Vision boards have gained popularity in recent years, and those who create them find them indispensable for focus and inspiration while pursuing goals and dreams. Our version uses non-traditional techniques, including chalkboard panels that can be updated as you make progress, since your goals will grow and change. We were also able to reuse supplies from some of our most popular past projects!
Things to keep in mind when you’re putting your own vision board together:
Being very specific about your goals will help. In this example, the artist is a writer and aspiring screenwriter, so she chose messages that pertained to that choice of path, along with general messages of motivation.
Quotes and words that inspire you are a great start, but make sure you include your own words, too! Stick-on letters let you add thoughts, mottos, mantras, etc. in your words or those of a loved one who inspires you.
Personal touches, whether they are “relevant” to the specific focus of your vision board, make it even more meaningful. Our artist is a fan of bright colors and all things New Orleans, so she chose feathers and fleurs-de-lis to add personality to her board. Whether you choose a clean, modern style, a photo-heavy layout, or any other style that suits you, remember to make it something that will be uplifting and inspiring to you whenever you see it.
What You'll Need
Before you begin, make sure you have all the supplies you'll need. The list below contains all the products we used to create the example shown in this demo. Materials are optional based upon your own design.
Inspiring clippings and photos from magazines, books, etc.
1. Choose Your Words
If desired, cut out inspiring words, phrases, or photos from magazines or other printed sources. You may wish to mount some of them – particularly smaller clippings – on scrap paper to make them stand out more.
2. Apply Your Background
On a protected surface, pour the medium onto the canvas to cover it. Adjust as necessary for the thickness and coverage you want.
Lightly shake your chosen Brusho colors and allow to blend into the medium. To enhance marbling/swirling effect, tilt your board in various directions. Allow to dry (at least 2-3 hours depending upon thickness).
Cover background with a layer of glitter spray. Allow to dry, approximately 15-30 minutes. If you want a more dramatic effect, you can also shake regular glitter onto the medium while it is still wet.
3. Now, Use Your Words
Lay out your clippings and paper to determine the best placement for them. (Make sure to leave space for your chalkboard shapes and other additions – in this case, the feathers and bow.) Apply using the glue stick. At this point, you can apply a coat of gel medium, if desired, to protect and preserve your work.
Cut out your shapes from a piece of chalk foam board, and apply with Aqua glue. (If planning to apply gel medium, place stickers and other accents first.)
Accent the larger messages with your favorite phrases from the stickers…
…and add your own personal words and phrases with letter stickers.
4. Dress It Up
Cut three pieces of the filmstrip ribbon to three different lengths. Glue each into a circle and allow to dry; then pinch the opposite side of each circle to the middle and glue in place to form a bow shape.
Glue or otherwise secure feathers to form a plume. Glue to an empty corner of the board. Stack and glue each bow atop the feathers. Add a sticker to the center.
5. Start Setting Your Goals!
You’re now ready to use your vision board – with your chalk pens, you can write down short-term goals, thoughts and ideas you have, quotes, and anything that inspires you. Change them as often as you wish!