How it works:

Finally! An easy way to organize and save your kids' school papers, artwork and memorabilia. Here are our tips on how to use the system:

1. Gather

• Decide on the time period you want your archive to encompass: your child’s school year, calendar year or their age.
• Label your storage box with the name of your child. Find a nice central location for the box to make collecting loose papers easy.
• As the pieces come in - or once a week, whatever fits your schedule - date each item in pencil, and put it in the box.
• Larger pieces can be folded over gently.

2. Sort

• At the end of the school year, the calendar year, or around your child’s birthday, set aside an hour or two to go through the contents of your storage box with your child. This can be a special time to spend together talking about their work.
• We like to first sort everything into categories like: homework, artwork, cards and notes from friends and teachers, doodles, report cards and certificates.
• Then it’s time to choose your favorite pieces from each of the categories. Our standard book comes with 24 double-sided archival pages, so that’s 48 pieces to choose. You’ll be surprised by how much you can fit in there.
• You can also place multiple, similar items in one sleeve.

3. Store

Once you’ve sorted your selections of loose papers, art and ephemera, it’s time to put them in the book and store them forever:

• Label the spine of the book with your child’s name and the time period you chose in step one (i.e. Kindergarten, 2009, age 6, etc.)
• Slip the papers into the page inserts, in the order that works best for you; for example,  you may choose to go chronologically, or by category. The best part of all: no tape! Nothing is fixed so you can pull things out or re-arrange them to your heart’s content.
• If you have a two-sided piece, simply remove the black paper insert from the sleeve.
• Add matching stickers (included) to selected pages to add personal notes.
• Be sure to recycle the papers you are not keeping. Or get crafty and re-use them as gift wrap, note cards to family, gift tags, etc.

 

Here are some ideas about what to do with the rest of that artwork

REUSE what you can and don’t forget to RECYCLE the rest!

Free things to do with the REST:

Turn It into Note Cards

Use the art work to write short letters to their grandparents who live far away. This way the grandparents get a note and get to see the progress the grandchild is making. You can use math homework, spelling lists and even handwriting papers.

Turn It into Holiday Gift Tags

Child labor? In this case, we’re all for it. Instead of buying premade packs of gift tags at Target or your local party store this year, get our child's artwork out and cut out in cute shapes at home and then let your kid write the “To” and “From” on the blank side. When he’s done, he can help you punch holes in one end of the card and slip ribbons through for tying them to the presents.

Things to do with the the BEST of the BEST:

Turn it into an Art Gallery

Create an art wall in your child's room and rotate the pictures every 3 months, like real art gallery do. If you really want to go all out, have an art opening party in their room.

Turn It into a Postage Stamp

Upload an image and turn it into a totally legit, U.S. Postal Service-approved stamp (scan in the piece of artwork, or take a digital picture of it and upload it from your computer). This is a great way to add a personal touch to any letter or holiday card you send — and seeing your kid’s creation on that stamp will be way more fun than the latest official post office stamp or that boring red flag. Try Pictureitpostage.com, you can create oversize stamps (all the better to see the artwork), with lots of options for customizing type color and background. Two printed sheets of 20 stamps are $17.95.

Turn It into a Cool Bag You (or Your Kid) Can Carry

Snaptotes.com lets you create completely original, totally cute bags with photos or art. Choose from totes, handbags, beach bags, and messenger bags—designs are un-fussy and bags are black so your kid’s art will really pop. Consider using your child’s piece to create a totally original (and great-looking) alternative to the Dora the Explorer bags tons of kids tote to school.

Turn It into Your Kid’s Calling Card

Didn’t know he needed one? Next time you meet a new kid at school or the playground and you’d like to exchange numbers with the other parent for a play date, you’ll have something preprinted to give out. Put your kid’s art on one side and his (and your) contact info on the other— voila!
A cool site, Moo.com, lets you create all kinds of fun things — postcards, sticker books, note cards, and custom mini cards.

Turn It into Place Mats

Why does your fancy tablecloth get all the holiday appearances, use your kids artwork on place mats for a one of a kind holiday decor.

Turn It into Playing Cards

Your kid’s artwork gets showcased on one side, and it’s a regular deck of cards on the other. The whole family will get a kick out of seeing a cute, original drawing being dealt around the table during the next family game night.

Turn It into a Large Canvas Print

Make your kids artwork as large as 24 by 36 inches at Shutterfly.com. Scan the image, then upload it, and let the print adorn his room in supersize fashion. Prints come with gallery-wrapped edges (which look nice and finished), so you can hang the artwork as is, with no frame necessary.

Turn It into Jewelry

Transform your kid’s little artwork creations into wearable sterling silver or 14K gold jewelry at Totallyoutofhand.com. They make custom pins, necklaces, earrings and more.