I love it when I experience a problem or difficulty, and then a reader writes in with a perfect solution. My most recent dilemma was crumpled up artwork coming home in the backpack. But after today, no more.
Helen of Curly Birds whipped up some DIY art tubes that stay in the kids' backpacks. Art work is easily rolled and stored into the tube, safely transported home. So how did she do it? Empty paper towel tubes decorated and personalized. This is our favorite kind of DIY project - simple, easy and free. For more details, check out Helen's blog Curly Birds.
(Image: Helen Bird)


Commercial Flour Sa...
Thank you for featuring my art tubes - it is always exciting to be on Ohdeedoh!
Perfect! I am going to make one with my daughter this afternoon. Love the solution!
I am ALL OVER THIS ONE! Such a simple yet fun way to handle squashed art. I'm so psyched to see this!
Great idea! Although mailing tubes would probably fit the bill a little better. I see the paper towel tube getting crumpled itself in no time the way kiddos treat their backpacks. Bonus: they have caps so that unsealed ziploc of trail mix doesn't turn the masterpiece into mixed media.
PS Teachers should jump all over this!
As a preschool teacher, I think this is a great idea - We can roll up children's artwork and send the tube home, and parents can send the empty tube back to fill up again. It's always hard to get a three-year-old to hold a pile of 15 pieces of paper of different sizes without dropping it all! Thanks for sharing.
allie
Another preschool teacher thanks you for this idea!
I'd even go one step further and say PVC pipe, you could get quite a few lengths out of a 5 foot section and they'd last FOREVER. Such a good idea.
Thank you for another great article. Where else could anyone get that kind of information in such a perfect way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am on a look out for such information.
Regards
Primary Education