Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Organizing Your Child's Artwork and School Papers


With the new school year upon us one is left to wonder what  to do with the plethora of papers and artwork that comes home from school.  Seriously, how much can a refrigerator hold!?  Last school year I used some of these methods of displaying artwork:

  • Using clipboards which makes changing the artwork super simple!


  • Artkive, an app that stores your children's artwork.
  • Framing art that's extra special.

These are great options but I still needed help to organize my children's school work whether artwork, report cards, etc.  One day while wandering Michael's Arts and Crafts I came across an art portfolio that looked like it might just work.  Before purchasing, I decided to research and read some reviews about it.  I was pleased with what I read and quickly went back and purchased 2, one for my son who at the time was in 2nd grade and one for my daughter who was in her first year of preschool.  It has 24 pages front and back so can hold up to 48 pieces of paper.  Now, depending on how much stuff you hold on to you might be able to get 2 school years out of one book.  I am a bit sentimental when it comes to my kids artwork so for my son I will be purchasing another portfolio for this upcoming school year.  As for my preschooler I still have a few pages left in hers.


Most of what I have added to these portfolio's is artwork and for my son I've also included his report cards and other schoolwork that was not necessarily 'art.'



This is about how thick my son's portfolio became by end of the school year

Their are so many great ideas out there, just google "organize school art/paper work" and tons of fantastic ideas will pop up.  Every family is different so a system that works for one may not work for another.  The key is to do your research and then pick the one that's best for you and your family! I hope this post will give yet another idea/alternative on how to organize your children's school papers.

For me, I am pleased enough organizing my children's school work this way that I will continue purchasing these portfolio's, putting them into a large bin and storing the bin in our basement or attic.  This way whenever I want to take a walk down memory lane or pass them onto my children once they are grown I should be able to simply grab the bin and reminisce!

More info about the Itoya Profolia is online at Amazon.  The opinions were 100% my own and I was not compensated by Amazon or anyone associated with Itoya Art Profolio.

I would love to know how you are storing your kids school work papers so share away in the comments below!




27 comments:

  1. I really need to invest in an art portfolio for each of my kids! Such a great idea. Right now I just have some special paintings hung up with washi tape :-)

    Thanks so much for sharing on the #SHINEbloghop

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    1. I absolutely love these portfolio's! I hope they work out great for you as well!

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  2. I'm getting ready to have a kindergartener so great tips and resource! I'll have to try this with my daughter.
    Angela @ Trusting the Journey of Motherhood

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    1. Angela, It has really worked out great for us!

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  3. My son's not that prolific yet, and we're not getting much back apart from scribbles and him practising lots of N's for his name. This is a good idea though to have as a 'scrapbook'. My plan currently is to photograph them, and potentially do them as a photobook.

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  4. I have two girls. You cannot believe how much paperwork that generates!!! I know some highly organised parents that photograph artwork and then get photo books made up. Up 'til now I have just papered the playroom walls with the pictures - but I need to buckle down and start thinking about how to deal with my ever-increasing art collection!

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    1. I know Vanessa it gets crazy!! Their are so many great ideas thought it just depends what works best for each family! Good luck!

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  5. What a great idea! I'm going to do this for my two this year!

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    1. Great, Janine!! I hope you'll love it as much as we do!

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  6. I have tons of artwork from school years gone by that I have stored in a storage tote that I've been meaning to frame:) Thanks for sharing your ideas at the Teach Me Tuesday Linky Party!

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    1. And this could even be a good place to hold those things until the framing begins!

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  7. This is something I've been thinking about lately. I like the ease of the clipboard idea.

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  8. Great ideas! The kids' work is certainly something that is hard to stay on top of when there is so much of it. :) Thanks for the tips!

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  9. I have big boxes full that need to be gone through and culled! - I wish that I had read this post when my kids were small! Great tips! I found this post on the #WonderfulWednesdayBlogHop!

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  10. I use Blinkbuggy to write things I want to remember, but you can also scan your child's paperwork and add it there. I haven't done it yet, but I bet it would cut down on all the paper you have to keep! Great ideas, Susen!

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    1. Good idea, Charlee will have to check that out too! Thanks!

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  11. I NEED to do this. I hang on to everything but it is all just random strewn about the house! Thanks so much for linking up to this weeks Monday #pinitparty. Have pinned :)

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    1. It has worked great for us! Like you, I had things everywhere and couldn't find anything! This has truly been our lifesaver!!

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  12. Oh, I need to order one of these ASAP! My daughters art is really disorganized. Thanks for sharing and linking up.

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    1. Rattles and Heels, it has worked out so well for us I am off to buy another for this school year! I'm confident you'll love it!!

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  13. Great idea for keepsake! Thank you for sharing it us #pintorials


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  14. This is what we do, too! I like the book method as it's neat and tidy, and the kids like it because they can easily see their creations.

    Thank you for linking up with Mom's Library, I'm featuring you today at Castle View Academy.

    Have a great week!

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    1. Hi Crystal! Thanks for the feature. These books have been great and you're right my kids really enjoy looking through them and when the school year is over I can easily put them into a larger bin for long term storage.

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