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Every child’s artwork is perfect as it is.

These guidelines simply help ensure it prints clearly and looks its best.

Before You Begin

Before starting, please take a moment to review the points below. These simple steps help ensure each child’s artwork prints clearly and looks its best.

A paperclip, staple, tape, and blue tack with an X over them

Use a glue stick only

Please do not use staples, paperclips, tape or sticky tack

A child holding up 1 finger to demonstrate that they canonly submit 1 artwork. A stack of pages beside him with an X over them

One artwork per template

Each child should submit only one completed piece of artwork per template.

A boy holding a clean sheet of paper with no fold lines or crinkles

Keep artwork flat and damage-free

Avoid folding, creasing or bending the paper, as marks and folds may appear when printed.

A piece of artwork with something that was stuck onto the page peeling off. An X is drawn over it

Attach artwork neatly

Ensure artwork is firmly secured so nothing lifts or comes loose during handling.

Choosing the Right Materials

Using the right materials helps children’s artwork scan and print clearly. The lists below show what works best and what to avoid for the best final results.

An illustration of a selection of stationary.
  • Felt-tip pens
  • Markers
  • Crayons
  • Paints (poster paint, acrylic, or well-dried watercolour)
  • Pastels (chalk or oil)
  • Black pen or ink for outlines
  • Collage using paper or fabric (ensure all pieces are firmly glued)
  • Coloured pencils
  • Very light pencil or fine-line drawings
  • Metallic pens or paint
  • Glitter
  • Glossy photo paper
  • Reflective or shiny materials
  • Sellotape or transparent film

Creating Artwork That Prints Well

These simple tips help children create artwork that prints clearly and looks great on the finished products. Artwork does not need to be perfect — clarity and confidence matter most.

  • Bold lines and clear shapes
  • Simple, confident drawings
  • Large drawings
  • Chunky lettering for names and text
  • Clear, easy-to-read writing
  • Bright colours on light backgrounds
  • Dark colours on light backgrounds for strong contrast
  • One main idea or image per page
  • Very small or detailed drawings
  • Faint or lightly sketched lines
  • Thin or delicate lettering
  • Text written too small to read clearly
  • Very busy or overcrowded designs
  • Using colours that blend into the background

Using the Page & Layout Tips

How artwork is positioned on the page is just as important as how it is drawn. Following these simple layout tips helps ensure no important details are lost during printing.

4 srawings that illustrate a series of artwork guidelines. The first demonstartes filling the page with the artwork as much as possible, the second shows an illustration drawn outdside the margins with an X over it, the third and fourth are comparisons that show what placing important written details inside the margins looks like.
  • Fill the page as much as possible
  • Draw large and confidently, not small
  • Keep artwork within the template box
  • Leave a small margin around the edges
  • Place names and key details well inside the page
  • Keep artwork flat and centred on the template
  • Drawing too close to the edges
  • Very small artwork in the centre of the page
  • Writing names or details right at the border
  • Folding or creasing the paper
  • Artwork that runs outside the template area

What Happens After Submission?

Once artwork is received, our team carefully prepares each piece for print. We check every artwork individually, clean up scans or photos where needed, and adjust clarity and contrast to ensure the best possible print results. Each design is then correctly sized and positioned for the chosen products.

A gir with her back to the viewer using a design software to design Christmas cards with children's artwork

Ready to send your artwork?

Once your class artwork is complete, simply email or post it to us. If you’re unsure about anything, we’re happy to check your artwork before printing.

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