I compiled all the supplies to make a vision board way before coronavirus caught fire. I’d made plans with my friend Julie to get together and create our boards, and then quarantine began… and it just didn’t seem like the best idea.
During this time when nothing seemed normal, I wasn’t even sure if it made sense to make a board. Could I really define my future during such an uncomfortable period of uncertainty? Should I spend the time creating a vision that may never happen?
I reached out to my friend and goals guru Jacki Carr to see what she thought about creating vision boards during a time of pandemic. She boldly affirmed that there was never a better time than now to establish new dreams and visions. I took her advice and decided to create my new vision board in late March.
What you need to create a vision board?
I’ll start off by saying there is no “right way” to vision board. I’ve seen people print the words that matter most to them. I’ve seen others paint images that represent their dreams. For me, I like to cut images and words out of magazines to use in my vision board. It creates a colorful, collage-style vision board that just speaks to my style and mirrors my energy. Find your version and go with it.
Here’s What You’ll Need:
- 6-8 magazines with colorful images and headlines that appeal to you
- An art canvas, poster board, or picture frame (larger than 8.5” x 11” is recommended)
- Scissors
- Rubber Cement (or glue)
- Embellishments from the craft store (optional)
- Hot Glue Gun (and glue)
For my vision board, I gathered up a bunch of magazines tied to things I love in life. Travel magazines, self-development mags, health and fitness journals were a few of the types of periodicals that I picked up.
When I told my hair stylist that I was going to be vision boarding, she actually gave me a few old issues of magazines laying around the salon – – an easy way to add to the stash. For the remainder of the magazines I needed, I went to my local Barnes & Noble where there’s a huge magazine section to choose from.
Protip: Check out the headlines and flip through the pages to make sure that there will be at least something that you can use in each book. Magazines are not inexpensive, so this quick perusing can save you a bit of money.
I made a vision board about 4 years ago on an art canvas, and it made it super easy to hang in on my wall. It quickly felt like art and décor, so I’ve kept with that same format ever since. For my most recent vision board, I actually just peeled off the last set of images and reused the same canvas.
How to Pick Images
Before you get started, consider what areas you would like to have represented on your board and what areas you’d like to manifest in the months ahead.
For me, I quickly chose career, love, health, happiness, and travel. As I was peeking through my magazines I was on the hunt for images that represented each. Despite my targeted list, I also keep an open mind to whatever shows up. Sometimes, you don’t know why… but garden images just need to make their way to your board. Even though you don’t have a garden, nor any ground where you could plant one, if a picture of a garden speaks to you – – include it! There is a certain whimsy tied to vision boarding. Include what moves you, and what inspires you.
While you’re going through your magazines, I recommend cutting out everything that you think might be a match. If there’s a word that works or a phrase or an image that sparks a thought, cut it out. You can always discard it if you don’t need it. That’s half the fun!
How to Design Your Layout
There is absolutely no “right way” to do this. I have made 3-4 vision boards over time, and not a single one looked anything like the other.
Before you begin gluing things down, I recommend going through the stacks of words and images you’ve collected to begin editing. If you cut out multiple pictures of the sunset over the ocean, maybe just pick your favorite one to include and discard the rest. You can also use this time to clean up the trimming of the items so that they look clean and fit nicely onto your canvas.
Now for the fun part, begin laying out the pieces on the canvas. Don’t be afraid to overlap items. Don’t be worried about making all the edges even. This is a creative process. You have time to adjust before you add the glue.
I typically create sections on my board. I have a health and wellness section. A section about love. A career corner. You get the gist. They all blend together in the end (or you can even section them off in some creative way, if you’d like.)
Making It Official
Once you’ve got your board to a state that you’re happy with it, take a picture of it. I suggest this so that you can refer back to it if needed.
Using your glue or your rubber cement, start gluing each piece down making sure the corners have enough adhesive to help them stay put. Leave the board overnight to dry so that when you hang it up, your items have completely dried and nothing falls off.
Why Add Embellishments?
This is totally an optional addition, but it feel like it really helps to finish off your piece and make it look less like a kindergarten craft project and more like an intentional (yet personal) work of art! In my 2020 board, I added a few paper flowers, a wooden “love” tag that I painted fuchsia, and I framed the board with a little woolen bead garland I found at a local craft store. Check out the scrapbooking section to see what appeals to you.
For me, I love that it makes the piece pop. I also love that it adds more dimension to the board itself. Because my embellishments were a little heavier than the magazine cutouts, I used hot glue to make sure they held on tight.
Where to Hang the Vision Board?
I highly recommend that you hang the vision board somewhere prominent in your home. Ideally, it should be somewhere where you can see it every single day. I hung my old vision board on a side wall in my bedroom, but I feel like the placement is so much better in my office.
It hangs right behind my desk as part of a gallery wall, where I can see it consistently throughout the day. Seeing it reminds me that I want to have a “cool career” where I’m “heartwarming the world” as I look for a new job. During COVID times, it also reminds me that one day, I will vacation again. I also enjoy seeing the woman meditating at the bottom, contemplating that desired “less stressed life.”
Letting the Magic Flow
I have not been shy talking about my renewed belief in Magic. As my sub-word for 2020, I am letting as much glitter and light flow into my life this year as is universally possible.
Spending time near the board, reading it’s words, and soaking up these visual reminders of what you really want are powerful. Keep looking at it. Keep meditating on it. Keep your eyes on the prize… it will attract these outcomes.
Realtalk: I also believe that this very board contributed to my April 2 job elimination. I made it just days before I received word that I would be unemployed during a pandemic. I think the universe gave me a little nudge to get me on track to going after what I really want.
I can’t wait to see what else I manifest in the days and months ahead.
To read more about my quarantine stories, click here.