Every year, it happens.
The backpacks come home heavier. The kitchen counters disappear beneath papers. Artwork spills from folders, cubbies, and classroom bins. And suddenly you’re staring at an entire school year — in paper form.
The instinct is to save everything.
But the truth is: the magic isn’t in keeping it all.
It’s in choosing the pieces that tell the story best.
This is why we love the idea of a 50-piece Plum Print book.
Fifty pieces feels manageable. Intentional. Enough to preserve the year beautifully, without keeping every worksheet, coloring page, and glitter-covered craft forever.
So before the summer chaos begins, here’s a simple way to curate the pieces worth turning into a keepsake book your family will actually revisit for years to come.
The backpacks come home heavier. The kitchen counters disappear beneath papers. Artwork spills from folders, cubbies, and classroom bins. And suddenly you’re staring at an entire school year — in paper form.
The instinct is to save everything.
But the truth is: the magic isn’t in keeping it all.
It’s in choosing the pieces that tell the story best.
This is why we love the idea of a 50-piece Plum Print book.
Fifty pieces feels manageable. Intentional. Enough to preserve the year beautifully, without keeping every worksheet, coloring page, and glitter-covered craft forever.
So before the summer chaos begins, here’s a simple way to curate the pieces worth turning into a keepsake book your family will actually revisit for years to come.
Start With One Big Pile
Gather everything in one place.
Artwork from the fridge. Papers from backpacks. Projects tucked into closets. The wrinkled masterpieces shoved into the bottom of tote bags.
Don’t edit as you go. Just collect.
Seeing it all together helps you realize something important: there may be hundreds of pieces, but only a handful instantly pull at your heart.
Those are the ones you’re looking for.
Artwork from the fridge. Papers from backpacks. Projects tucked into closets. The wrinkled masterpieces shoved into the bottom of tote bags.
Don’t edit as you go. Just collect.
Seeing it all together helps you realize something important: there may be hundreds of pieces, but only a handful instantly pull at your heart.
Those are the ones you’re looking for.
Choose the Pieces That Feel Like Them
The best Plum Print books aren’t made from “perfect” artwork.
They’re made from personality.
As you sort, look for the pieces that capture who your child was this year — their humor, imagination, handwriting, interests, and tiny quirks you already know are changing too fast.
Some favorites to include:
They’re made from personality.
As you sort, look for the pieces that capture who your child was this year — their humor, imagination, handwriting, interests, and tiny quirks you already know are changing too fast.
Some favorites to include:
- Self portraits
- Funny writing assignments
- Handmade cards and notes
- Artwork featuring family or pets
- Pieces they felt especially proud of
- Early handwriting samples
- Sweet misspellings and invented words
- Holiday or seasonal projects
- Abstract paintings full of personality
- The unexpectedly hilarious ones
Often, the most meaningful pieces are not the technically impressive ones.
They’re the ones that instantly transport you back to this exact age and stage.
They’re the ones that instantly transport you back to this exact age and stage.
Don’t Overthink It
If a piece makes you smile immediately, keep it.
If you hesitate, you probably don’t need it.
Parents often get stuck trying to determine whether something is “important enough.” But the beauty of a curated 50-piece collection is that it naturally removes the pressure to save everything.
You are not creating an archive.
You are preserving a childhood.
If you hesitate, you probably don’t need it.
Parents often get stuck trying to determine whether something is “important enough.” But the beauty of a curated 50-piece collection is that it naturally removes the pressure to save everything.
You are not creating an archive.
You are preserving a childhood.
Aim for Variety
The most beautiful books have rhythm and contrast.
As you narrow toward your 50 pieces, try including a mix of:
As you narrow toward your 50 pieces, try including a mix of:
- Large colorful artwork
- Smaller sketches and doodles
- Writing samples
- Paintings
- Collages
- School projects
- Different seasons and holidays
- Different moods and styles
Think of it like telling the story of an entire school year — not just displaying the “best” art.
Include the Imperfect Pieces
The slightly crooked rainbow.
The stick figure family portrait.
The page where the handwriting suddenly looks more grown up than it did six months earlier.
These are often the pages families treasure most later.
Perfection is not the goal. Memory is.
The stick figure family portrait.
The page where the handwriting suddenly looks more grown up than it did six months earlier.
These are often the pages families treasure most later.
Perfection is not the goal. Memory is.
What About the Rest?
You do not need to feel guilty recycling the pieces that didn’t make the final 50.
Really.
The duplicate worksheets, generic coloring pages, half-finished crafts, and stacks of math practice were never the memory itself.
The few meaningful pieces you preserve thoughtfully matter far more than boxes of paper you never revisit.
And once your favorites are safely digitized in a Plum Print book, you gain something even better than storage:
You gain access to the memories.
Really.
The duplicate worksheets, generic coloring pages, half-finished crafts, and stacks of math practice were never the memory itself.
The few meaningful pieces you preserve thoughtfully matter far more than boxes of paper you never revisit.
And once your favorites are safely digitized in a Plum Print book, you gain something even better than storage:
You gain access to the memories.
The End-of-School-Year Plum Print SpecialFor a limited time, we’re offering a special end-of-school-year package:
50 pieces transformed into a custom hardcover Plum Print book for $199. Each order includes:
Simply choose your favorite 50 pieces, send them to us, and we’ll take care of the rest.
Because the artwork worth keeping deserves better than a box in the closet. |
