What to Do with Kid Art

What to Do with Kid Art
By Melisa Coburn

Fridge getting cluttered with all those incredible original creations? Here are 14 ideas for what to do with the very best of the artwork your kid brings home.

Regardless of your kid's natural artistic talent, it's likely you'll feel that every finger painting, stick-figure drawing, and macaroni collage he produces is a masterpiece.

But alas, only so many works of art will fit on the front of your fridge. And at this point, there's a mini avalanche every time you reach for the milk. Here, 14 unique alternatives to the cluttered fridge door.

Create an Art Wall
Take a cue from the art classrooms of your elementary school days and hang up a clothesline in a designated "art space" -- fasten it to a wall in the kitchen, her bedroom, or the playroom. Then just attach pieces with a clothespin. Swap in new pictures as quickly as she's able to produce them. (We like this display method because it's budget-friendly and it's aesthetically neutral and will likely fit in with any decor.) For a punch of color, use a colored string of beads or ribbon instead of basic clothesline or twine, and attach drawings with painted clothespins, colored paper clips, or even cute, multicolored kids' barrettes or hair clips.

Turn It into a Postage Stamp
Upload an image and turn it into a totally legit, U.S. Postal Service-approved stamp (scan in the piece of artwork, or take a digital pic of it and upload it from your computer). This is a great way to add a personal touch to any letter or holiday card you send -- and seeing your kid's creation on that stamp will be way more fun than the latest official post office stamp or that boring red flag. We like pictureitpostage.com because you can create oversize stamps (all the better to see the artwork), with lots of options for customizing type color and background. Two printed sheets of 20 stamps are $17.95.

Send It Off to Interested Parties (i.e., the Grandparents)
Grandma complains she doesn't hear from you enough? Let your kid send a missive (kids love to send and receive mail, and Grandma will love getting something so personal). Take your kid's art and glue it to brightly colored construction paper or card stock -- then have him write a personal note to Grandma (or a favorite aunt or uncle) on the back. Now Grandma's got something for her fridge.