Ever wonder what to do with the artwork that your kids bring home from school? You feel guilty just throwing it away, but at the same time, do you really want it on your fridge for 3 years? You could get a big box and throw it all in there and hide it in a closet. Of course if you do that you're likely never to look at it again and 20 years later you'll find it still in the closet with the papers falling apart.

Sure, give the artwork a week or so on the fridge. Your kids are no doubt proud of what they've made and want to show it off. But after the artwork is giving its display time whey not preserve it in a way that will last long into the future, but not take up valuable closet space!

Here is my solution. Make a book of the artwork. You're probably thinking, how do I make a book out of difference sized pieces of paper with paint and crayon and who knows what else. Simple. All you need is a computer with a scanner and internet connection.

Once the artwork has had its display time, take it down off the fridge and to your computer. Simply scan the art into the computer. Once you have the scan, feel free to get rid of the artwork however you see fit. Once a year goes by (I think it is nice to group the art in books by how old the child is) then you're ready to finally make the book.

My favorite book making website is Blurb.com. You simply go to their website and download their book making software. Once you have the software you just import the scans you've made of the artwork and off you go. You can add things to the book like the date of the artwork, where the child made it, etc. After you have made the book in the software all you have to do is upload the book and order it off the Blurb website.

I really like the thought that 10 or 20 years from now I can go to the bookshelf and pull down the book from when my child was 5 and look at all the artwork he made. Its a really easy and fun way to keep all the art without actually keeping it in a box in the closet!