Last December Ally (Ally’s Corner) left a comment where she said she makes a “vision board” each year. She said “I put on the board everything I would like to see happen in my life in the New Year. Last year I was able to pay off some debt and clean and organize my house. Both of those were on my vision board.”
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I’ve been thinking about this ever since! Inspiration boards aren’t new. Decorators and artist use them all the time, but to use one to help you reach a goal was new to me. I’m a very visual person and have been wanting some way to have a visual reminder of the things I’m working toward. I’ve really been thinking about what I want to do with my life a lot lately. I guess it’s because my daughter will be going off to college in a year and it’ll just be me and hubby! I need something to help inspire me to reach my personal goals. So I thought I’d do an “Inspire Me” board.
First I needed some kind of board. Well I have two of these black and white toile boards but I want to put this in my office where I’ll see it every day and the colors are more muted and romantic in there and this would bother me. So I, of course, have to makeover this board!
Your Inspire Me board can be anything, an old cork board, a frame with some chicken wire or cardboard behind it, anything you can tack some things that will inspire you to meet your goals. But if you have a memory board that you want to makeover here’s how. If you already know how to make one then skip on down to the bottom!
Step 1 – I took the ribbon and buttons off the old board mainly because I wanted to keep them to use in the future. If you don’t care about that you can just cover the board with a layer of polyester batting and proceed from there.
I’m sure I can use those cute toile buttons on something else -pushpins, magnets maybe?
Then I cut my fabric a few inches wider than the board as it’s going to wrap around. Better to cut too much fabric than to not have enough to wrap. You can always trim it later. Position your board in the center of your fabric.
Next you’re going to start stapling. I love my automatic stapler! It makes it much easier to do these types of projects! First you’re going to wrap the fabric around one side and put a staple in the center. Then you go to the opposite side and you’re going to pull the fabric over the frame taut and staple in the center. Repeat this on the two remaining sides. Then go back to your first side and start stapling the fabric on the frame. Repeat on all sides leaving the corners which are next.
There a couple of different ways you can do corners. I take the center part and and pull it taut and staple it to the corner of the frame. Then I take the sides and fold them in and staple so it looks like this
You shouldn’t have too much excess fabric but you can trim it if you do. Now you’re done stapling and you can flip it around and it should look like this.
You can keep it this way or you can add ribbon. I decided to add some ribbon. Not as much as was on it originally. I LOVE this fabric!
I took some ribbon and layed it diagonally, stapling it onto the back of one corner and then pulling it fairly taut to the other corner and stapling that one on the back as well. Make an X with your ribbon.
It doesn’t have to be perfect!
So if you want to add more ribbon do so. I am just keeping the two and I put a staple in the center because I’m going to add a covered button.
Get a covered button kit and follow the instructions on the back. I’ve never done one before but it was really easy! Just hot glue the button over the staple.
There you have it! Now for the fun stuff!
Start collecting pictures, articles, sayings, quotes from people you admire anything that is a reminder of your goal or that you feel will help you reach your goal.
Here’s the beginning of mine.
I’ve always been interested in self-sufficiency and I’ve always wanted to combine that with some type of out reach program. I’d love to be able to grow food year round and combine it with beautiful flower gardens. I love to have chickens maybe ducks and rabbits too. I’d love to know how to can, weave, knit, crochet, a lot of things that could be categorized as “homesteading skills”. But most importantly, I’d like to be able to share these things with other. Whether it’s me teaching people or me providing the facilities for workshops. I’m still working on exactly how I want to do this, but for the time being that’s what I’m working toward.
So on my Inspire Me board I have a few pictures from magazines and some key phrases that fit with what my goals are. I’ll add more as I find things that speak to me.
There are no rules as to what you can and can’t put on your board. Your board will probably change, maybe you’ll take things down as you reach those goals and add new ones. Maybe you’ll decide to change goals. Whatever you do, it should be a visual kick in the behind so to speak to remind you to work toward your goals!
Let me know if you make one. I’d love to see it!
Oh I love that fabric!!! Do you know the name or maker, by chance.
