Children's drawings, paintings and sculptures are sentimental and require a special place where they can be displayed. Offering a more permanent solution to refrigerator art and popsicle stick houses, shadowboxes, wall treatments and laminated placemats preserve your cherished works of art and give them the recognition that they deserve. Children will love being a part of the décor and you will appreciate keeping your prized possessions displayed in a way that doesn't jeopardize the safety and sanctity of your home.
Use a Shadowbox Effectively
Purchase the appropriate size of shadowbox to fit the item that you want to display. Trim a piece of patterned scrapbook paper down to size and glue it to the inside panels of the display. Smooth out all wrinkles by pressing firmly on the paper. Spare wallpaper, newspapers and catalogs can also be used to create a background. Experiment by overlapping different patterns and textures within the box.
Place the keepsake items inside. Move them around to different spots inside the shadowbox until they are arranged the way you want them to be. Secure loose items with craft wire, double-sided adhesive tape or glue. Allow everything to dry before hanging the box on a wall or setting it on a table.
Creating Functional Wall Treatments in One Afternoon
Scan children's artwork and print them out on iron-on transfer paper. Trim excess paper off the designs and press them onto solid colored scraps of fabric using a warm iron. Once the images are complete, turn off the iron and set it aside. Using a needle and thread or sewing machine, attach the blocks of pre-printed fabric to a large panel measuring 35" by 38," leaving enough room at the top to attach hardware. Use a handheld machine to attach grommets to the top of the wall hanging. Cut thick strands of ribbon and thread them through each hole. Tie each loop around a curtain rod for a whimsical look.
The Right Way to Laminate Artwork
Protect paper keepsakes from being destroyed by using a laminating machine to seal the artwork tightly. Here are a few steps to take to ensure that you are safely preserving your child's drawing or painting:
Turn on the machine and allow it to heat up before using it. Select the heat setting that works best with the type of pouch that you are using to laminate the artwork. Adjust the heat dial accordingly. Thicker pouches require higher temperatures than thinner sleeves of plastic.
Place the painting inside the pouch and center it on the carrier. Insert the document into the laminator sealed side first. Do not jostle or force the paper into the machine. Once processed, the carrier will exit out of the rear of the laminator.
Carefully open the carrier and examine the document inside. See if there are any air bubbles or defects in the laminated product. Carefully remove the item and place it somewhere to cool. Once it reaches a lower temperature, use scissors to trim around the edges and put the artwork on your table to use as placemats.
