DIY Pallet Art

I hope you are having a fantastic weekend. I plan to give you a “My Weekend in Instagram” post on Sunday to let you know what we were up to (Which isn’t much). I have also redesigned the blog a couple of times since last week. I am pretty happy with this one... I change my mind often and therefore there is a good chance it might change. ;)

Meanwhile I thought I would share a DIY project that I worked on a couple of weeks ago. I won’t lie, I am pretty proud of it. So proud of it in fact, that it is what hangs over my couch as the main decoration in my living room. Here is a photo:

If you would like to try it…
You’ll need:


-Paint/Paintbrush. ( I used cheap acrylic paint from Wal-Mart. I mixed black and brown because of the color of this pallet. )


-Rubber Cement


-A pallet. (Adam and I literally went dumpster diving for this amazing pallet. We found and kept this pallet along with many others that I plan on using for other projects…someday. My recommendation for finding pallets without spending money, is to literally walk into any local business and ask if they have any. Some businesses pay someone to haul pallets away, so my guess is they will be OK with letting you take one…or a fewJ )


-Scrapbook Paper -(This is one of my favorite things and one of those purchases that was totally worth it. This big book of scrapbook paper cost about $20 at Michael’s…however, there are 180 sheets and a great variety of designs. I have used it for several projects and it’s still going strong.. My personal fave is the damask design.)

I did this project before the time of Thrive, so I didn’t really take pictures of the process. But it is pretty easy to figure out.

1.       Clean off your pallet. I had to do this due to the pile of junk we found it under. Might be a good idea.

2.       Paint branches. I was nervous about this and even had my mom come and start painting the branches for me. (*fyi- my mom is a very talented artist. She has so much talent and I wish people could enjoy her work more often). Anyway, I took over after a while and really, it doesn’t matter how precise your branch design is. You don’t have to be an expert painter, trust me! You can do it.

3.       Obviously, let it dry.

4.       Cut several different sizes of circles from your scrapbook paper. I searched my house and used the salt and pepper shaker and lid from my jar of honey as 2 different sizes and traced them on the paper. I’m a dork, I know. Just be creative. Also, use a variety of different scrapbook designs and colors.

5.       Arrange the circles on the end of the branches (as leaves) in a color combination that you like. Then, rubber cement them to the wood.

6.       Let the glue dry.

7.       *You are going to have to find a way to hang this on the wall. Pinterest shows many different ways to creatively hang things on the wall (pop tabs, paper clips, ect). However, the good, sturdy, picture hanging hooks are $1 at Wal-Mart. In my opinion, it is easier, and I KNOW it will work, so I would rather spend the dollar.*

*How could I make it even better?*

I did not do this to the picture, but it would look neat if someone did…Give the entire pallet a coat or two of Mod Podge. It will make the whole thing look more polished.

There it is. What do you think? I personally love it. I also sketched a bird…something that I learned from this website, but did it on scrapbook paper.

Here it hangs, over my couch. Like I said, I personally love it, and it is now the main piece of art in my home.

Hope you like it. If not, make it your own. Always design your stuff to fit YOU. Enjoy your weekend.

-Be Kind to One Another-

11 Things

Hello Again!

As I experiment and in an attempt to let you know more about what I want for this blog, I thought I would expand a little on some things about me. First though, this post is something that I saw on Start Acting My Age. If you haven't read this blog, you should. Her blog sort of inspired me to start Thrive.  I have known Allie for a long time and she is one of the most creative people I know. Serious. She's awesome. (She didn't even ask me to say that).

Anyway, I will post a picture and 11 random things about me, answer questions that Allie proposed on her blog, then give 11 more questions for you, if you wish to participate. So, here goes nothin'. (I'll try not to bore you).

This is a picture of my fam. (Minus mom and dad, plus adam).

Jessie is my oldest sister--she's a decorated athlete, a soon-to-be physical therapist, and someone I truly admire.

Terri is my 'little' sister--at 6' she isn't so little. She is a soon-to-be math teacher...and major math geek ;)--kidding.

Justin is my 'little' brother--again, he's taller than me at 15, and I'm not short! He's an awesome kid with a ton of potential.

11 Things: (I first asked Adam to help me with this, but it turned into him telling me every little thing I do to annoy him...so, needless to say, I did these myself)

1. It was in undergrad that I realized what I wanted to do with my life. I signed up for the class..."Contemporary Social Problems", and realized this was my thing. Weird, huh?

2. I have always struggled with giving myself a label. I never truly thought I had one in particular that stood out. (ex. athlete, bookworm, the 'funny one'). I really always thought I was a little bit of everything. Having said that, this has carried over into my daily life as I constantly think that if I wasn't going to be a counselor, I would be a million different other things.

3. I think too much. I drive myself insane over very simple, usually non-important things.

4. If I were to meet you for the first time, you would probably think I was weird and shy. I am introverted, self-conscious, and get nervous in new situations.

5. Something quirky...I can only drink certain beverages with certain foods. Some foods just don't go with certain beverages. For example, I love coffee. I drink it every morning. But I can't drink it while eating, for instance, scrambled eggs. But I will drink it with a bagel. Is that weird?

6. Growing up on a farm I always had animals around me, but NEVER in the house. So, I was indifferent to animals and having them in the house until I met Mudge. (the best dog ever). You will meet him eventually. He is my personal foot warmer.

7. Along with that, I have Raynaud's (Phenonmenon) Syndrome. Find out what it is here. Therefore, I *should* be wearing wool socks 9 months out of the year. (For example, my feet are freezing right now) But a girl needs flip flops.

