Since I introduced my toddler to the world of arts and crafts about a year ago, he has drawn and painted and glued countless projects, most of which end up in the trash within a week. Thankfully, I'm not the type of mom that feels bad about throwing these things out — and my son makes quick work out of any finger painting project, so there are always more masterieces — but, I am keenly aware of the fact that one day he will grow up and may not be the least bit interested in art or perhaps he'll actually become an artist, and I will want to have some of his early works to remember these years by. Inspired by some of his work, as well as by ways that other moms have chosen to display their toddler's artwork, I've now amassed three canvases donned with my son's creations, all of which are actually hanging in my kitchen.
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I just love looking at this little collection, and it has me convinced that childrens' artwork is the perfect way to decorate your home cheaply. Here, I've compiled some crafts that you can do with your kids, that you'll actually be able to use to decorate your home. Check them out in the slideshow below.
Geometric Art
If your kids can color inside the lines, they can create a gorgeous geometric painting. All you have to do is use masking or painter's tape to create a geometric pattern on a canvas, give them a few different colors of paint that coordinate with each other and instruct them to paint inside the lines, and you'll end up with a bold piece suited for any room of the house.
Marbled Pottery
While I'm not in love with the color scheme in this photo, I adore the idea, especially since it's a project that even toddlers can do. It's literally just pouring and swirling paint over a terracotta pot, which can be picked up inexpensively at a hardware store. The finished product can be used for both indoor and outdoor plants.
Abstract Crayon Art
Crayon art became trendy a couple of years ago, but most of what I've seen related to children is some drippy lines of melted crayons on a canvas — fun, but I'd never display it in my home. This neat, super-abstract version on the other hand, is a winner. Kids of any age can arrange broken bits of crayon at random or in a pattern of their choosing to create a unique and colorful work of art.
Chalkboard Wall
You're probably thinking, "Enough with the chalkboard paint already!" But, it just looks so cool and is so much fun! Paint a wall in your kitchen or play room and let your kids unleash their creative genius whenever inspiration strikes and you'll always have fresh art in your home. Plus, if you don't like it, you can just erase it in a few hours.
Framed Finger Painting
This is actually one of the projects I did with my son and it makes me smile every time I look at it. If you tape off a design on either a piece of card stock or a canvas, you can let your baby or toddler finger paint the entire thing and once it's dry you'll have a forever keepsake of this sweet age. And, honestly it's amazing what beauty those tiny fingers can create.
Mini Gallery
Lastly, if you just can't bear to throw away all those doodles and finger paintings, you can use them to create a mini gallery in a single frame. Just scan each one, shrink down, print and arrange all together in a large frame.
