How to Make a Child's Artwork Memory Book

I have a terrible time throwing away my kids' artwork. Over the years, the piles took over our kitchen counter, my office, and the kids' closets. It was messy, and worse, nobody ever actually looked at any of it.

Then I had an idea: photograph the art and turn it into a custom photo book. It sounds like a big project, but it's very doable. Here's exactly how I did it, plus tips for making a book your family will treasure.

Step 1: Gather the Art

Spend 15 to 20 minutes collecting everything your child has made. Check every room, and think beyond drawings:

• School papers and art projects
• Science fair projects or models
• LEGO creations
• Reports and stories
• Paintings
• Recipes they've helped make, or other creations that won't last

If your child made it, it counts.

Step 2: Photograph Each Piece

You don't need a fancy camera. A phone works great. What makes the biggest difference is your setup:

• A plain background. Inexpensive white and black poster boards from a craft store or drugstore give you a clean backdrop.
• Bright, natural light. I set up next to a glass door and shot in the late morning. Avoid the flash, which causes glare.
• Shoot straight down over flat pieces so the edges stay square.

Afterward, crop and straighten the photos, then save them all in one folder on your computer.

Step 3: Build the Photo Book

I used Picaboo, but services like Shutterfly, Mixbook, and Snapfish work similarly. Most walk you through choosing a book shape (landscape or square), a theme, and your photos. A kid-friendly theme fits this project perfectly.

Themes come with ready-made page layouts. Just drag photos onto each page. You can switch the number of photos per page, resize images, and swap or delete photos as you go.

Most editors mark which photos you've already used, which makes it easy to avoid repeats.

Tips for a Truly Special Book

Pair art with photos of the moment

My daughter and I once made pressed-flower bookmarks, and I had photos of her picking the flowers that day. Putting them side by side made one of my favorite spreads. You could also pair a family portrait drawing with an actual family photo, or a pumpkin painting with a picture from the pumpkin patch.

Interview your child

Ask your kids to tell you about their pictures, then type their answers onto the page. Their explanations are often the best part.

Use text boxes generously

Add dates, ages, and your own memories. The goal is to preserve the stories along with the art.

Add an "About the Artist" page

Ask a few simple questions: What do you love to do? Who are your friends? Why do you like art? Keep their answers in their own words. Fun clip-art "stickers" add a playful finishing touch.

How Long Does It Take?

Less time than you'd think. I made two books, and the whole process, from gathering and photographing to building, took under four hours.

Best of all, I could finally recycle the originals guilt-free and reclaim my counters. My husband said he wished he had a book like this from his own childhood, and my kids could hardly wait for theirs to arrive.

I plan to make a new volume every two or three years so each child ends up with a collection of their artwork to take with them when they're grown.

Money-saving tip: photo book companies run big sales constantly, often 40% to 50% off. Build your book, then wait for a sale before ordering.