Jam x ARTCHIVE guide
The Summer Sanity Guide
Artkive Spotlight: The Mental Load of Kids’ Art and School Keepsakes
One mental load task specific to summer is clearing out all the work and art from the end of the school year. It’s exciting to go through all the bright pieces of art and see the creative work your kids have done all year.
But then you have a new pile of art projects to add to the bigger pile of art projects that have been quietly piling up. Organizing it can feel overwhelming and emotional, especially if you’re worried that you might inadvertently toss something special (and, at the same time, are worried about the clutter taking over your house!)
This quick and easy reset from Artkive simplifies this often sentimental process.
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Step 1: Gather All Artwork in One Spot
Before you can do anything, you need to know what you're working with. Kids' artwork has a way of migrating. Fridge magnets, bulletin boards, bedside tables, backpack pockets, the underside of the couch cushion. All of it counts.
Don't forget school folders, tote bags, and rolled-up pieces tucked in closets.
Include 3D pieces: clay sculptures, holiday crafts, and small mixed-media projects.
Seeing it all together is clarifying. It also confirms that yes, it really is that much.
Step 2: Sort Into Three Piles
Not every piece needs the same level of preservation. Create three piles labeled:
Display: Favorites that show milestones, creativity, or special memories
Preserve: Pieces you want to remember but don’t need physical copies of
Let Go: Items that don’t hold strong meaning, worksheets, workbooks, etc.
Give yourself permission to edit down. Take the time to appreciate everything as you sort it, but follow your heart about which pieces to keep and let go.
Tip: Do not put anything in a pile to “decide later” – that’s just increasing the mental load and kicking it back to another day.
Step 3: Photograph Oversized Art Projects That Must Go
Not everything can or should go into a memory book, and that's okay. You can photograph large paintings, papier-mâché projects, and oversized collages, then release them without regret. A good photo is often enough.
Step 4: Store the Keepers
Once you've sorted through everything, you're left with the pieces that actually matter. You can use a designated kids' art box or a folder to store the keepers, labeled with each child’s name, or tools like Artkive reduce the work of this for families, and specialize in transforming kids' art into high-quality art books. This option cuts down physical clutter while creating a beautiful keepsake you and your child can enjoy for years. With Artkive, they send you the pre-paid shipping box to send in all your keepers, digitize everything, lay out everything in a book and give you the chance to approve as well, saving hours of time and energy, as well as storage space.
Step 5: Set Up an Incoming Artwork Routine
Create a simple system for collecting the new creations your kids will bring home from camp:
Use a designated spot like a wall pocket, clipboard, or tray for incoming art
Schedule a weekly or monthly review to sort new pieces
Decide immediately what to sort into the keep box, digitize folder, or recycle bin
The best thing about tackling the artwork pile before summer is that you can set yourself up to never face this same mountain again. Cleaning it out doesn't mean losing any of that — it means finally giving it a home that matches what it's worth.