8. I am a firm believer in getting enough sleep. Plan your schedule so you can get 7-9 hours of sleep and you will feel so much better. I promise.

9. I am a terrible speller (mostly thanks to my impatience and lack of abililty to double-check things)and lack some major vocab skills. You will never see me use big words.

10. In honor of Adam, I will share a bad habit that I have. I never close cupboards. If I open the cupboard to take out a bowl, I almost never shut it. I don't know why. My 6'6" father used to get mad at me about this too.

11. While in college, I lost 30 pounds (from my heaviest to my lightest). I will share, however, that all my methods for losing that weight are not some that I would recommend, but now that I have gained a few pounds back and found a HEALTHY approach to MAINTAINING my very normal weight, I feel I can share some tips with you.

Next, I will answer the questions from Allie's blog...(hang in there)

1. Who is your favorite person?

I have a lot. :) But my favorite is my husband...and my mom. :)

2. What is your biggest pet peeve?

When people lack a little word I like to call 'tact'. In all respects, but especially: *That moment when you have a booger on your nose and your tactless friend yells it across the room.* Grrr.

3. If you had to pick one outfit to wear everyday for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I am absolutely 100% not a fashion expert. I know what I like, and I think I know how to dress my own body type...I like style and comfort. But mostly comfort...so if I am being honest, I think I have to say sweatpants.

4. What is one thing you are really really good at?

Like I have said before, I don't know if there is one thing. Maybe I am still trying to figure that out. But, I do believe I am a good listener.

5. If you weren't in your current profession, what other profession would you choose?

Haha. This one changes daily...some days I would like to be a chef...other days I would like to be a nutrtionist...some days I would like to be a preschool teacher...some days I would like to be a photographer...some days a hairdresser...some days own my own crafty store. It depends on my mood, really. :)

6. What do you do when you are trying to procrastinate?

Unfortunately I waste too much time on Facebook. That is another reason why I wanted to create this blog. Instead of mindlessly being sucked into people's lives, I thought I would keep my brain actually working by creating this in my free time.

7. What are the 3 closets things to you right now?

My planner. Chai Latte. My cell phone.

8. If you were to describe yourself (not physically!) to someone who didn't know you, what 5 words would you use?

Wow, I can't even describe how much I hate this question. :) Shy, Kind, Fun, Creative, Moody (hey, I can admit it!).

9. What traits or quirks did you inherit from your parents?

I definately inherited the obnoxious Dirks (my maiden name) giggles. If you spend an hour with my family (especially my extended family) you would know what I mean. I can tell it is a family member laughing from a mile away. And there is a lot of laughter.

10. What would your perfect day consist of?

Sleeping in, drinking coffee, doin' a little shopping, visting friends or family and having good conversation, taking a walk or run, having a nice family dinner, and unwinding with a glass of wine with my husband. :)

There you have it. Here are some questions for YOU if you would like to participate:

1. What was your favorite food as a child?

2. What chore do you absolutely despise doing?

3. If you could learn any new task, what would it be?

4. What is one of your favorite quotes?

5. If you could change your first name, what would you change it to?

6. If you have 30 minutes of free time, how would you spend it?

7. What was the first thing you bought with your own money?

8. What makes you cry?

9. What do you miss most about being a kid?

10. What was the last experience that made you a better person?

Let me know if you choose to participate.

Have a good night! --And in the words of one of my faves (Ellen DeGeneres):

"BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER"

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog...Thrive! This title is very important to me, and I will get into that later. Right now...I would like to introduce myself...(many of you know me..so none of this is new to you ;)

I'm Kelli. As you will read about in my "About Me" section, I am a counselor in training. I am currently working on my Master's Degree in K-12 School Counseling at the University of Northern Iowa. Go Panthers!

Anyway, I am 24 years old and married to my high school sweetheart, Adam Johnson. We have been together for 6 1/2 years and have been married for almost 2. (Warning: Mushy stuff coming your way...) He is my absolute best friend. At my ugliest, this man still loves me unconditionally. And vice versa. He, however, just might be the kindest person I know. And, I think he's pretty cute if I do say so myself. :)

I am choosing to create this blog because of a few reasons:

1. I have a lot to say (Even ask Adam). --- And this blog will serve as a creative outlet for me.

2. I want to share my creativity---Like I said in my "about me" section, I am no expert at anything. However, I love pinterest, doing projects, and trying new things. I have so many interests (ok, unfinshed projects), and I just thought it would be fun to share with ya'll.

3. Much of my family, as well as my in-laws, live out of state. ---This is also a way for you guys to see what's goin' on with us! (Hey, guys!)

4. I am passionate about helping others...in any way that I can. But what I am most passionate about is helping others see their own potential, learn to be themselves, and Thrive.

I chose the name of this blog to be THRIVE, because this word is so important to me. My high school guidance counselor is one of my favorite people, and she taught me how to do this. She encouraged me and said "You are just going to blossom". (I will never forget when she said this to me, what a compliment!) This was enough for me to consider my own potential as and find my own interests. And, she had such an impact on me, I am following in her footsteps and am a soon-to-be counselor. Basically, thrive means to prosper, flourish. I want people to understand that they can thrive at whatever thier niché may be. So, in conclusion I truly, truly hope there is something for you on this blog. If there is anything you would like to request, shoot me an email :) (kellidirksjohnson@hotmail.com) I want you to come visit and see what I am up to, and maybe inspire you to be yourself.

Happy Tuesday!