Create a Collage Keepsake Out of Kid's Artwork from Elementary School Years

Collages are wonderful projects that families can work on together. This collage project incorporates various art pieces your child has created throughout their elementary school years.

Before starting, have your child go through the drawings, paintings and written materials she has created throughout her education. Encourage your child to pick out favorite pieces of art and projects. Once you have the artwork your child selected, lay all the individual pieces out on a table so you can view the materials you will be working with.

Depending on the number of art pieces and size of each, determine how large the collage needs to be. To create a poster size collage, consider purchasing a poster frame and using the cardboard included with the frame or old poster as your collage surface. A poster size collage is often large enough to hold drawings, pictures and paintings of various sizes.

Supplies Needed to Create a Collage Keepsake of Kids Artwork

To create a collage keepsake you will need, crafting glue, glue stick, or double stick tape, poster board, cardboard or other suitable background cut to the size you would like the final collage to be, scrap paper as large as the collage background, embellishments such as stickers, glitter, or ribbon, markers, old magazines to cut out words or letters from, clean paper towels, and scissors.

Before starting, make sure to cut the poster board that will be used for the collage down to an appropriate size to fit in a picture frame if you will be framing the collage when finished. The scrap paper will serve as a template for you to use when laying out the materials for the collage.

Tips for Laying Out the Collage

Now comes the fun part. Start trimming pieces that can be trimmed and place on the scrap paper template. Continue doing this until all the drawings, paintings, poems and other pieces selected by your child have been included in the collage. Consider saving the signature on various pieces to use in the collage as well. Rearrange the kids artwork until you are satisfied with the layout. Trim any necessary pieces or add new art work to fill any gaps. When you are satisfied with the way the collage looks, you are ready to assemble the collage.

Assemble the Collage

Starting at a corner, take the piece of artwork located in the same place on your layout and apply craft glue or double stick tape to the back of and position on your collage board. Using a clean paper towel, cover the face of the artwork and gently press down on the artwork to make sure all the edges are secured well. Continue doing this until all the art pieces are secured to the board.

Once all of the collage pieces are applied, consider adding any appropriate embellishments to the collage. When finished, let the collage dry before placing in the frame and hanging on a wall.

Creating a collage of your child's artwork is a great family project to work on together. It provides a wonderful opportunity for your child to showcase their drawings, paintings and pictures for everyone to enjoy for years to come.