Yesterday’s Tip of the Day was to use your children’s artwork in your home. I have also posted in the past about my daughter Grace being an artist. We have our children’s art throughout our home.

These are three paintings that are hanging in the hallway between our kitchen and living room. The dining room is also open to this hallway, so the art is a part of the dining room. These paintings may not be the colors I would choose if I were out buying art specifically for this space. These paintings may not be the perfect size for this space. And these paintings may not win any awards. However, when I walk past them, several times a day, I am reminded of my daughter and her love for art. And I would like to believe that when she walks past them, several times a day, she is reminded of how proud we are of her and of her accomplishments.

These frames are hanging in our back stairway. This wall is visible from the kitchen and is also seen several times a day. These are frames that I purchased from Pottery Barn Kids. I do not think they are available now. They have an opening in the back that makes it easy to slip new artwork or certificates in and out without taking off the back of the frame.

Whenever one of the kids brings home a certificate or a piece of art that they are proud of, it goes in one of these frames. Sometimes I will ask them to draw something for me specifically for these frames.

The Santa on the bottom was drawn by Grace two Christmases ago. I love him and he usually stays in the frame several months out of the year. One of the reasons I love him is that she drew him right after we did a remodel on our wet bar in the living room. (I’ll show pictures of that another time.) She drew this Santa specifically for the wet bar area that year. Yes, I am mother of the year, Santa is holding a wine bottle in one hand and the green stripe across his bag? It says “wine” on it! I guess she thought mommy wanted a big ole bag of wine from Santa that year!

The rainbow and flowers were both done by our son Quenten in school. His face just lights up when I get excited about something he has made and hang it on the wall!

This last picture is a card that Grace made me. It is a simple piece of paper folded in half. Inside it says, “Mommy, I love you.” It’s one of those pieces of childhood that we all have. By putting in in a frame and displaying it in our family room I have made it even more important than it already is.

We all have spaces in our home that we want to fill. We all wish we coudl afford the perfect piece of art. Well, you may already own it. Or it may be as simple as buying a roll of paper and a box of paints for your kids.  Do you have artwork in your home that was created by your children? Take a picture and send it to us. We’d love to see it!

Don’t forget to go check out the three different ways you can win Lazy Loot this week! Our topic of the week is decorating. Let’s hear those tips and send us your pictures!