Capture Your Dreams

Bring your inspiration (or dreams) to life with a little help from SHINE’s gifted and creative team…

As you have been reading this edition of SHINE, you have been encouraged to write down your dreams and goals. As God deposits His plan for you to accomplish those dreams, you will want to reference ideas, scriptures, and instructions that He has given you to move forward in pursuit of those dreams. Writing in a journal is a wonderful way to remember all the “nuggets” God is sharing with you in the process. It also helps you stay committed and focused on His plan. As you progress it serves as an encouraging testimony to prayers answered and God’s hand working on your behalf. Here is a simple way to create your own dream/inspiration journal:

Supplies Needed:

• Any book: These books can be three-ring binders, spiral or steno notepads, composition notebooks, or any book that can carry paper and become a journal. These types of journals can be decorated with some flair. For this project we have chosen an 8 x 9 inch binder, which makes it easier to load your own paper.
• Glue
• Paint brush and/or sponge brush
• Craft paint (optional) in color of your choice
• Craft paper (optional) in color or pattern of your choice
• Used or new embellishments such as fun greeting card covers, beads, pearls, glitter, buttons, personal pictures, magazine cutouts, rickrack, etc. The possibilities are endless!

Instructions:

Step 1: Choose your favorite paper to cover your book. It can be a fun pattern, or the front of a cute greeting card. For this project, I have added the front of a card. It’s such a pretty house. You can also choose to paint the front with your own design or color.

Adding personal photos is a wonderful touch. They can be color copies if available, but black and white is just as nice. The regular copy paper makes it easier to decoupage on the binder. Wow! How those treasures have changed over the years.

Step 2: Now we can add a handle and some bling. Simply tie a string of beads to the ring of the binder and voilà; it’s a purse to hold your treasures. You can also glue embellishments on the front and spine of the book.

Step 3: Add some fun paper and write away! Creating a journal is a great activity and opportunity to teach our children; by using a journal they will see the glorious answers to their prayers as they learn to write to the Lord and about what He teaches them. They will love sharing it with their friends and family.

God wants us to see through His eyes, so sometimes we need to make things even more tangible. Visualize your dreams by developing a dream or inspiration board. You can put it anywhere in your home to view it, change it, and pray over it as you feel inspired.

Supplies Needed:

• 23 x 35 inch corkboard (or one that fits your desired space)
• 1 ½ yards of fabric (color and pattern of your choice)
• Thumbtacks
• Glue and/or glue gun
• Scissors
• Jute string
• Spray adhesive
• Paint brushes/sponges
• Paint (color of your choice)
• Ribbon
• Die cuts or paper shape cutouts
• Your choice of embellishments such as personal pictures, flowers, broaches, stickers, magazine cutouts, letters, inspirational quotes, etc. Choose items that represent your dreams, goals, and inspirations and remind you to pray for the strength and wisdom to move forward on them.

Instructions:

Step 1: Spray the corkboard with the spray adhesive and spread the fabric smoothly over the corkboard; hold it in place with the thumbtacks around the border.

Step 2: Begin to add your larger embellishments such as ribbon, broaches, or letters. Paint the letters fun colors to match or even offset your fabric. A banner or the letters themselves can be hung on the wall above, below, or on the side to allow more space on the corkboard itself.

Step 3: The fun begins here as you glue or tack on the embellishments you have collected. Use special paper, cutouts, or stickers to create depth and character on your board. Include areas to write new ideas such as a chalkboard or notepad on or near your corkboard to serve as reminders.

Sometimes our human minds can’t comprehend all the good things our good God has in store for us. First Corinthians 2:9 says: “…Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him” (KJV). These creative tools can serve as a source of encouragement for you and will allow you to share with your friends and family how God is manifesting His presence in your life. Creating a dream or inspiration board with a friend or even at a girl party can be a lot of fun. Invite someone over and work together to bring your dreams and inspirations to life. God has a masterpiece plan for your life!