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Mock Canvas Kid Art - Turn Children's Artwork into Keepsakes

Got tons of beautiful artwork from your kids but no room on the fridge? Transform those precious creations into stunning mini-canvas keepsakes that can be displayed throughout your home! This project helps preserve children's artwork while creating beautiful home decor. Perfect for older kids to do independently, or younger children can contribute their artwork and get help from grown-ups with positioning and gluing. Works best with crayon, colored pencil, and acrylic paint artwork.

20-45 minutes Ages 6-12 1 step may need help

About This Project

A 20–45 minutes craft for ages 6–12, using supplies you likely already have — Double-Sided Tape, Cereal Boxes, and Decoupage Medium.

GlueStick supports kids from setup to cleanup. After they choose a project, we guide them through gathering the supplies, making it, and cleaning up when they're done. We'll even help them share it safely with trusted family and friends.

Ad-free and kid-safe library — designed by a mom who wants kids to explore and create independently.

This project is perfect for:

Art Preservation Projects
Keepsake Crafts
Home Decor DIY
Upcycling Kids' Artwork
Family Memory Projects

Project Tags

gift home decor boutique art display recycled materials gallery wall art upcycling keepsake budget friendly mothers day fathers day grandparents day indoor solo project

1
Find Supplies

Do you have everything you need?

Create a free GlueStick account to track supplies and see if you have what you need at a glance. Leave your kids tips about where supplies are stored in your household so they can set up and clean up their creative spaces independently.

00:00

(Optional) Double-Sided Tape
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Small Snack or Cereal Boxes
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Decoupage Medium
Unknown cupboard quantity You have: unknown

Large Paint Brushes
Unknown cupboard quantity You have: unknown

Glue Sticks
Unknown cupboard quantity You have: unknown
2
Make Mock Canvas Kid Art

Messy Mode

Seal up your box

First, you’ll need a small box. I used one from granola bars, they’re just about perfect to wrap with art made on standard 8×11 paper. Larger art work would cover a cereal box. The lid from a shoe box would also work well! If you want to hang your work, punch a hole in the back of the box. Seal up the box with tape or a glue stick.

Glue your work to the box

The hard part is next–you need to glue the art to the box. I covered the top of the box with a glue stick (it doesn’t wrinkle paper like white glue) then wrapped the art around the box. Crease the paper where it need to fold over the edges. You may want to use double-sided tape to keep the edges down.

Seal it with decoupage medium

The last step is to cover it in decoupage medium like Mod Podge, which seals the finished project and gives it a nice professional looking shine.

Your creative buddy says:

"I can't wait to make a project with you!"

Step 1: Seal up your box

First, you’ll need a small box. I used one from granola bars, they’re just about perfect to wrap with art made on standard 8×11 paper. Larger art work would cover a cereal box. The lid from a shoe box would also work well! If you want to hang your work, punch a hole in the back of the box. Seal up the box with tape or a glue stick.

Step 2: Glue your work to the box

The hard part is next–you need to glue the art to the box. I covered the top of the box with a glue stick (it doesn’t wrinkle paper like white glue) then wrapped the art around the box. Crease the paper where it need to fold over the edges. You may want to use double-sided tape to keep the edges down.

Step 3: Seal it with decoupage medium

May need grown-up help

The last step is to cover it in decoupage medium like Mod Podge, which seals the finished project and gives it a nice professional looking shine.
3
Clean up
Put things away so your space is tidy for next time.
Tidy up our space

Pick up anything that fell on the floor.

Wipe up any spills on the table.

Put your completed project somewhere safe!

Throw away all your trash and recycling.
Put away our supplies

Check off each supply when it is put away — and any clean-up tips underneath are done too. You might find a fun surprise!

Put away double-sided tape. Where they belong:

Put away cereal boxes. Where they belong:

Put away decoupage medium. Where they belong:

— Don't forget! Close the Mod Podge (or similar medium) lid tightly.

Put away glue sticks. Where they belong:

— Don't forget! Put cap on glue sticks tightly.

Put away paint brush. Where they belong:

— Don't forget! Rinse all the paint out of your paint brushes.
Update what we have left

Did we run out of anything while making this project? Update our supply cupboard so that we know exactly what we have for next time.

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4
Save

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"Great job!"

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About the Author

STL Motherhood

I’m a boy mom, crafter and former reporter who loves taking my kids to superhero movies. Join me for a mix of traditional kid crafts, STEM fun and 3D printing.

More projects by this author

Mock Canvas Kid Art - Turn Children's Artwork into Keepsakes

About This Project

Project Tags

Find Supplies

Make Mock Canvas Kid Art

Step 1: Seal up your box

Step 2: Glue your work to the box

Step 3: Seal it with decoupage medium

Clean up

Tidy up our space

Put away our supplies

Update what we have left

Save

More projects you might like

Use what’s already at home

About the Author

STL Motherhood