Are you looking for a fun 2026 New Year\u2019s art project? Creating a Vision Board<\/strong> with kids is a great way to create a visual representation of goals, dreams and inspiration! These combine art making, reflection, goal-setting and creative expression, perfect for the start of a new year or at back-to-school time.<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019d like to make them with your students, a small group of kids (like Girl Scouts) or just for yourself, this guide will walk you through what you need to get started: materials to gather, simple steps, brainstorming prompts, and examples. I\u2019ll also share a printable Vision Board Kit you can get that makes it quick and easy to set up this activity. I\u2019ve tried out lots of different materials for vision boards and I\u2019ll share my favorites!<\/p>\n A vision board is a collection of words, images, pictures or drawings that show your hopes, dreams and goals. It\u2019s a visual representation of your plans and what inspires you. Creating a vision board with kids is a perfect New Year\u2019s art project.<\/p>\n Vision boards are for kids, teens and adults! There is no right or wrong way to make a vision board. They are perfect for art teachers, classrooms or just for yourself for fun!<\/p>\n Here are some materials you can gather for your vision board:<\/p>\n First, like I said before, there is no right or wrong way to make a vision board. Here are just some general tips and suggestions! If you have an example that you have made or some examples you\u2019ve found online, you can show those to your students. <\/p>\n Start by gathering a variety of papers. You can use painted papers, solid color construction paper, magazine pages or scrapbook papers. While making my vision board, I used some papers that had been painted using watercolors. This is a great time to use up the papers in your scrap box.<\/p>\n In this picture below, I\u2019m sharing my absolute favorite books<\/strong> I have ever bought for collages. They have beautiful, colorful and painterly papers that are awesome for backgrounds of vision boards and also in art journals. I haven\u2019t used them with students, but I frequently tear out papers for my own art journals. (Amazon Affiliate links have been used at no extra cost to you, thanks for supporting this free blog.)<\/em><\/p>\n Start with a large poster board or thick piece of paper. My boards are about 18\u2033 x 24\u2033, but you can use a smaller size as well. Cut or tear your background papers and glue to your poster board. Don\u2019t overthink it, just pick the papers that appeal to you.<\/p>\n Write or type a headline such as \u201cMy Vision Board\u201d or \u201c2026 Goals\u201d. A great trick: mount the title on a contrasting color or patterned paper so it really pops.<\/p>\n You can write lists such as:<\/p>\n To make this project even easier to run, I put together a printable set filled with goal prompts, title headers, and quote boxes your students can use. You can grab the full Vision Board ki<\/strong><\/a>t here<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n In the photo below, you can see how I glued each printed box onto a contrasting color to help it pop on the vision board.<\/p>\n Spend some time looking through magazines, old calendars, photos or images online. Cut or print out any images that represent your goals, show things you like or just inspire you. Anything goes, as long as it\u2019s positive and meaningful to you! Some items can be cut into simple squares, and others you can cut out more carefully around their outlines. The variety adds interest to your project.<\/p>\n Notice again how I placed some of the images on black backgrounds to help them pop. Play around with your layout and take your time arranging everything until it feels right!<\/p>\n It is really enjoyable to flip through magazines to find encouraging and inspirational words.<\/p>\n Look for empty spots on your vision board that could use a little extra pizazz. Try layering and overlapping your words on top of other images. In the example below, I glued my phrase on top of the moon picture. <\/p>\n Another option is to write or type your own words and quotes. If you\u2019d like an easy way to have quotes and \u201cpower words\u201d ready to use, I have some that are print-and-go. You can check out the Printable Positive Quotes<\/a> set or the Printable Positive Words<\/a> set\u2014both are included in the Full Vision Board Kit<\/a>.<\/p>\n Stickers are my favorite embellishment to use on vision boards or art journals. I\u2019m always looking for fun new stickers! Washi tape is also available in so many fun styles.<\/p>\n In the images below, you\u2019ll see some fun \u2018Vision Board\u2019\u2013themed stickers. I\u2019m sure there are plenty of great options out there, but these are just the ones I ordered. <\/p>\n Besides magazine images, you can also purchase Vision Board image books. I also bought a couple of Vision Board books, both by Free Period Press. I wanted to see what the difference was between them. The one on the left \u201cThe Vision Board Book<\/a>\u201c<\/strong> is better for grown-ups. It has pictures of adults, words such as \u201cNew Job\u201d and pictures related to business. The one on the right \u201cDream it. Do it.\u201d<\/strong><\/a> is more kid-friendly and playful, but still appealing to adults.