It’s about to happen!
If you have school-aged children…you know what I mean: the onslaught of papers is about to begin!
My go to solution for dealing with all that artwork and school work is the three ring binder system that I blogged about oh-so-many months ago. Super simple…but it doesn’t give the artwork it’s day-in-the-sun. So, here’s a new idea, a not so simple idea, but a new one none-the-less.
This, my friends, is a giant artwork collage, created using a 36″ x 36″ stretched canvas. I wanted some big artwork for our basement family room, and thought it would be fun to make a collage using some of my favorite artwork made by my daughter Kailea. I made this last winter as a possible project for the memorabilia chapter of the book. (We went with something a lot, uh, smaller and simpler but still involving kid’s artwork.)
Anyway, I don’t know about where you are…but it’s super hot here and this would be a great way to pass some time indoors in the air, and get some of last year’s artwork taken care of. All you need to make this is: a 36 x 36 stretched canvas (I got mine on-line at a going out of business sale), a really big bottle of decoupage, a foam brush (or two), a whole slew of kids artwork and an appreciation for spending the day with sticky fingers. To make it, I simply adhered the artwork to the canvas with decoupage. I cut some of the art to fit where I wanted it to go. Once all the artwork was in place, I added a top coat of decoupage. Viola! Eight hours later a collage. 😉
In the process of creating this I discovered a few things:
1) Creating a collage is really not as easy as it looks. I become keenly aware midstream that I had no idea what I was doing. But oh well, it was a lot of fun.
2) It’s not a great idea to ask your husband’s opinion about your collage if you don’t really want it.
3) Art created with marker runs when covered with decoupage. It can be a cool effect…but if that would bother you, stick to art pieces made with crayon.
Alright…someone asked for a project, so here it is! It’s sort of organizing because now you have something to do with all that artwork. Right? And it should keep you busy for a while…so I can go put the finishing touches on that organizing project I told you about. And then, I will post pictures. I promise.
Have a great weekend!
Super cute idea. You know what I’m going to do with my kids art this year? Take a pic of all the projects individually and then at the end of the year send them into Shutterfly and have a book made for each child of their art. I’m excited to do this!
I love this idea! Thank you for sharing!! I am going to do this for my daughter’s work!!
Cute idea!!
i am so going to do this!
thanks!
Great idea. Thanks.
I also take pictures and put them in albums. It works great, cuts the clutter of the projects and it last much longer than keeping the actual project. My kids love looking at the artwork albums!I save “special” pieces and they are stored in a box. I love the idea of a collage. That is something my daughter would love to help with! Thanks for all the great ideas you share!
what a great idea BUT we are still trying to get decoupage out of the dog’s hair from the last project (poor lily). my friend had the same idea but did it in a big picture frame that she bought michael’s (craft store). it came out really nice.
I love it! Thanks for sharing.
CUTE! I have a 23, 22 and 14 year old and I’m ashamed to say all their art work from pre-school through 5-6th grade is shoved in a box in the basement. Yesterday I bought 3 ring binders to seperate and organize all their works. I was going to decoupage copies of their works onto the front of the binders! I thouht this was my first time visiting your blog (found you from Todays Creative Blog) but I must have gotten the 3 ring binder idea from you before! NOW I think I’ll save out some of the best and make a canvas! Whew! Too.Many.Juices.Flowin.NOW!
~Robin
I soooo love this idea! I wonder if I’ve saved enough to make something like this. Thanks once again for sharing.
We scan artwork into the computer and then use it as a screensaver!
Very cute idea!!! My kids aren’t school age yet, but I know the mountain of art and schoolwork is not far away. I will remember this and I can put the canvas up in their toyroom.
Great ideas. I have almost 20 years worth of school “artwork”. I have thought about copying them on a color copier (reducing the size), taking photos and more. Now my younger daughter is REALLY into drawing. She draws in pencil, scans with her printer and uses a paint program to color in her drawings. Of course, she has them on the computer, but she’s been printing out some of the better ones (which I could frame!).
I’ve got to bit the bullet and start organizing the artwork because it’s so precious to me.
Love your organizing tips.
I love this idea! I’ll have to try it.
I have painted large empty old frames, distressed them, hung them up for a never ending rotation of art to be placed inside right on the wall. Love it.
SO cool! Love this idea, Aby!
hmm…..I wonder if you sprayed marked items with acrylic matte sealant – would they withstand the mod podge after that? something to try….