My Budding Artist

Today, we went to Office Max to buy a new printer for my birthday present!  (a b/w laser printer)  While we were there, we noticed that they had some "Back to School Penny Deals".  Now, I know Chloe is little, but the "craft/art" drawer in our home.... well, it doesn't exist.  We have NO craft/art supplies!  (This past week, I wanted to paint a Christmas project that I am planning for my niece and let Chloe help me.... Well, we couldn't even find paint brushes!)  So we found crayons and markers for $0.05 and $0.15.  Now, they are not Crayola brand, but I am pretty sure at 15 months of age, it doesn't matter!  :)



So tonight we let Chloe use the markers to her hearts desire!  :)  This is brave of us... we barely had any paper to protect our furniture, no cover shirt (what's that called?  a paint smocking?).... Well her hearts desire had enough after about 10 minutes.  I am thankful for washable markers! 

And look at the finished masterpiece!  The first of MANY artworks that I will probably scrapbook!  Christopher said it was a birthday card for me from her.... :)



So on the subject of art... Christopher and I have both said that our kids will need to develop their art abilities from others in our family... (read - We don't have many art skills).  However, I want my kids to develop creativity through creating and trying out projects.  I think I am going to need a craft area/drawer in order to do that....  So family here are some ideas for Chloe for gifts!  (We all knows she has lots of toys and books!)

As this is the first masterpiece, Chloe has ever created... it proudly went onto the refrigerator!  But what happens when there are multiple kids and 50 pieces of art created every day???  How do you manage your kids creative masterpieces?   Do you keep them all?  Just special ones?

I found the following ideas through www.pinterest.com and LOVE them! 

1) Our dream home will have a Masterpieces Hallway... (along with pictures of our kids... as they are God's masterpieces as well!)  Sarah from A Little of This, A Little of That is a genius for this wonderful idea!

2) Now I know that keeping paper until my kids are in their adult years would amount to boxes and boxes of paper!  So how about keeping and scrapbooking the special ones and then taking pictures of the rest and create this wonderful idea from Kaye Winiecki Designs.  I love it and so often these little books go on sale for cheap or even free (just paying shipping). 

 (picture source)