Double Duty: Mother’s Day Gift + DeCluttering Method

Introducing Love Them Madly’s first guest blogger, my cousin Nerissa, a Manhattan finance guru and mom to Grayson, age 3.  When I saw this adorable gift Nerissa made for my mother-in-law (psst….Mother’s Day Gift Idea coming up…), I asked her to share a tutorial on making kids’ art stationary. I didn’t know her ideas would double as a de -cluttering method.

Take it away, Nerissa…

Real estate is a “commodity” to me and to the almost 4 million people on the island of Manhattan.  Like many parents, I am always managing the challenge of transforming 1,400 square feet into an oasis for our family, preferably without relocation.  So when my three-year old son comes home with 3 or 4 different art projects a week along with the ones we create at home, we have two organizational options: “Display it, or dispose it.”

Necessity was the mother of deciding to use my son’s art as home decor and as gifts, but what it did for Grayson was incredible.  He became more and more confident about his creations AND is quite proud to see his art around our home and as lovely stationery.  He often asks, “You like my art, mom?”

Some of the art can be framed economically or simply taped to the playroom or bedroom wall.  I have done both.  The use of packing tape has given my oasis a bohemian effect so I am trying harder and harder to “display” and frame my son’s art that I find interesting.  Let me be honest…I cannot appreciate all toddler art.

However, the Children’s Museum of Art has introduced a whole new world of art to my toddler, which requires more than just wall space.  They have a Clay Bar that encourages young artists to create their own characters for use in animation, “producing” their own films and various other multi-media projects.  I assure you my son is just molding and sculpting fish, frogs and panda bears BUT, nevertheless, his little gallery is growing and expanding.  So I had to find a way to memorialize the work, which unless I put them in a curio cabinet, will not stand up to little fingers and playdates.

Voilá, a light bulb appears…I mean a flash “bulb” from my husband’s camera. A perk of being married to a photographer — Mark (of Mark Jason Photography) photographed the art and we transformed them into lovely note cards to give as a birthday, Mother’s Day and anniversary gifts.

We used a roll of white seamless paper (photographer’s use) for the background; however, a large piece of construction paper is a fine substitute.  This was Grayson’s plant project.

I did my best to give it some flair.  We had excess model magic “clay” so we made a basket for his seashells.  This photograph will be used as Thank You cards.

This is how his previous collection turned out.

I used idesign + co. to print my blank note cards (and all my stationary) because I love their cardstock but you can use any printer; even your own.  Print Art Kids specializes in kids’ art products and prints customized note pads, spiral notebooks and labels.  Don’t forget to put a recent photo of the artist as well as “Art Work by [your child’s name]” on the back.  Lastly, I packaged the cards  in pretty button string envelopes from Jam Paper and attached stringed tags to write my sentiments and wrapped them around the envelope button before sealing.  Happy Greetings!

Thanks Nerissa and Mark! I’m rolling out my white IKEA drawing paper right now.