As a youth, I spent a lot of time at Borders. I mean, a lot of time at Borders, though a lot of that time was spent in the magazine rotunda, waiting for my mother to finish flipping through the week’s new magazines. While only a few of those magazines ever actually left the bookstore with us, they made for a magical tradition that my mom and I shared each December in the liminal week between Christmas and New Year’s: we made ourselves vision boards for the year ahead.

This tradition feels both nostalgic and fresh. My mom and I would sit side by side at the dining room table, armed with a pile of magazines, scissors, and glue sticks, letting our creativity run wile as we imagined what we wanted the year ahead to hold. In 2010, this physical media tradition was replaced by the convenience and novelty of Pinterest boards. Though Pinterest digitized the tradition my mom and I shared, it removed the tactile joy of piecing something together with my own two hands.

This year, though, I deemed it necessary to bring back the vision board in a big way. I jump at any opportunity to use what I have before introducing new materials into any crafts I work on, so it felt extra special to source my inspiration from magazines withdrawn from OFPL’s collection. Did you know that our book sale has FREE magazines waiting for you in the book sale area? They are full of stunning images, inspiring quotes, and vibrant colors – perfect for engaging the senses in an exciting way.

Here’s how I crafted my vision board, and how you can too:

1. Gather Your Materials
   • Head to the library and check out our free magazines in the book sale area. They are found in wire baskets along the bottom shelves. You’ll find a delightful array of topics – gardening, home design, fitness, fashion, automotive news, and more.
   • Grab a large piece of poster board, tape a few pieces of cardstock together, or use some leftover cardboard from holiday gift boxes.
   • Collect scissors, glue sticks, and any additional decorations like stickers, washi tape, or markers.
2. Flip, Clip, and Feel: Flip through magazines with an open mind, and clip out anything that makes you feel good to look at. Here are some prompts to guide your search:
   • Dream destinations: Where have you always wanted to go to? Snag that breathtaking photo of a wooded thicket with a nestled waterfall, with towering mountains looming in the background.
   • Aesthetics you want to embrace: In the wise words of Marie Kondo, “Does it spark joy?” Colors, patterns, designs – you name it!
   • Words of inspiration: Find quotes, single words, or clip letter-by-letter the phrases that resonate with you.
   • Goals and hobbies: Are you like me and want to get really good at a new thing, all of the time? Clip recipes, yoga poses, or woodworking projects that give you a thrill.
3. Assemble Your Board: To me, this is where the magic happens. Once your clippings are gathered and you feel content, start laying them out on your board. There is no wrong answer; follow your intuition. Layer images, overlap text, cluster like ideas that speak to each other. Neither perfection nor precision is the goal. This is about joy.
4. Embrace The Process: Collaging is a hands-on activity that connects us to our creativity. So often do we feel the need to keep up with the latest trends and conform to the popularity of society; creating a vision board gives us permission to slow down and represent not only how we truly are, but how we want the world to perceive us. It’s about embracing the fun, the messiness, and the joy of creation and, to a greater extent, life.

I think it is such a thrill to start a crafternoon with nothing and end it with something. Something tangible to say, “Hey, I am here, I am taking up space and sharing my hopes and dreams with the world!” It’s like a personal garden: we can’t flourish if we stifle the blooms. We must give ourselves space to grow. The vision board is the garden bed, and you have sown the seeds.

If you’re looking for an inspiring, low-or-no-cost way to kick off the New Year, come grab some free magazines from OFPL’s book sale, and let’s start cutting, pasting, and building a better future. Happy New Year, and happy crafting!