Thanks for the inspiration – your board is beautiful. I need to think on this.
tina
[email protected]
I just wanted to let you know that I found your blog this weekend (believe it or not, it came up as a “suggested blog” on my Google Reader). I spent entirely too much time reading through your archives and falling head over heals with your site!
Now I’ve added you to my Reader, but also wanted to let you know I have a total BlogCrush right now. LOVE IT!
Thanks for sharing!
Warmly,
Robyn
I like that idea very much. In fact I have been doing that for the longest of times, but not as fancy. What I do, or rather we…we sit at the dining room table on January 1 with pad and pencil or pen and start talking about what we are going to do this year. We prioritize and then write each item down in numerical order. As we go along I check off each goal when completed. That works for us. I usually have the sheet of paper on the side of the frig. Makes it easy for me. I like your idea as well. Thx for sharing. Take care and have a great week.
Super cool idea. I saw an episode on Oprah about this and have always wanted to do it. Maybe you will inspire me to get it done!
what a neat idea! i love the fabric. your board is gorgeous!
Great post! But yours usually are. I just love visiting you. And btw, I reread “The Long WInter” by Laura WIlder. It was great. Thanks for the suggestion!
You need to read the book “The Secret”. Talks all about this. Be more than just a positive thinker, you have to “believe” anything can and will happen. It’s an interesting concept.
How neat! 🙂 I love it!!!
I love that fabric too Manuela! Thanks for the tutorial on how to recover a vision board. I love this whole idea. I have a vision board in my studio, but I am really just using it to hold up business cards! I need to rethink this. Thanks for always inspiring me!
Hugs,
Penny
I agree, the fabric is beautiful! I need to make one of these and soon (I’ll let you know) for the kitchen! Thanks Manuela for the tutorial.
That’s such a lovely fabric. I’ll be interested to know if the board is keeping you focused on the goal.
You ‘nailed’ it! Or tacked it I should say…I love the fabric choice 🙂
What a great post!! We are totally on the same wave length Manuela! In fact, my board is nearly identical to yours (including the black and white toile). It was a gift from a craft class “Two Crafty Chic’s” did a few year’s ago at our Frugal Luxuries workshop! I love the vision board concept and have found it so useful over the years. They work so well in keeping my focus on the goals I want to achieve in my life. I think seeing the items represented on the vision board, daily, somehow gets into the subconscious and I find myself working towards my goals without really giving it too much thought. It sounds as if you’ve discovered the same thing! What a useful tool. Thanks so much for sharing with us, as you are always so inspiring. Love, Traceyxo
Great post with a great idea! I so need some inspiration – I can’t even think of what I really want to accomplish this year. Maybe, it is to do nothing, and therefore, save a ton of money. Sally
I love this idea used for personal goals. I must definitely make one! I have listed upon lists but this is a beautiful way to keep my goal/goals in front of me visually all the time. Excellent!
I love this!!! I may have to make one to hand over my craft table!
It turned out wonderful!
Mine is a decorative tin I found at a cute out of the way store on Canton Rd.
I’m so glad I could inspire you.
Would you mind posting a better picture of the window frame that is next to it?
Both boards are so pretty (love toile). I put an idea board above a work table, but rarely see or add to it, because I do more projects at the dining table.
Glenda
That is fabulous, I’m going to have to borrow your idea. I have lots of goals for my blog for this year, so this would be a great way to inspire myself and keep track! Love the fabric!
That fabric is wonderful…. never seen that one before…. I love it….. hummm if I made one of these I would put your name right in the center….
HUgs
Linda
Manuela, your board is beautiful! I’ve been meaning to do something like this to my bedroom closet doors. I especially like your frame of mind- You could always write- you already do that quite well. There is also your county’s extension office. They probably have programs in place that need people like you!
I admire that you are being proactive. Not that such transitions are ever easy, but I appreciate your positivity about the next part of your life.
It’s inspiring that you are taking the time to plan now. I don’t always plan as I should. Before you know it too much time has passed. I have been thinking lately how I need to make my days more defined, while allowing myself to do things I really want to do. Everyday life easily gets in the way and I want to change that.
