The Growing Pile of Kids' Art
Children come home with new drawings and crafts almost every day. You want to keep all of them, but closet space and common sense tell you otherwise. Let us explore sustainable, space-efficient ways to preserve the art that matters most.
The Problem with Keeping Everything on Paper
Storing every paper creation leads to several issues:
- Space: Even one year of artwork fills boxes fast
- Deterioration: Paper yellows, crayons fade, and paint flakes over time
- Environmental cost: Mass storage consumes resources
- Disaster risk: Floods or fires can destroy an entire collection in an instant
Eco-Friendly Preservation Methods
Digital Scanning
The simplest and most sustainable option is digitizing artwork.
- A smartphone camera captures more than enough detail
- Cloud storage means zero physical footprint
- Easy to share with family, including faraway grandparents
- Backups virtually eliminate the risk of loss
Transforming Art with figmee
figmee lets you reimagine flat drawings as 3D figurines stored digitally. No physical space required, no paper waste generated.
When you do want a tangible keepsake, you can selectively 3D-print only your very favorite pieces -- minimizing environmental impact while still holding something real in your hands.
Repurpose What You Do Not Keep
Artwork that does not make the cut can still find a second life:
- Gift wrap: Wrapping a present in your child's drawing makes it extra special for the recipient
- Postcards: Trim drawings to postcard size and mail them to loved ones
- Collage material: Combine fragments of multiple works into brand-new art
Set Selection Criteria
Trying to save everything is a recipe for overwhelm. Establish family guidelines:
- Curate monthly: Pick one or two standout pieces each month
- Let your child choose: Ask "Which drawing is your favorite this week?"
- Digitize everything, physically keep only the best: Photograph all works, but store only select originals
- Reserve figmee 3D for the truly special: Transform the most meaningful drawings into figurines
Sustainable 3D Printing
When you do print, you can make environmentally conscious choices:
- PLA filament: Made from corn starch, this biodegradable plastic has a lower environmental footprint
- Right-size your prints: Avoid making figurines larger than necessary
- Batch printing: Printing multiple figurines at once improves energy efficiency
Wrap-Up
The most eco-friendly approach to children's art is to digitize broadly and physicalize selectively. figmee supports this balance perfectly -- preserving precious drawings as 3D digital figurines and printing only when you truly want a tangible piece. It is a method that is kind to both the planet and your family's memories.