Kids art...

I don't know about you, but I have artwork EVERYWHERE around my house! (My kids were artists for Halloween. So that pretty much tells you of their obsession.) I am always trying to go through the stash and purge the things that aren't "keepers." It's kind of like when you hang onto every piece of baby clothing and gear...even when you're not sure if there are any more babies in your future?? You get to a point (or I have at least) where you decide to pare down what you've kept. Here are a few things I keep in mind when I'm sorting through school work, art work etc. Is this something that shows growth? Is this something that would put a smile on their face when they are 21? And ladies if you are the type that has LOTS of storage space and want to keep every single paper that ever comes home in their backpacks...that is OKAY too! I also like to look for things that show a certain "stage" of development that they have gone through. If your child has gone through a phase where they love a particular character and have drawn that a million times (like my son) then not only is it their art...but it also gives a glimpse into their character and personality. Those are just a few of the things that I like to keep. The first words they write are definitely "keepers." But the rows of letter "g" that come home in their backpacks are not as vital for me to keep. I whipped out this layout yesterday (30 minutes or less!) with some little pictures that I had sitting on my desk that Tanner had drawn for me. They were small enough that they could be put directly onto my layout. If your child has something larger...you can always take a photo of it, or scan it directly into your printer and go from there. This might be the first layout I have ever made of his artwork...and it definitely won't be the last.
I kept the design very simple and the embellishing very light, so that his artwork would be the focal point of the layout. Quick, easy, and someday when he is 21 this WILL put a smile on his face!
Hope you have a great day!