What wonderful inspiration! I love this post & an inspiration board is such a great idea. I've seen them but never had anyone inspire me to make one. I will have to do just that! Thanks for all the instructions! Yours is awesome!
Hi Manuela…I like how you kept the board simple with only 2 pieces of ribbon criss crossed…I made one once and had ribbon everywhere and it turned out a mess…I will have to try it again!
Hi Manuela, love the fabric on your inspiration board.
Such a wonderful idea.
Alison
i have been lurking around your blog for some time, so i thought i would stop to say hi. i have been meaning to make a board but never though about putting my goals on it. what a great idea! i have learned a lot from your blog….so thanks.
alissa
Oh, the fabric is lovely! I love your inspire me board! Now if you want to learn how to weave I can get you started. I taught myself how to knit, but got a few tips when it came to purl. I usually just find a book and go for it. I learned to weave from a book called Back to Basics. Hubby built me a loom. Now looms, But if you start off with a lap loom its easier. You can make placemats, purses, ect. I taught many a 4Her to do all. Let me know and I will get some things together. That will be on thing done on your board. I need a map to do all I want and need to do! lol
I bet there is a Guild near you, I will pull out some of my weaving, knitting and spinning stuff. You usually can join, for due of $25 or less a year, and their is a lot of ladies that will share how to do any of this. Your local county extension office, usually has free classes on canning, gardening, sewing. I was in a Master Sewing Class at the extension office to teach children and adults to sew. I also taught at the college every year weaving or spinning on a wheel. I taught how to care for farm animals. Oh the list goes on. But you will find they have a lot to offer and have special days for the teachers to get together to plan and have lunch. The county provides the meeting area. I live in the country, hubby and I had the largest 4H club in Mississippi. One day we may do this again. We loved teaching and helping to send children in a new direction in life. They now come and hug me and Thank me for changing their lives. One girl who is 20 now on her My Space page has Mrs. Katherine is my hero. I cried and cried. Its helps so much to give something back.
What a wonderful idea and how beautiful your board looks. That fabric is so pretty. Even your notes on the board are pretty! Thanks for this tutorial. I’ve got to try to find a place to put oe of these. laurie
That’s very cute! 🙂
VERY nice.
ALfazema
Manuela, that is great. I love the directions.
Think I will do a ‘reflection’ board.
Barb
Ive done a vision board once before but it was not this pretty I love it and think I may have to try again I love the idea!!!
Love the fabric you’ve used! Such beautiful soft colors.
I was fortunate to pick up several of these memo boards for only $4.00 a piece when Franks was going out of business. I covered one in a colorful (cutter) vintage tablecloth, glued ribbon flowers over the staples and gave it as part of a baby shower gift.
Kimberly 🙂
I have the exact same black toile memory board lying around in one of my closets! I don’t ever have the right place for it but hated to throw it away. NOW…I have something GREAT and GRAND to actually do with it. Thanks so much for your creative idea-step-by-step! Just how we like it. I am so excited! Your fabric choice is beautiful!
I really like this post. An inspiration board. Keeping goals in front of me and nudging myself on is an area I need to develop. Too many years doing all the mom stuff, where that dictated the day to day activities. Thanks for the inspiration.
Debbie
Beautiful board, Manuela!
I have heard of these, but I always seem to forget them when the New Year dawns. You did a really nice job. Very classy!
Nice to visit with you again,
KJ
What a great idea! I will think
about doing one after my
daughters wedding next month.
That is my sole goal for now!
Love your blog, been reading
for awhile.
I am going to do this – it’s not too late in the year, is it?
HI there. Just wanted you to know i did it!! It’s on my blog dated 2/23. I love it, and have gotten wonderful feedback about it (considering blogspot was having major trouble with their comments on everyone’s blog) and most people had to email me.
Thank you so much for the Inspiration!!!! I can’t wait to start really filling it up!
HAGD! Karen
Beautiful fabric, it turned out perfect. Clarice
I love, love, love this fabric and have been looking and looking (we're talking hours!) for this pattern for an Easter project. I'm finally going to just ask as I can't find it – what's the pattern called and who makes it? Pretty please. 🙂