As Savvy Aunties, we get our fair share of pictures drawn for us by our little Picassos.

The artwork, delightful and precious as it is, can pile up. Numerous confessions from parents who were busted by their little ones tossing their artwork in the trash are sprinkled throughout Social Media. (Psst, by the way, either take the trash out right away or take it to work to dispose of).

So Auntie, what to do?

Display it. Frame your favorite pieces, or display them on a bulletin or magnetic board. Rotate your pieces to keep the display fresh. If you frame the pieces, be sure to write their name and age on it so that you can capture the time frame.

For another option, place each one into a photo album or scrapbook to create your own “coffee table” book.

Change it. Upcycle your artwork into you unique items.

1. Create a new piece of art. In this idea from Pinterest, you can cut hearts out of different pictures and create a unique way to display several pieces.

2. Create a decorative bunting. Cut the artwork into triangles and string them together to create a wall hanging.

3. Use the artwork as a background in a picture frame or shadowbox.  
Scan it. Scan your artwork in or take a photo of it with your smartphone. This way, you will have the artwork “forever” even if the actual piece doesn’t last the test of time. 

Once the item is scanned, store it on the cloud in a special folder. If you have more than one niece, nephew or godchild, then create a folder for each child. In addition to their scanned artwork, you can use the same folders to stash photos you have of them.

Publish it. Once you have scanned or photographed the artwork, you can use the photos to create your own book. Many companies offer these features on their websites and have a variety of templates to use.  

Add in descriptions, photos, funny things the kids have said, or create your own adventure story for your niece and nephew. For example, you can write about a weekend you spent together or your imaginary adventure on a pirate ship. Don’t feel creative? Ask a friend to lend a hand or find a creative writing major who needs a few bucks. Make several copies and give them as special gifts. With these tips, you can manage your precious artwork.

Photo: stockimages

Published: September 24, 2014