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		Get Organized Debbie Williams is an organizing strategist and founder of OrganizedTimes.com. She is the author of  "Common Sense Organizing" from Champion Press. Storing Children's Artwork Question: What's the best way to store family photos and children's artwork? Cheri Answer: Children's artwork threatens to take over the fridge, bulletin board, and home life as we know it. By setting a few simple rules, you can manage the incoming deluge of masterpieces by your little artists. I have a couple of quick solutions to solve your display dilemmas. Both take up very little space and if done routinely, take up little time as well. Portfolio Create a simple art portfolio using two pieces of posterboard taped together on three sides. Leave the third side, or top, open for dropping in artwork as it is received. You can use this same principle for other schoolwork as well. Each day, or week, when your daughter brings home her treasured work, write the date on the back in pencil (or use a date stamp to save time). Drop it into the portfolio for safekeeping. Or, date it, then replace the "display of the week" with the new one, and file the old one away. At the end of the semester or quarter, it will be time to purge your portfolio. Begin by sorting by type of art: paintings, drawings, collage, mosaic, seasonal, writing samples, tests, awards, etc. Then choose a sampling from each category, perhaps several scattered throughout the school year. File the keepsakes, and get rid of the rest. If you can't bear to throw them away, recycle them by giving them to relatives. Mail in a cardboard tube, or shipped flat between two pieces of cardboard. Or scan the artwork, email it to relatives, and throw away the original. You can turn that scanned graphic into notecards, stationery, or greeting cards. If your child can't bear the thought of you tossing any of her artistic samples away, delegate this task to her. Move the storage into her room with her things, and let her be in charge of sorting, dating, stashing, and even purging. Amazing how they will decide they can actually bear to part with things when their closet is filling up faster than they can find storage containers! Storage Chest Purchase a stackable cardboard storage chest from your favorite organizing company, such as Lillian Vernon or The Container Store. These sturdy units have removable drawers to fill with archived treasures, then stack vertically to conserve space. Use them as your sole art storage system, or for "keepers" only with the portfolio system I described above. A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words If storage is really a concern, take photographs of your daughter's artwork and discard the original. Either take individual pictures, or line them up for a group shot. A disposable camera kept on hand is a perfect solution for this task, or you can use a Polaroid camera and take them individually. Dedicate a special photo album or box for these treasures to be shared and enjoyed. Good luck, Debbie Williams Also see: Ask Debbie your questions Recently answered questions Conquering playroom clutter Email this story to a friend		Search BlueSuitMom.com Email this page to a friend    C a r e e r   C o r n e r • Join BlueSuitMom on   Facebook • In a Man's World • Professional Organizations • Company Seminars • Career Archive • Small Business Advice • Online Job Search • Entrepreneur's Corner • Sign Up For Our Newsletter Ask an Expert • Image Consultant • Career Coach • Work/Life Coach • Business Coach • Work at Home • Professional Organizer • Emotional Wellness • Business Advisor    C a r e e r   P o l l What is the most important benefit your employer can offer you? Flexible work hours Extended hours/shortened work week Job sharing Telecommuting On-site daycare Take home meals On site dry cleaning View results
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