Now that Clara is old enough to hold a small paintbrush, use Mod Podge, and help with simple craft tasks (no nail guns involved), I thought it would be fun to do occasional projects together. This one is enjoyable whether you have a child helping or you’re working solo — you can easily use adult-made artwork, decorative gift wrap, or patterned paper instead of kid art.
To start, Clara and I looked through several of her school paintings. She loves to paint, so choosing a favorite was part of the fun. She picked the one with yellow, orange, and red tones — the piece closest to the camera in the photo below.
Next we used a lightweight wooden craft box I bought at a craft store. With the lid and the artwork facing down, I placed the painting under the lid and trimmed the corners of the paper so they met the lid’s corners. This step makes it easy to wrap the artwork neatly around the box like a present.
Once the corners were cut, I wrapped the painting around the edges of the lid and secured the excess on the inside with decorative washi tape. (I received the tape as a gift, but similar rolls are common at many retailers.)
I repeated the same wrapping and taping process on each side of the box while Clara watched from her chair and offered encouragement.
For this box I added a strip of tape around the lid’s edge because I liked the framed look it gave the painting. If you prefer to have the artwork wrap continuously over the lid without a border, you can skip that step.
In the background of that photo you can see that Clara and I painted the bottom of the box red. She loved helping with the painting; we applied a few coats with drying time between each, and used the breaks to play and get dressed while the paint dried.
After the paint had dried, Clara helped spread Mod Podge over the top to seal and protect her painting. She enjoyed the final step and loved watching the finish dry.
Overall, there were three kid-friendly steps Clara really enjoyed: creating the original artwork, painting the base of the box, and applying Mod Podge to seal the piece. I handled the cutting and the more precise taping, but she was happily involved in the most playful parts.
I’m pleased with how the finished box turned out, and it was a meaningful project to share with Clara. What kid crafts have you been doing lately? It’s such a nice feeling to display children’s artwork around the home instead of storing it away. Clara’s teacher says she often paints by stepping back to look, then adding more, then stepping back again before diving back in. Watching her process is adorable — she’s my little Van Gogh.