The Best Ways to Curate Your Kids' Artwork

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It's a dilemma that every parent faces — what to do with all those masterpieces that our kids create in their art class. Hanging onto each and every one would require a dedicated storage room, but tossing them doesn't feel right either. Appoint yourself head curator of your household gallery, and consider turning your kids' artwork into a book, transforming it into a stuffed animal, or consolidating multiple pieces into an attractive display.

— Additional reporting by Shari Wargo Stamps and Alessia Santoro

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Portrait of the Artist
A Thousand Words

Portrait of the Artist

Framing collages of kids' art alongside their portraits adds a personal touch to your display.

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Turn It Into a Shirt
Create Celebrate Explore

Turn It Into a Shirt

Follow Tonya Staab's DIY instructions to turn your child's art into a wearable masterpiece!

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The Masterworks

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!

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Clip Up the Art
The Style Files

Clip Up the Art

For an industrial look, hang a few horizontal wires and clip up your kids' projects — no matter their shape and size.

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Paint Your Own Gallery Space
Childhood 101

Paint Your Own Gallery Space

Painting brightly colored frames onto your wall turns it into a permanent gallery space.

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Stick 'Em Up

Stick 'Em Up

A package of assorted heart stickers from Tinch Design Studio ($8 for 10) are a sweet way to show your love for smaller works or a budding photog's pics.

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Turn It Into a Toy

Turn It Into a Toy

Child's Own Studio turns lil ones' artwork into lovable, cuddle-able stuffed creatures (from $125).

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Put It Under Their Plates

Put It Under Their Plates

Kids will be happy to sit for a meal with their own personalized placemats ($33). Make these at home with contact paper, take them to your local office store for laminating, or purchase one online, no fuss.

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Turn It Into a Photo Book

Turn It Into a Photo Book

Photo and digital scrapbooking websites like Blurb, Snapfish, Paislee Press, and Shutterfly have templates to help you make photo books of your child's art and school work. Can't decide what to put in the book? Apps like ArtKive make taking pictures, cataloging, and archiving the work before printing easy.

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Make It Into a Functional Key Chain

Make It Into a Functional Key Chain

Love a project so much that you wish it could go with you everywhere? Get it made into a Formia Design custom-made key chain ($99) that's both fun and functional.

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Put It on Canvas
The Artful Parent

Put It on Canvas

Retailers like Costco and CVS will transfer your child's creation to a more permanent material, like canvas, a blanket, or a poster.

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Create Fun Figurines

Create Fun Figurines

Crayon Creatures ($199) brings life to children's artwork using a 3D printer to make a vibrant sandstone sculpture that can be displayed anywhere in your home or office.

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Clip It on the Cabinet
I Heart Organizing

Clip It on the Cabinet

I Heart Organizing's method makes use of old cabinets. Simply add a fresh coat of paint and a magnet clip, and you have a stylish frame.

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Make It Into a Stuffed Animal

Make It Into a Stuffed Animal

Thanks to Budsies ($79-$149), your child can cuddle with their masterpiece! The company turns tots' illustrations into soft plush toys.

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Have it Made Into a Book

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 their 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 week's time, your gorgeous book (and the artwork if you request it) arrives at your doorstep and you're ready to enjoy it!

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