For Your Little Artist: Gift Guide 2011

Clockwise from top left: Potato Printing book, yeti latch hook kit, clementine art supplies, Let’s Make Some Great Art book, Doodles at Breakfast book, organic wooden truck crayon holder, artist’s pad, child’s lap loom

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Ten Creative Ways to Display Children’s Art

I am so ridiculously excited for the day when Violet starts to create some artwork of her own. I absolutely love children’s art and think it is important to display it in a beautiful way your home. Not only does it show your children that their creations are valuable to you, it is also very beautiful and can really add life to any space. (Case in point):

Here are a few of my favorite ways in which to display your little one’s masterpieces:

1. Traditional frame wall:

2. Metal clips:

3. Cable system:

4.Using larger, permanent frames, but clipping or taping in the art allows you to rotate it more easily:

5. Grid collage:

There are a few different ways to do this. The first is to have someone else do it for you, but this can be very pricey.

If you have a little computer-savvy and a bit of time, you can create the same effect yourself for less:

And if you don’t get along with computers, here is a more hands-on technique:

And if that looks intimidating, a smaller, more friendly version:

6. Magnets! You can use trays like this project, or most anything made of metal:

Or, of course, there’s magnetic paint. Layer it beneath chalkboard paint or just your regular old wall color for a cleaner look.

7. Clipboards:

8. Make it into a book. Again, this is something that you could pay someone else to do, or DIY:

9. Clothespins. Go crazy with some chicken wire, or keep it simple with a bit of string:

10. Wall decals. Another, more whimsical way to have the look of a permanent frame wall but with the ability to rotate the art:

Do you have any creative ways for displaying children’s art? I’d love to hear about them!

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For Your Little Artist: Handprints and Footprints

It’s amazing how fast our babies grow up. I was looking at Violet’s hands the other day and realized how big they’re getting. I feel like I want to have a record of those little hands – I mean, sure, I have her newborn prints, but that doesn’t seem like enough. I’m thinking of maybe doing a yearly thing? Here are a few fun art projects I’ve found to document those precious little fingers:

Clockwise from top left: one, two , three, four

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