What to do with all that super cute schoolwork that the kiddos create each day at school, and just seems to build up on the counter, takes over the front of the fridge, fills the junk drawers, and builds up in your car?!?!… It just seems to take over the house, and I know it’s so hard to get rid of any of it… Well.. I have a fun way to create some awesome easy DIY Schoolwork organization while creating a memory keepsake for you and kids to look back on when they get older. And bonus… Its cheap and super cute!
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SUPPLIES NEEDED TO MAKE A SCHOOLWORK ORGANIZER:
- White Cardboard Filing Bin – I found mine at Walmart in a 3 pack for less than $10.
- File Folders – I love Legal Sized File Folders to hold all those awkwardly shaped creations that your kiddos create. Here are some Awesome Legal Sized File Folders that come in a bunch of fun colors!
- Felts/Colored Markers
- Printer
- Free Canva Membership – If you want to edit the Free Printable Organization Pages (that I have linked for you in the tutorial) you can create a free account on Canva and upload the templates I provided below, then just add your own kiddos name and photo. P.S. Canva is pretty AWESOME to create anything digital!
- Clear Tape
- Optional: Kids Paints (we used kids watercolors)
- Optional: Laminator
STEPS TO MAKE A SCHOOLWORK ORGANIZER:
Step 1: Get your kiddos set up with their own White Cardboard File Box and have them to paint a lovely picture on the sides. Ivy painted a rainbow on one side and a storm on the other side. I love kids imaginations! Don’t bother painting the ends of the box, because it will eventually be covered with the free Printable personalized Name and photo of your child.
Step 2: While the kiddos are painting their Schoolwork Organization boxes, You can write the grades on the Filing Labels. These Labels should come with the files when you bought them. I made 2 files for every grade (one for Art, and one for Paperwork), mainly because the pack of Legal Sized Files comes in a pack of 25 and no one wants to waste file folders…
Step 3: Use the Canva link to download the free printable Front of Box Personalizable Schoolwork Organization Box Label and add your own kiddos name and photo to the label. Click on the photos below to activate the link to them on Canva!
CLICK ABOVE IMAGES FOR LINK: Schoolwork Organization Pink & Blue Editable File Box Labels
Step 4: Use the Canva Link to download the All About Me Pages For each grade. You can add your own kiddos name and print them off for each grade. Then you will be ready to glue on their school photo and fill in the information with pen each year. You can either Glue/tape these pages to the front of each filing folder (like I did) or just place it inside each file.
CLICK ABOVE IMAGES FOR LINK: Schoolwork Organization Pink & Blue Editable ALL ABOUT ME Yearly File Labels
Step 5: Put your whole Schoolwork Filing System together and Start collecting those masterpieces! I find it helpful to keep these boxes accessible (close to the Kitchen, ours are in the bottom of the pantry) and not in the basement storage closet because you just won’t use it very often, and then the schoolwork will build up again!!
Step 6: This step is KEY!!! At the end of the year go through all of your kiddos creations and school work and decide to keep ONLY 5 of your MOST FAVORITES!!!! I know… it will be tough! But what you do is take photos of all the ones you are going to get rid of, give away as gifts, or put in the recycling.
Step 7: Use Canva to create a collage of all the artwork photos you took. All you do is go to Canva.com and search for “Picture Collage” select the template that you like best and upload your photos into it. Then just print off your Kids Art Collage pages and add them to your file. That’s it!! If you didn’t do this there is no way that all 12 years of schoolwork would fit into one filing box… if you don’t get rid of any schoolwork you might end up with 10 filing boxes. That BE CRAZY YO! But do you… wink!
Have fun creating this filing system for all your kiddos schoolwork. I hope this tutorial inspires you to get ahead of the game and create a filing system that works for you. You got this!
Until next time, enjoy a schoolwork clutter free life, and creating beautiful things everyday!
XO JCL
Such a great idea! Love the link to the printables. Setting ours up this weekend. I also keep two pieces ‘on display’ in frames.
Yay!! Thanks Danleigh! Great idea to frame a couple too. I’d love to make a kids art wall in the playroom. Thanks so much for the awesome idea!! Have a great night! 🤗❤️
I love what you’re doing here. A great way to store precious things now, but a brilliant way your children will be able to look back at their work. As we grow older we can sometimes forget our own original creative genius. We get busy, we are conditioned by what society tells us is expected , fun and creativity can fall off the never-ending list… these items will be a precious resource for when your children are all grown up and want to discover who they really are …
Awww Thanks Karletta, I hope that my kids appreciate this keepsake in the future as much as you described! I wish I had something like this too look back on my beginning creations too. Have an awesome day!
Love this idea! If you continue to pile the boxes your kids will be so grateful when they grow up and look back at their work
As a former educator, I love this clever idea!???? This is a genius organization model that your kids love, too! Kudos to your creative and personalized design!????
As a former educator, I love this adorable idea! You are so clever???? You created an organization system that your kids love, too! Hat off to your idea!????
Great DIY idea for kids organization! I am sure all of us moms need this with all the creative work our kids do daily. Thanks for sharing