You’ve been asking for it, and it’s finally here—I’m sharing my system for how to organize family photos, kids’ artwork, and all the keepsakes. Honestly, I’ve never shared this before because everyone tends to overcomplicate it, but I’ve always found it simple. Sometimes I feel like I need to present something new or groundbreaking, but the truth is that the simpler we keep things, the easier it is not only to establish a system but also to maintain it.
In this blog post, I’ll break down three specific parts of my system: How I manage photos, artwork, and keepsakes.
I’ll walk you through each one because, honestly, there’s not much to it, and that’s what makes it amazing. While my approach might be different from others, the beauty of this system is that it’s adaptable. You can build upon it to fit your family’s needs, especially if your kids (like mine) want to keep everything since the beginning of time!
Listen Below For The Entire Episode On The Systemize Your Life Podcast
Managing Family Photos
Let’s dive in by talking about family photos. When I first started this system, I used my personal Instagram account, which was private, to share endless photos of my kids. I would tag them each year with a unique hashtag, and at the end of the year, I’d print those photos using a service called Chatbooks (chatbooks.com). It’s super simple: link your Instagram, select a hashtag, and they’ll print all the tagged photos into a book for just $12. We’ve created so many books documenting each year and every family trip—it’s truly amazing.
Now that I’ve transitioned to a public account for my business, I no longer post as many personal photos. So, instead, I create folders on my phone for specific events like birthdays and vacations. When I take a lot of pictures, I favorite the ones I want to keep and add them to the folder. At the end of the year, I print the photos in the same way as before. It’s a super easy hack that helps me keep up with the thousands of pictures we take.
I also make time to clean up duplicates and sort through photos regularly, especially when I delete social media apps from my phone. It’s such a satisfying task, and we keep the photo books in a cute basket at home so my kids can flip through them anytime. Since moving I’m currently a year or 2 behind on printing books, but I plan to catch up soon by setting aside a “photo book day” to get it all done!
Get started with your own Chatbooks account: chatbooks.com
Keeping Up With Kids’ Artwork
When it comes to artwork, I keep it simple. The kids get to decide if they want to keep their school art or toss it. If they want to keep it, they place it in a basket. Our fridge isn’t magnetic anymore, but when it was, they could display their favorites there. When the basket fills up, they sort through it again and choose what they still cherish. Then, I punch holes in their favorites and store them in a three-ring binder.
For larger or odd-shaped items, you can use plastic sleeves or keepsake envelopes. There are so many creative storage options out there! My mom gifted me a binder of my childhood artwork a while back, which inspired this idea. We use large binders that can hold multiple years’ worth of art, especially during the elementary school years when art projects are abundant.

How To Organize Keepsakes
Finally, let’s talk about keepsakes. I’m not a very sentimental person, but I’ve learned how to preserve what’s truly special without holding on to everything. We use photo boxes from craft stores or Amazon, and each child has their own. When the box gets full, we sit down and sort through it together, deciding which items to keep. This process helps teach the kids healthy decision-making about what to hold onto and what to let go.
I use the same system for my own keepsakes—special cards or mementos go into a small photo box that I revisit periodically. It’s a simple, manageable way to keep meaningful items without getting overwhelmed by clutter.
For more on decluttering, make sure to read Quick And Easy Decluttering: My Two Golden Rules for A Tidy Home

Final Thoughts
This system has been a lifesaver for managing family photos, artwork, and keepsakes. While there are definitely more beautiful or elaborate ways to organize, I hope this gives you the inspiration to start simple and build on it from there. Whether you’re using basic Chatbooks or gorgeous linen binders, the key is to keep it easy and enjoyable. I encourage you to start today, tweak it as needed, and make it work for your family!
I also want you to consider snagging my home management system, and becoming part of our Systemize Your Life family. I’d love for you to join us!


Frequently Asked Questions
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Check out these other blogs: 4-Week System To Simplify, Organize, and Thrive At Home and Quick And Easy Decluttering: My Two Golden Rules for A Tidy Home

