Clutter-Clearing Craft

Most of our art projects tend to add clutter, not eliminate it. But I found one creative activity — making shadow boxes — that actually helped us see the surface of Caitlin and Ellie's desks and dressers. No small feat, I promise you.

After a trip to the craft store for Mod Podge and wooden frames, I sent Caitlin and Ellie on a hunting-and-gathering mission: find small things, both flat and 3-D, that look neat and represent things they want to remember.

They found all sorts of tidbits that represented the past year. Ballet recital ticket stubs, sea shells, clippings from artwork and party invitations, bits of ribbon, a favorite poem, even a grubby eraser were soon out of the girls' room and ready to be transformed into art.

Next up was a multi-step process that included time for paint and glue to dry. We waited for a rainy day to dedicate the proper attention to the task. Once under way, we found it helped to be speedy with the paint brush — acrylics dry fast. We also re-thought our frame selection. Our wide, flat frames had plenty of room for adornment, but not much for the collage in the window space.

With collages done and frames painted, the girls decided to take a few days off before affixing the 3-D items to the frame and assembling frame and collage. This proved a plus, as it gave them time to get rid of some more junk ... er, find a few more artful mementos.

The finished products spiffed up their room quite nicely. And despite my lowly ulterior motive to clear out clutter, it was well worth the endeavor to save treasured parts of childhood.