“Stick To It” Mini Goal Book Craft
plus free printable and a giveaway

Have you made your goals for the New Year already? Are you serious about them? How many times have you been told that if you are going to stick to your goals, you have to actually write them down--not just think them up?

Here's a place to write them down.

A cute little book to make for yourself and perhaps a few friends or family members as well (if you're going to make one, you might as well do a few--or make them together). Or, comment in this post that you would like one, and I will choose at random someone to mail one to! (I will be able to see your email address to contact you, but no one else will.)

It has a blank page for each month, so that you can revisit and adjust your goals as the year progresses.

It also has in it one of my favorite poems about keeping goals. (Favorite because while I have a hard time remembering things nowadays, the first few lines stick in my head and remind me of what I need to to!)

Stick to your task 'til it sticks to you;
Beginners are many, but enders are few.
Honor, power, place and praise
Will come, in time, to the one who stays.
Stick to your task 'til it sticks to you;
Bend at it, sweat at it, smile at it too;
For out of the bend and the sweat and the smile
Will come life's victories after awhile.

(from Favorite Quotations from the Collection of Thomas S. Monson)

Materials for each book:
my handy dandy printable which takes 2 pieces of 8 1/2 x 11 paper (I chose an ivory color)
cover paper--one 8 1/2 x 11 sheet will be enough for 4 books.
a narrow stick 4" long
a rubber band, about (?)" long

Tools:
scizzors
printer (b&w is fine)

Instructions

The first step is to print the Stick To It book file. You will need to print it double sided so page 2 (May, January, July, March) is on the back of page 1 (poem, October, December, August) and page 4 is on the back of page 3. Some printers will let you print the odd pages only. You can then turn the pages over and feed them back through your printer and print the even pages only.

Cut your pages along the lines indicated, or you can crease them a few times in both directions to weaken the paper and carefully tear them for a more vintage book look.

Then fold them each in half (you'll also find instructions in the margin of the printable) and assemble them in order. The title page is first, the poem, and then the months in order. There are a couple of extra blank pages at the end.

Cut your cover paper about 3 3/4" x 5 1/2". Add it to your pages.

Use scissors to cut 2 notches into the folded side of the book about 3/4 " from the ends. If it's too hard to get through all of the pages (and it probably is), try it first to mark where the notch is, then remove some of the inside pages, cut the notches, and replace them in the book.

Open the book to reveal the hole and thread the rubber band into one of the notches.

Place your stick through the rubber band on the outside of the book and pull it tight.

Take the end of the rubber band that is now inside the book and thread it through the other hole. This part can take a few tries, and you may need to find a pencil or something to help you poke the rubber band through.

Now loop it over the other end of the stick. If it is too loose, you will have to find a smaller rubber band, a thicker stick or put your notches further apart (probably too late for that, though!) If you have the right size rubber band, your little book will have a tight, sturdy binding.

Done! Except, of course, you still need to write down your first goal. Again, if you would like me to send you one, enter the random drawing by commenting on this post. Giveaway closes next Monday, January 9th 2012.

Happy New Year!