4 simple DIY ways to hang kids’ artwork

Choosing a frame and mat for a work of art can be a creative feat in and of itself. Finish, mat color, integration with the rest of your decor, and cost are all factors to consider.

There’s a lot to be said for the framer’s expertise and skills, and a time and place for the ‘ready to wear’ frames from boutiques or the somewhat-customizable options from online shops like Framed and Matted. (All of these looks adorn the walls in my home.)

I’ve recently experimented with making my own wall hangings for my preschooler’s artwork as a way to display her work in our living area without the breaking the bank. The finished looks are so lovely and professional looking, you could try one of these methods with an inexpensive print, poster, or another work of art on paper that isn’t too fragile or valuable.

Read on for four simple DIY ways to hang kids artwork. One is colorful, one’s changeable, one’s decorative, and another is minimalist. All are relatively inexpensive.

WHAT TO GET:

• 1 long circular dowel about 1″ longer in length on the horizontal sides
• 2 long rectangular dowels about 1″ longer in length on the horizontal sides
• small handsaw for cutting dowels
• sandpaper
• mini craft clothespins
• wood craft dowels
• scissors
• double sided tape
• durable clear tape
• strong glue like Krazy glue
• ribbon, leather cord, or twine for hanging

WHAT TO DO:

Colorful

I love the look of this one in a child’s room, or a ready-to-hang gift for friends or family.

• You’ll want to choose a print that has a shorter horizontal length than the wood craft dowel. A photo or a postcard would work well.
• Use a piece of ribbon, cord, or twine that is at least 15″ in length. Tie knots around the wood craft dowel and use a fast drying, strong glue to hold the ribbon in place.

• Secure the artwork directly to the dowel with glue or tape. If you are concerned about damage, tape is a bit more giving and less permanent.

Changeable

This one couldn’t be any easier. The best part–you can swap out artwork as much as you want, and you don’t need to apply glue or tape directly to your work of art.

• Attach double sided tape to the back of two of the mini crafts clothespins.
• Hold the clothespins and tape to the wall for 30 seconds so the tape will take hold.

• Swap out artwork freely.

 

Decorative

I love the global chic look of the leather cord, available in the jewelry section of craft stores. The long dowels are available at a hardware store, like Home Depot.

• Cut your circular dowel with a handsaw about 1″ longer in length on the horizontal sides. For a 18″ x 24″ print, I cut the dowel to 20″.
• Sand the length and edges of the dowel.
• Use a piece of ribbon, cord, or twine that is at least 3′ in length (for a 20″ dowel). Tie knots around the dowel and use a fast drying, strong glue to hold the cord in place.

• Secure the hanging pieces of the cord to the artwork with tape.

Minimalist

This is a no-fuss way of hanging a work of art on paper. The lower dowel, which isn’t functional, adds balance to the piece and makes it feel framed and finished.

• Cut your rectangular dowels with a handsaw about 1″ longer in length on the horizontal sides.
• Sand the length and edges of the dowel.
• Glue or tape your work of art to the dowel. In my case, I did both since the piece was large and heavy.

All of the artwork in this post was done by my daughter, Sophie, age 3. She made the two large pieces at art class, Scribble Art Workshop in the NYC area. Their annual fundraiser and exhibition (and beautifully hung show) was the inspiration for this post.

ABOUT REBECCA:

Rebecca Pitts is a writer, crafter, and founder of the shop and blog, Hudson + Daughter.