BEE-IY: Inspiration Boards
Here I am again, Lexie, reckless optimist and believer in all things beautiful, past present and future. Today specifically, I’d like to focus on the present and the future, and I’d like to extend my hand and take you there with me… what do you say, are you up for an adventure?
To most, the present and the future represent two extremely different states of being- what currently is and what later will be. However, you and I, we’re not like most, so I’d like to think we’re on the same page with this. The present and the future, they’re one in the same. I feel like every single thought, choice, and action of the present directly affects the future, so it’s important for us to focus on one just as much as the other, yes?
The word “future” is so vague- tomorrow is the future, as is next week, and next year, and 18 million years from now, but this part of the sentence was also the future when you read the beginning of it (ouch my brain). Wrapping your head around the WHOLE future is seemingly impossible, and to give my future adequate attention I’ve narrowed it to a smaller frame of reference. So for the sake of sparing our brains from spontaneous combustion, in this particular instance, our present is now- this minute, this day, this week, this post, and our future is six months from now.
In a way, this is a piggyback on my last post, and I hope that again with this, I can assist in making the world (or at lease our little world together here), a more loving and safe place. With that I bring you this new segment: BEE-IY, yes, a spin off of DIY (do it yourself) where I attempt to do crafty things (emphasis on attempt). THIS IS A WARNING: I’m very, VERY shitty at any and all things arts and crafts… but that won’t stop me from doing it. So today, we’re making now and later inspiration boards, because we all deserve to wake up every day feeling inspired, and remind us of the future we have to look forward to.
So, without further ado, let’s get crafty.
What you will need (or rather, what I used):
-2 Magnet boards (you could also use your refrigerator if it’s magnetic)
-Neodymium magnets (those are the tiny strong ones, I found mine at a local craft store)
-Gift tags
-Hot glue gun
-Scissors
-Gold metallic Sharpie
-2 Cork squares
-Washi tape
-Obnoxiously adorable push pins
-At least 2 different note pads
-Decorative magnets
-Old magazines
-Belief in yourself
-Patience and determination
STEP NUMBER FUN!!!
To begin, I used the hot glue gun to attach the neodymium magnets to the cork squared. In an ideal world, I would have had one on each corner (eight total) but the ones I purchased only came in a pack of six and I didn’t want to buy another whole pack for two more magnets, so I just attached three magnets to each cork square in a triangle formation. Congratulations, you’ve completed the first step, I’m proud of you! (PS: I viciously burned my fingertips while doing this, so please be careful and remember that it’s called HOT glue for a reason).
STEP NUMBER TWO:
Take a strip of washi tape and stretch it from one corner to the other on the first cork square, then repeat this on the next board. Since washi tape is not very sticky, you may want to hot glue the corners like I did. This is just to visually create a “top” and “bottom” to each square. Also… the washi tape was just really cute and I wanted to buy it so I found a reason to use it #innovative
STEP NUMBER THREE:
Take some time and flip through old magazines- cut out anything that speaks to you including (but not limited to) words, images, textures, etcetera.
STEP NUMBER FOUR:
Take two pages from your notepad and on one, write your short-term (or present) goals. On the other write some long-term (or future/6 month) goals. Take some other pages and write inspiring thing on them, for example, your favorite quote. One of my short-term goals is to read more, so I also took a page and wrote “books” on the stop, so I could keep track of everything that I’ve read (side note- should we start a bee-book club?? Comment and let me know).
STEP NUMBER FIVE:
Take your metallic gold Sharpie and two of your gift tags: on one write “now,” on the other write “later.” Pin one on the top of each board.
STEP NUMBER SIX:
Arrange your board! Take your time with this and really decide what is most visually appealing to you. This board is meant to make you happy, so make it look its best! I used a variety of push pins to attach all of my things (INCLUDING ONES THAT LOOK LIKE LITTLE ANIMAL HEADS HOW CUTE ARE THEY??!!)
In some spots I used tape as well. It’s all about personal preference, however, DO NOT hot glue these items down, here’s why. Your goals will and SHOULD change, to constantly keep your brain thinking about your present and future, change out some of the piece on you “now” board every month, and completely change you “later” board once you hit the six-month mark. The point of these boards is for them to constantly be changing and evolving.
STEP NUMBER SEVEN:
Your board is complete and all that there is left to do it attach it to the magnet board! Gently center your decorated cork square on the magnet board and the strong little magnets on the back should immediately attach!
I decided that I wanted to use the remaining segments of magnet board bordering the cork to attach pictures that I take, so as I take more, I will be attaching them. In addition to this, one of the notepads that I purchased had a magnet strip on the back, so I attached that to the board as well so I can easily keep updating my list of goals.
STEP NUMBER EIGHT:
Step back, enjoy your new boards and feel inspired.
At the end of the day, it’s important for me to do all that I can to better myself, and I hope you feel the same about yourself. I really think these boards will help me to achieve my goals and pursue my dreams, and I hope that if you make them, you feel the same way.
Remember what they say, loves, “don’t quit you daydream,” … or your month dream, or your six-month dream, or your life dream. I’m so proud of you all already; we’re going to take over the world. (Inspiration for this craft provided by Ingrid Nilsen)
Bee inspired, always.
XOXO,
Lexie
BB
