Need Help Organizing Your Kids Artwork?

Hey, if you're like me, you have a LOT of artwork from your kids that you don't know what to do with.  It took me 6+ years of trial and error, but I finally have a system that is working really well (and not taking up a lot of room!)

 
So, I thought I'd share it -because I would have LOVED advice on this 6 or so years ago. 

 
I went to Michaels and bought 3 matching decorative accordian file boxes (they cost $19.99 but I went three separate times with 3 40% off coupons) so they came to $12 each plus tax.

 
I also bought decorative letter stickers so that I could "write" each kids' name on each folder.

 
Then, using my computer, I made labels for the inside sections - you know, for each grade.  (I did not put the grades on in advance - just in case 2nd grade takes up less room than, let's say, 3rd grade.)  I just printed out a sheet of all the grades, stuck on what we need thus far, and put the rest of the sheet in a back section.

 
As my kids bring home their "art", I decide what is "keep worthy" and stick it in their "slot" in the accordian file.  The file is larger than 8 1/2 x 11 so it holds pretty big projects.  I also save report cards and things like that in here.

 
Then, I bought a different kind of accordian file for my husband and I.  I divided it into 3 sections -one for each kid.  In those slots go the things the kids make for us - you know, b'day cards, notes they write us, etc.  AND, I always save, for myself, hand prints and footprint artwork. 

This way, when my kids are "old and gone" I can give each of them their folder - to have as a nice memory of their school years - and I have my own folder of special memories and "gifts" from the kids.

 
Hope this gives you all some good ideas!  I bet many of you already have good systems, but since it took me so long to come up with one, I wanted to share it!

From Kellie Seiler.  You can visit her blog at http://www.savvymoxie.com/.  She posts money-saving/money-making tips and funny stories about life withh 3 kids.

If you don't want to venture out to Michaels, you can purchase neat expandable files at Amazon.  View our item of the week: artwork organizers