I have come up with some cool ideas to save stuff as my kids grow.

1. We use a marble/composition notebook (one for each parent) and for every birthday/holiday, the kids write or draw something for the parent. My notebook is out for them to do something for mother's day. The kids love it. Hallmark is not making any more profit off me. Much more memorable than commercial cards for my family.

2. I cut out their t-shirts/baby clothes and made a t-shirt quilt.

That said, I have not come up with anything great to do with artwork and school papers. I don't want to photograph everything and put it in a photobook. Too expensive, too much work, requires constant upkeep.

I came across this website (scroll down to milk carton crates). I may do this.
http://orgjunkie.com/2010/03/using-c...ol-papers.html

Does anyone have any other suggestions/great ideas for memories?

That's a really neat idea. I had an old filing cabinet when my kids were growing up.

I had a big rectangular under-bed box for each kid and just tossed stuff in there as it needed to go there....100's on papers, report cards, artwork, projects, etc. So it's not exactly organized but is separated by kid, and in a dustproof, waterproof (I assume???) box to be shared at the right time. They are 27 and 30 this year and not ready to appreciate their boxes yet! :)

I have a file cabinet full of their stuff. I even have their elementary school journals from when they started writing. Adorable. Every christmas I hang their winter drawings they made in school. They say it's corny but I love it! They are 17 and 21. I still have them make me things. But it goes in their box for later on.

I used a 3 hole binder for different times in my daughter's life - Day care to 2nd grade, 3rd - 5th, Middle school, High School and Senior Year. I only kept certain good papers and report cards and newspaper clippings. Did she look at them? Occasionally, but it was fun putting them together. Now that she has a son, maybe I'll just give them to her.

My dd's have framed some of their kids artwork and it is displayed throughout the house.