Feb
06
by Laura_D | Posted in Techniques
I don’t know about you but my house is continually filled with piles of artwork from my 3 and 5 year old. Wanting to save it, but yet not knowing what to do with it is a constant struggle. So, when I saw
GeorgeH8’s book,
Kindergarten Art Book, I was inspired. She has scanned in her son’s artwork throughout his kindergarten year into a photo book. Not only are the pictures great, but her captions are so interesting as they address the theme of the specific drawings and add some context as to why this was relevant to her son at the time - a great way to capture and celebrate the ever evolving passions and interests of a 5 year old!
If scanning your child’s artwork sounds intimidating, try this technique. Find an area in your house with good lighting (or outside for good natural light) and photograph the artwork (on a blank piece of poster board) with your digital camera. These pictures are oftentimes comparable to the look of scanned pictures – try it and see how it works for you.
And, of course, post your final photo book in
Shutterfly Gallery for everyone to enjoy!
April 16th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
I just love this idea! I’m gonna be one picture taking nut when I get home. My daughter is also 5 and in Kindergarten and I swear there is no way to try and store EVERYTHING they make. Going to start working on her book tonight!
May 10th, 2008 at 11:10 am
As a first grade teacher, I created a “Scoop on Us” book at the beginning of the year which included individual photos from the first day of school, a list of favorite foods, subjects, places etc as well as a drawing of what each student wanted to be when he/she grew up. It was a great way to get to know each other. I ordered two copies and sent them home with the children so the families were able to know the other students in class. Now as the year is coming to an end, I am finishing a “Scoop on First Grade” book which showcases all of our field trips, class parties, special artwork and other events.
May 10th, 2008 at 11:17 am
After I created a book for my first grade class at the beginning of the year, I started a Kindergarten Memory book for my son. As the year progressed, I scanned and took pictures of his artwork and journal writing, as well as class parties, field trips and special events. I have found that this has been a great way to showcase his artwork and crafts without having to find a place to store them over the years and think that this will be even more special to him in the years to come.
May 12th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
This book/idea is my absolute favorite!!! I have told EVERYBODY they need to follow the lead on this one! I will, even with my own “art” from 6 yrs of graphic art classes and I will definately have to try to take pictures of them since some of them are too big to scan. I can’t wait to get going on this project!
Brayden’s Mom ;o)
Shutterfly Gallery Guru
May 13th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
This is another photobook I really want to do as well. I know my sisters have storage bins of their kids projects. Thats a great tip to take a picture instead of scanning. Especially if its a piece of pottery they made,or something large. My nephew, who is 12, drew this great horse picture for my dad and my parents hung it in their office. Its really cool. I was thinking of scanning it but it is quite large and so when it was hung up, I took a picture of it and it turned out nice. I’ll have to put that in my dad’s birthday/Father’s Day book!
Thanks for the great tip. Everytime i see a new book, I get so excited to get going on a book. They are so fun and inspiring, also quite rewarding!
Joanna
Shuttterfly Gallery Guru
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:21 am
My daughter is a terrific “artist” and we have so many pictures but not enough space to keep them all! I have taken photos of her artwork since she was in kindergarten (she’s headed to 3rd grade next year). I’ve created snapbooks to showcase her talent! We will always have these keepsakes!
June 11th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I am totally doing this next year for my son. I feel bad admitting this but he was in preschool this last year and most of his things I threw away when he wasn’t looking. I kept the really cute stuff. Luckily he has another year of preschool next year and I’m going to make him a book like this! Thanks for the idea, now I can’t wait for the stuff to accumulate. LOL! Great idea.
Bmrivinius
Shutterfly Gallery Guru
June 17th, 2008 at 3:18 am
I save my children’s artwork all year long.
A couple weeks prior to the end of the school year, the kids and I tape it up on one our patio walls
and our children stand proudly in front of all their wall of art work.
They and their artwork wall collage behind them is pictured and
we create a THANK YOU picture card for each respective teacher
and a wonderful image of all their years hard work to add to the family album.
Very special art work is individually pictured and also added to the album.
This takes care of some of the large pieces of artwork created that do not fit on a standard scanner.
The teachers are thrilled to see that “we kept” and “valued” our childrens’ efforts and we and our kids
are happy to have a beautiful image of it all for years to come.
June 30th, 2008 at 9:47 am
I have been making photo books to hilite the best pictures of each year. Last year my book was 95 pages! In these books are pages of artwork from my kids in different collages. People love the idea and it is a nice way to showcase their work throughout the family photo album. This site has been the best thing I have ever came across. THANK YOU!
July 15th, 2008 at 5:54 am
I did the featured book for this article and just finished my second son’s book. We have all been very anxious for him to finish kindergarten so I could get it done. Since I knew I would be doing this, I saved more of his work so it’s much longer. His work includes projects from art class in the style of famous artist, so I put his work next to the famous work and wrote an little bit about the style. I LOVE IT!!!!! Please check it out, just click on my username in the article (georgeh8) and it will take you to my public works.