Wee Baby Stuff

The fridge is the natural home of kid's artwork, or it is at our house.

But it's not the ideal archival situation for the pookies priceless scribbles. AND it can make getting a snack a gauntlet of dropping papers and collapsing crayon scribbles.

I dunno about you, but I think that original art looks better in a fancypants frame.

What I've come up with is a magnetic fridge frame that should allow me safely store a bunch of art flat, safe and free of goo, showcase prodigious artistic talent (!) and be easily changeable when the bear moves from the stabby-marker-pen-smoosh-technique to his Blue Phase in Oils.

What you'll need to make your own fridge gallery is:

• A frame, mine came from the dollar store
• some magnets, also from the dollar store
• strong glue,
• a clear plastic document sleeve, I got a pack of 50 from... the dollar store!

The first thing to do is take your frame apart. There should be the frame part, the glass and the backing. You'll be disregarding the glass part (or if you're me, hoarding it and waiting for inspiration to strike)

Next, mark out the inside of the frame on the backing piece. (I of course forgot to take pictures of this step before I cut the backing out. drat.) but here's what you'll be doing only, imagine the paper is the backing:

Now cut out the rectangle that you've marked out on the backing, I used a craft knife and some swearing.

Now use your strong glue to stick the magnets onto the frame. Making sure you get the side that will stick to the fridge pointing outwards.

Wait for the glue to dry.

Grab your document sleeve. Depending on the size of frame you're using you may need to cut it down to size then tape up the open edge (leaving the top open).

Stick the art in the sleeve. This is Blue Dog Reclining With Grapefruit by Teddy Picasso!

Pop the frame over it, the magnets should hold it in place. And you're done, all that's left to do is admire your tiny impressionists masterpieces.

• Art
• dollar store craft
• kid's artwork
• storage