What to Do With Kids' Artwork
14 Truly Unique Gifts You Can Create From Your Kids' Artwork
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Your children come home with mountains of artwork throughout the year — some of it is worth saving and displaying and some of it heads right for the recycling bin (not when they're looking, of course). But what to do with those extraspecial pieces?
The holidays are a perfect time to share the art class love. Your little one's masterpieces are more than just two-dimensional pieces of art — they're just the start of bigger things to come. That self-portrait is an ideal candidate to be turned into a charm for grandma's necklace. That sketch of your town would make an adorable cover to a notebook. That drawing of the sunset could easily become your family's holiday card. And it's easier than you think.
Read on to see 14 unique ways to give your kids' art to grandparents, aunts, uncles, and loved ones this holiday season. These could become the most meaningful gifts they receive!
1 Turn It Into a Notebook
Graphic Image's leather Refillable Notebooks ($139 and up) are beautiful pieces unto themselves. But add your child's drawings to them as Martha Stewart Weddings Editorial Director Darcy Miller did, and they're simply breathtaking.
2 Put It Under Their Plates
Kids will be happy to sit for a meal at grandma's house with their own personalized placemats. Make these at home with contact paper, or take them to your local office store for laminating.
3 Make It Into a Stuffed Animal
Thanks to Budsies, your child can cuddle with their masterpiece! The company turns tots' illustrations into soft plush toys.
4 Turn It Into a Toy
Child's Own Studio turns little ones' artwork into lovable, cuddly stuffed creatures.
5 Turn It Into a Pendant
In keeping with your child's original work of art, NowThatsPersonal's Pendants ($23 and up) can be used as key rings, necklaces, and more.
6 Put It on Canvas
7 The Masterworks
We adore these customized pieces from Simply Create Kids ($70). Created in the style of museum or exhibition posters, you simply send in pics of your kids' art and Simply Create Kids handles the rest!
8 Have It Made Into a Book
Unlike other books of kids' artwork, Plum Print does the hard work for you, meaning they take the photos of your kids' artwork (high-quality photos) and print it in a book. Just sign up on the site with a $40 deposit and the company sends you a large box with instructions for sending in the work. Fill the box with art, 3D clay projects, or pretty much anything your kids make and the company can photograph it. You can even number the items so they are placed in order. Then, check off if you want the artwork returned to you or not, and send in your box. In a few weeks, your gorgeous book (and the artwork if you request it) arrives at your doorstep and you (or the grandparents) are ready to enjoy it!
9 Turn It Into Your Holiday Cards
Want to show your child how much you love their artwork? Then share it with the world! Minted's new Completely Custom Cards ($2 and up per card for foil-pressed) takes your child's artwork and turns it into your holiday cards. The added shimmer of foil-pressing gives the artwork a gild that your child probably only imagined before! We think the cards are perfectly frame-worthy!
10 Create Fun Figurines
Crayon Creatures ($130) brings life to children's artwork using a 3D printer to make a vibrant sandstone sculpture that can be displayed anywhere.
11 Turn It Into a Necklace
The geniuses at Brevity Jewelry will turn your child's sketch into a wearable charm. Starting at $195 for stainless steel and working their way up to $2,000 for 14K gold, the charms are truly the one-of-a-kind pieces grandparents love to brag about!
12 Turn It Into a Photo Book
A nice coffee table book is a sweet and fun way to share your children's artwork with grandparents. Photo and digital scrapbooking websites like Blurb, Snapfish, and Shutterfly have templates to help you make photo books of your child's art and schoolwork. Can't decide what to put in the book? Apps like Artkive make taking pictures, cataloging, and archiving the work before printing easy.
13 Make It Into a Functional Keychain
Loved ones will cherish a key ring that's made from kids' original designs. Formia Design custom-made keychains ($89-$139) are both fun and functional.
14 Turn It Into a Shirt
Follow Tonya Staab's DIY instructions to turn your child's art into a wearable masterpiece of any size!