<\/p>\n So by now you\u2019re probably wondering what my finished Vision Board looks like. Here you go, a finished 2026 Vision Board. In case you haven\u2019t guessed, my motto is \u201cMore is More.\u201d <\/p>\n Here is a smaller vision board I made several years ago as a spread in one of my art journals. <\/p>\n If you\u2019d like an easy way to teach your students how to make Vision Boards, I\u2019ve created a full Vision Board Kit<\/a><\/strong> that makes this project a breeze. In this kit, you\u2019ll get:<\/p>\n If you are still looking for some fun winter art project ideas, I have a blog post with 15 Winter Art Projects<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n Have you ever made vision boards with kids? How do you teach this project?<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artisbasic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2026-Vision-Board-Inspiration-for-Kids.jpg?resize=1000%2C753&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\nWhat is a Vision Board?<\/h2>\n
Why Make a Vision Board with Kids?<\/h2>\n
\n
What Materials Should I Use on My Vision Board?<\/h2>\n
\n
Step-by-Step: How to Make a Vision Board with Kids<\/h2>\n
1. Make the background for your vision board.<\/h3>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artisbasic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/What-Materials-do-I-use-for-a-Vision-Board-1.jpg?resize=1000%2C687&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artisbasic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Vision-Board-Thumbnail.jpg?resize=1000%2C753&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artisbasic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Create-a-2026-Vision-Board-steps.jpg?resize=1000%2C753&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n2. Create a title for your Vision Board that stands out.<\/h3>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artisbasic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Vision-Board-Headlines-or-Titles.jpg?resize=1000%2C750&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n3. Write out lists of your goals or other ideas you want to capture.<\/h3>\n
\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artisbasic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Goal-Setting-with-Vision-Boards.jpg?resize=1000%2C750&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n![\"Assorted](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artisbasic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Photo-Nov-30-2025-4-45-30-PM.jpg?resize=1000%2C716&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artisbasic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Vision-Boards-2026-for-New-Year-Goal-Setting.jpg?resize=1000%2C834&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n4. Cut out images that inspire you and glue to your board.<\/h3>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artisbasic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Magazine-pictures-for-Vision-Boards.jpg?resize=1000%2C670&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artisbasic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Steps-to-Create-a-Vision-Board.jpg?resize=1000%2C750&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n5. Cut out words or phrases that speak to you.<\/h3>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artisbasic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Magazine-words-for-Vision-boards.jpg?resize=1000%2C627&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artisbasic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Create-a-Vision-Board-with-Kids.jpg?resize=1000%2C525&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artisbasic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Vision-Board-Printable-Quotes-and-Positive-Affirmations.jpg?resize=1000%2C500&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n6. Use stickers and washi tape for extra embellishments on your vision board!<\/h3>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artisbasic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Materials-to-Use-for-a-2026-Vision-Board.jpg?resize=951%2C629&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artisbasic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Vision-Board-Stickers.jpg?resize=1000%2C723&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artisbasic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Stickers-for-a-Vision-Board.jpg?resize=1000%2C716&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"Two](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artisbasic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Vision-Board-books.jpg?resize=1000%2C753&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artisbasic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/How-to-Make-a-Vision-Board-with-Kids.jpg?resize=1000%2C753&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artisbasic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Vision-Board-in-Sketchbook-Collage-2.jpg?resize=983%2C615&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artisbasic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Vision-Board-printables-template-slideshow-affirmations.jpg?resize=1000%2C1000&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nLike this:<\/h3>\n