Easy ways to organize the chaos—and keep what counts.
Parenting comes with a lot of stuff. Not just the trinkets from the birthday goodie bag, but the hand crafted, sentimental things that are hard to toss. If you are looking for some help to deal with all of the clutter here are a few simple, low-pressure ideas to corral all those keepsakes.
1. Memory Jars for Nature Treasures
My son has a knack for filling up his pockets and the beach bag with as many shells as he can from the beach. Call me a weirdo but I also love a good drift wood stick. Instead of letting these little treasures end up scattered (or in your washing machine) we have a pretty container for shells, rocks, sticks and other tiny finds. They look surprisingly pretty lined up on a shelf or window sill!
2. A Random-Things Scrapbook
No need to overthink this. I have a simple scrapbook where I tape or tuck in random items—ticket stubs, photos, notes, birthday cards and a little bit of anything. It’s a little chaotic, but it’s real life, and I love flipping through it.
3. Create a Digital Archive
Even with boxes and scrapbooks, things add up fast. Take photos of artwork, school projects, or 3D creations and save them in a shared album on your phone or harddrive. My favorite is the Lacie drive because it can take a beating. When you’re ready, you can print them into a memory book or just print out the photos.
Our nature jar lives in the kitchen
A scrappy book, bare bones with little organization
My favorite LaCie drive
4. Frame (or just hang) Their Artwork
Some pieces deserve the wall treatment! I rotate my kids’ best (or funniest) creations into a gallery wall. I use simple white frames but you can use a cork board and good old tape. Instant art gallery, no extra storage required.
5. The Big Kids’ Art Box
Instead of letting artwork float around in random piles (aka: the kitchen counter), give it a dedicated home. A simple lidded box or storage bin works well. I keep one box for each child and toss in anything I want to save throughout the year. Later, I sort through and keep the best pieces. Or another idea- order a Keepsakery Box and hold onto it until you're ready to make a book.
6. Let Go of Perfection
This isn’t about saving every single drawing. It’s about holding onto the things that spark joy or tell a story. A few thoughtful pieces, kept in a way that feels manageable, is far better than a mountain of clutter that stresses you out.
Looking for an Easy Button?
If you love the idea of having everything in one place but don’t want to DIY, that’s exactly why I started Keepsakery. I take your child’s artwork and turn it into a beautifully designed, clutter-free coffee table book—no scissors, no glue, no guilt. (Learn more here.)
We got this bulletin board at a tag sale and painted it teal
Art storage solutions
Kids artwork in simple white frames, no mat