All About Painting

What mil. thickness of photo/print storage would be best to keep art safely amongst preschoolers, 3.6,4,6,16?

I teach preschool, and just bought a ton of really nice art prints….but I want the kids to be able to touch them and move them, even sit on them if desired, without fear of bending, and ripping them. I’ve looked into the storage options available, and I need someones opinion on these varying millemeter thicknesses, and what they think those thicknesses can actually take/offer as far as kid uses and abuses go (the bending, sitting, moving, bumping).

Just so you know, you are not buying this product by millimeters of thickness, but rather by “mil”. 1 mil is equal to 1/1000th of an inch and is used as a designator in the plastic sheeting and wire industries, among others. A plastic that is 3 mil thick will be about the weight of a sandwich baggy, whereas 4 mil would be more like a ziplock bag. 3 millimeters, on the other hand, is approximately 1/8″.

I’m not familiar with the product you’re asking about but I’m guessing that it is essentially a flexible sleeve into which you slide the prints. If that is accurate then I would like to say that you will need a minimum of 6 mil, and I would strongly recommend choosing the 16 mil. Whatever you choose, do be aware that there will be wear and tear. These materials are quite prone to scratching and kinking, especially under the sort of treatment you’re describing. With the 16 mil there is a better chance that the sleeve itself will be what suffers while the print remains relatively unscathed.
I would also like to suggest that if you are offered a choice of surface finishes pick matte, or at the very least luster. Avoid gloss at all costs. Every smudge, scuff, scratch and fingerprint shows up just terribly on a gloss finish.

I hope this was helpful to you.

Wilton 4-Tier Stacked Cupcake and Dessert Tower $12.97 Stacked Dessert Tower. What a great way to display cupcakes, appetizers, brownies, fruit and other party treats! This stand consists of four stacking sections with angled tiers for the best view of decorated desserts. Sections easily disassemble and nest for storage, assembled tower is 16-1/4″ x 12″ and holds up to thirty-six standard sized cupcakes. Base does not rotate, but add the Wilton’s Trim…

Coat Rack/Stand in Satin Black Metal Spider Style $13.00 This is a brand new in box stain black finish metal spider coat rack that branches into 4 hangers pointing to the top, 4 hangers at the top, and 4 hangers at the mid-base of the stand. The rack also stands on 4 strong legs at the bottom, leveled for evened positioning and placement. (This item requires simple assembly) Dimensions Measure: 20″L x 20″W x 73″H…

Wilton 2104-6667 12 Piece Cupcake Decorating Set $3.24 Create all kinds of fun cupcake designs perfect for celebrations or everyday treats! Includes star tips 1M (rosettes, stars, and drop flowers), star tip 22 (zigzags, pull-out stars), round tip 12 (outlines, dots, messages), and Bismarck tip 230 for exciting filled cupcakes, plus 8 disposable bags, and an instruction booklet. 12 pieces total! Made in USA/Imported….

3 Cowboy Western Boots Hook Rack Home Wall Decor $14.99 Yee Haw ! Got any ropes, cowboy hats or lassos you need to store? If you are a cowboy(girl) at heart and you like your western themed décor, these boot hooks are perfect. Providing hooks to hang just about anything and they look great. The deep brown finish and worn in look of these boots gives a true hard workin’ cowboy appearance to these hangers….

Brown Bag Company 22566 7-Inch Mighty Bag Compact Tool Storage Tote, Pink $12.95 A stout and sturdy little bag with lots of storage space…that’s why it’s the Mighty Bag! Large inside storage area, and 7 outside pockets for smaller items. Constructed of heavy duty, water resistant denier (with a hard-shell internal structure). Side shock cords, and sturdy webbed handles for extra holding power. A perfect solution to store & carry those many necessary “fix-it” tools & item…

Curious George Watercolor Set $8.99 This Curious George Watercolor Set comes in a collectible tin to use as a painting tray and storage. This water color tin is perfect for your little Curious George fan to use for painting.

Melissa and Doug Children’s Apron-like Artist’s Smock $17.99 Stay neat and clean in this durable artist’s smock with a chest pocket. An easy-clean surface and roomy storage pockets make this children’s apron a clothes saver.

Jack Richeson Child’s Wooden Manikin Hand $39.99 This Jack Richeson wooden hand manikin features an accurately proportioned, adjustable hand figure that can be used as a reference for drawing or sculpting. The child’s hand stands 7-inches high.

68-Piece Art Set With Oil Pastels, Watercolor Paints, Storage Case & More $14.69 68-Piece Art SetGive the gift of creativity to a loved oneExperiment with different mediums and expand your artistic horizonsOil pastels, watercolor paints, colored pencils and moreNon-Toxic materials: Art materials conform to ASTM D4236

Modern Art Deluxe Memory Game (Board Game) $15.1 Classic examples of modern art by Warhol, Matisse, Mondrian, Miro, Van Gogh etc. This deluxe memory game includes a booklet with biographical information on each piece of art – name of artist, name of painting, year. Kids (and their paren…