How We Preserved Clara’s Peruvian Poncho: A Simple Acrylic Frame Display

This handmade poncho was a gift from my sister-in-law, brought back from Peru a few years ago. I couldn’t wait for Clara to be big enough to wear it. She loved it for years and wore it so much that it even appeared on the cover of a local magazine during the holidays. Naturally, Clara outgrew it, and I wasn’t ready to let it go. So we came up with a plan to keep and display it forever.

We already had an acrylic photo frame that we inherited when John’s parents were cleaning out their closets. It had some old grade-school artwork inside, the kind you keep for nostalgia but rarely display. The frame itself was light and simple in construction: a clear acrylic front with a white cardboard insert that slides into the back and includes small holes for hanging. The sides were scuffed after years of storage, so I covered them neatly with white duct tape to freshen the look and give the frame a clean, finished edge.

Before deciding on a background, I checked the back of the old artwork. The faded charcoal construction paper on the back had a muted, neutral tone that complemented the poncho without competing with it. It also tied into the navy curtains and darker neutrals elsewhere in Clara’s room, creating a cohesive look with the rug and bedding. I considered decorative paper or fabric, but the understated construction paper turned out to be the perfect backdrop.

To assemble the display, I removed the acrylic top, laid the cardboard insert flat, and centered the poncho on top. The acrylic front fits snugly, so there was no need to tape anything down. One important tip: slide the acrylic front down slowly. When I pushed it on quickly at first, the poncho’s fringe blew outward and looked messy. A gentle, slow placement prevented the fringe from getting stuck in an awkward position. The result was a neat, preserved piece that holds its shape inside the frame.

We hung the framed poncho above Clara’s play kitchen, on the same wall as a small display of postcard shelves. The framed poncho sometimes feels a bit small on its own on that wall, but I like the simplicity of it as a single piece of art in that spot. We may pair it with other items later — in fact, we already added a little complementary piece that makes the arrangement more playful, and I plan to share photos when I can.

In photos, the acrylic can produce reflections that hide some color and detail, so close-up shots didn’t always capture the true vibrancy. In person, the poncho’s colors read more clearly and pick up green tones in nearby flash cards and wall art, which helps unify the room’s palette.

On the adjacent wall we added a pair of decorative hooks shaped like animals. They were a gift from friends during a book tour stop, and from the moment I saw the elephant and giraffe I knew they would be perfect for Clara’s room. We named them “Manna” and “Bamma.” The lower hook is within Clara’s reach so she can hang and retrieve small items herself, encouraging tidy habits and play. The top hook sits slightly out of reach for now and can hold items we’d prefer to control, like a bunch of necklaces or bracelets. At the moment they hold a mix of paint decks, belts, and hair bows clipped to a ribbon — a simple combination of function and whimsy that Clara adores.

We still have a few upgrades on our to-do list for the room, such as new sheets, crown molding, refinishing a dresser, and possibly painting the ceiling. But small touches like the framed poncho and the kid-friendly hooks have already made the space more personal and playful. If you have sentimental clothing or small textiles you don’t want to discard, consider preserving them in an acrylic display frame — it’s an easy, lightweight solution that keeps memories visible and protected.