration, and my daughter is going to LOVE having her art on display!
I absolutely ADORE this and will be getting one of the templates ASAP. You are such an inspiration, and my daughter is going to LOVE having her art on display!
Rebecca – thank you so much for sharing this. I only have one but I have bins full of artwork from Preschool on up; granted she’s only in first grade but I had no idea what to do with it. This is great! Thanks so much again for sharing!
xoxo
Lindy
Wonderful!
Nice idea!~
Love this idea. I’ve been wanting to do this for a while and I really like how you added the child’s name and year at the bottom. Where did you print the collage?
I love this idea and have been wanting to do it for a while. I love you how you added the child’s name and year at the bottom! Where did you print the collage?
I printed my collage at Costco. 🙂
Love this idea I have been trying to figure out a way to hold on to my kids artwork having a collage of pictures will make it a lot easier in letting go of some of it. Just ordered my templates can’t wait to get them!
Thanks again!
I need something to do with all that artwork too!
I cannot tell you how much I am in love with this idea. My oldest is a huge art creator and she refuses to let it out of this house to send to grandparents or to recycle. Everything is her favorite. This, I think, may be the most perfect solution (and great gifts for grandparents!) You so rock!
http://thisfineday.com/
I am in the midst of going through the bins in the basement and my kiddos are 10 and 13! They are excited to see their old stuff so this is perfect for getting more on one page in my PL album! Places print 12×12? I hope so! Ordering 🙂
This is a lovely idea. My youngest just finished an Art Summer Camp and I want to use this template to display his work. I was wondering if I can scan his paintings/drawings instead of taking pictures of them?
Also, I would like to know if I should use this template like the mother’s day bookmark.
Thank you for inspiring…always in very simple ways…
What a wonderful idea for displaying kids art – thanks!! I’ve got this linked to my kids art post too today, for inspiration!
Amazing idea Rebecca. We have so many bins FULL of our childrens are projects and the walls are overflowing with pin-ups. This is such a nice, sleek way to display their beautiful work. Thanks!
I am going to use this idea for our Compassion kids! Thank you for the wonderful idea 🙂
I am going to use this idea for the artwork our Compassion kids send us, but I am going to send them the photographs 🙂
I love this!! My “kids” are 23 & 25 and I still have several tubs of their creations that I cannot part with. What a great way to revisit great memories & MAYBE free up some basement space… Plus I think they would love getting a collage as well.. Both love vintage & share my sentental streak.. Thanks again for sharing such a wonderfully thoughtful idea!!
I frikking LOVE this idea and its so getting done, lol! I have been looking for things to put up in my hallway and THIS IS IT! Thanks so much for the idea, it’s wonderful. xx
So glad you like our fun art collage! I’d love to see your finished project if you get one put together for your kiddos @Super Busy Mom! Thanks for stopping by. Have a lovely weekend. 🙂
Hi
I have been looking for a way to do this for ages! If I purchase these will I also need a certain program / file to be able to use them on my pc?
Many thanks
Emma x
You do need photoshop to use the templates.
I love the way this looks when displayed. Thanks for sharing!
Or you can simply scan your kids’ artworks, process them on photoshop and put them on the template. Easy as pie.
Scanning works great too! 🙂
The collage turned out great! You may also want to share such special memories with Grandma and Grandpa, so try Keepy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2utE5WJ-LG8
Can we print just using a regular HP printer? Should I use photo paper? I don’t have photoshop either.
i can’t wait to try this!!