What do i do with all my kids artwork?

As a mum of two, I used to think I was the only one with drawers overflowing with finger paintings, scribbled “I love you” notes, spelling tests, glitter-covered masterpieces, and certificates. I’m such a sentimental person, I just couldn’t bring myself to throw any of it away.

But the truth is, every mum has this struggle, that constant battle between preserving the precious and not drowning in clutter. And the guilt? It's real. You feel awful for letting anything go, but equally overwhelmed by how much you’re keeping.

And if you do decide to throw something out? Without fail, your child finds it in the bin… and suddenly it becomes their most precious drawing ever!

That’s exactly why I started My Art Pix, to help parents turn sentimental chaos into something meaningful, beautiful, and manageable. Because we shouldn’t have to choose between a tidy home and the memories that make it one.

So, let’s talk honestly:

What do you actually do with all the artwork, schoolwork, certificates, birthday cards and scribbles piling up?

Here are some practical, guilt-free tips to help you stay on top of it all—while still holding onto the magic:

1. Create a “Keep” Box – But Set a Limit

Especially as expats, we’re often moving from one home to another, sometimes even from one country to another. Realistically, how much can you carry with you? That moment when you're forced to throw things away? It’s heartbreaking.

To avoid that, designate one memory box per child, per school year. Let your child help decide what stays, this builds their pride and teaches decision-making too.

If it doesn’t fit, it doesn’t stay.

And for those oversized sculptures, cardboard creations, or dioramas that are just too bulky to store, take a photo and create a folder on your phone. That way, you preserve the memory

without needing extra storage space.

2. Snap It Before You Scrap It

Before tossing that glittery collage or cardboard robot, take a quick photo—you’ll keep the

memory, not the mess.

Pro Tip: 

Use natural light and a plain background so it’s book-ready later.

Create a folder on your phone for each child, and label it with:

● Name & age

● School/yearYou’ll thank yourself when it’s time to make a keepsake book!

3. Display It, Then Rotate It

Pick a dedicated space, a corkboard, fridge, or wall and showcase 3–5 of their latest pieces. When new ones come home, let your child swap out the old. Pop the older ones into the memory box, and you’re done. It keeps your home tidy while honouring their creativity in the moment.

4. Save the Ones That Tell a Story

We get so many parents who want to keep everything. But truthfully? You really don’t need

more than 40–60 special pieces a year.

At My Art Pix, we always recommend curating the collection.

Here’s what I suggest prioritising:

● Firsts: their name, first spelling test, first poem, first love note to mum

● Anything with their handwriting

● Drawings that are deeply personal or unintentionally hilarious (kids’ humour is the best!)

● Birthday, Christmas, Eid cards, school reports, professional class photos (we spend so

much on them!)

● Projects they’re proud of, school certificates, special notes

My youngest draws every single day just so she can put it in her My Art Pix book—but

obviously, I can’t keep everything. And that’s okay.

5. Turn It Into a Coffee Table Book

Once a year, gather your favourites and turn them into a beautiful keepsake. That’s exactly what we do at My Art Pix, we collect your child’s artwork (no matter the size), photograph or scan each item, design, edit, and print a stunning hardcover book, and deliver it straight to your door.

You can even choose to have the original artwork returned or recycled, completely hassle-free.

The result?

A stylish, professional keepsake that your kids (and you!) will cherish forever, without a single

shoebox in sight.Being a mum means your heart lives in a million little pieces, taped to the fridge, crumpled in backpacks, or tucked away in drawers. These small things matter. But you don’t have to keep them all to keep the meaning.

Because in the end, it’s not about saving every piece of paper.

It’s about telling the story behind it, and having a beautiful, tangible way to keep those memories at your fingertips.

//  Joti Dhillon, Founder and CEO of My Art Pix