I have always been a huge fan of handmade things, ESPECIALLY from my children.  And since both my oldest children have been going to preschool since age 3, they have come home with some really wonderful things.  I usually put them on the refrigerator so we can enjoy them.  Most of the crafts are seasonal, so I like to save them and use them the following year (the ones that are in good condition after surviving the fridge) 🙂 .

For the past 2 years, I have put all the crafts into a drawer until just recently the drawer became so packed that I could not add one more craft to the pile.  I have always had in mind to get this organized but always put it off.  So today, I FINALLY figured out what to do.

Initially I really wanted to purchase some kind of sectioned organizing system like a big box with hanging folders.  But because some of the crafts are over sized, I knew that wouldn’t work.  So I came up with the idea to buy poster board and fold it in half and staple it along the open edges so it would make a really big envelope.  I would then have each envelope labeled for that particular season or holiday.  But again, I have been putting off getting to an office supply store.

When I woke up today, I was totally inspired to figure this craft thing out once and for all.  I never got the poster board, but I realized that I had a whole bunch of manila folders that I was not using.  I opened one up, cut off the tabs to make a perfect rectangle and then stapled it to another one on 3 sides leaving one side open at the top.

I then took some clear packing tape and attached it to the back of the folder.  I folded it over and stuck it to the other side and then added a label.  I categorized the craft folders by both seasons and holidays.

This is really going to help me keep the kid’s special crafts organized so I can enjoy them for years to come.  And this doesn’t mean I will save absolutely everything.  I definitely don’t want to do that.  With 4 kids I am sure there will be hundreds of crafts over the years.  I really want to keep the ones that are special.  And as new crafts come in, I will be getting rid of some from the envelopes.  But at least now, I can open up each separate folder at that specific season and use the crafts to decorate around the house.  I am going to keep them in a cabinet so they can be easily accessed and not get ruined.

So, what do you think about my kid’s craft organizational system?  Do you think it is something that would help you?  And if you already have a system, please share!