How to Make a Bucket List Poster

Summer is the perfect time to make and check items off your bucket list! I’m showing you how to make a giant bucket list poster where you can record and mark off your fun summertime activities.

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Here’s what you’ll need to make your own bucket list poster:

• White poster board (I usually buy it in big packs because I use it for other projects and signs. It’s a lot cheaper this way!)
• Ruler (I love using my quilting ruler for bigger projects like this.)
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Sharpie
• Washi Tape
• Scrapbook Adhesive
• Scrapbook Paper
• Stickers

**NOTE** Before starting on your bucket list poster, I find it helpful to make the bucket list first so you know how many lines and columns you’re going to need to make on your post. Once this is done, move onto the next step. (If you need some inspiration for what to put on your bucket list, check out this list of 46 fun things to do this summer.)

First, you’ll need to grab your ruler and pencil so you can mark the spacing. (I have a big 3×24 quilting ruler that I love and use for so many different projects.) Our poster board is 28″x22″. I made a mark 4″ from the top on both sides and drew a line connecting the two. This marks off a section for the words “bucket list” and any extra embellishments you want to add.

Next, measure for the columns. We needed three based on how many items we had on our list. Since 28″ isn’t divisible by three, I made marks at 9.5″ and 9.5″ on the first line I drew. This gave me three columns, with the last one being a little bigger. Make a mark on the bottom of the poster board as well and draw vertical lines to connect the marks.

To make the lines for each bucket list item, I measured out and made marks at 1″ increments. Then I drew horizontal lines connecting them across the columns. (This is where having a really long ruler is super helpful.)

Now you’re ready to start adding bucket list item markers. I decided to use washi tape for mine since it was so easy to cut and stick right on the poster board. Another option would be to use stickers or squares of scrapbook paper and then stick them on. I alternated putting the washi tape on the left and right of each column. (No reason other than I just liked how it looked with the different colors all spread out.)

Once you’ve placed your washi tape/stickers/paper onto your poster board, you can start writing in your bucket list items. I used a basic black sharpie. If you decide to alternate your bucket list markers, this can be a little tricky but it’s not bad as you can see from my poster. When I’m done, I like to use a big eraser to remove all the pencil lines from my poster board so it looks a little cleaner.

After your bucket list is written in, feel free to decorate the top of the bucket list however you’d like. I used a combination of scrapbook paper and faux calligraphy, but you could also have your kids write it out or decorate it if you want.

And you’re done! We hang our bucket list poster on the wall in our main living area where the kids can see it.

As we complete an item, I write a completed date next to it. Some of the items, we do more than once, so there is more than one date by the end of the summer. I also try to take at least one picture for each bucket list item, which will then go into a small scrapbook or album. (I’ll share a tutorial at the end of the summer.)

Another great thing about this bucket list is that it can be used in conjunction with the summer schedule printable that I shared last week! Having some basic guidelines and expectations for the summer can help you and your family create more fun and lasting memories. You can use items from your bucket list as you plan out your days and weeks this summer. Be sure to grab it for free HERE or in the “Freebies” tab at the top of this page.

What’s on you or your family’s bucket list this summer??