You Didn't Have To Cut Me Off

RE: Blog post title: I just couldn't help myself. Two things this morning... #1 I cut it off! This skirt used to be a dress, but I never wore it. I just cut off the top of it, leaving the elastic waistband.  Easy peasy.  I always loved the colors and design of it.  Now it is going to be in circulation more this spring/summer as a skirt.  Love it.

#2 This is my 300th post and it is less than monumental, sorry!  Thanks for following along the past 14.5 months! I have loved sharing things with you and getting to know many of you.Here's the next 300! Cheers!

DIY: Glitter and Stud Wedges

If you are way too poor (like me) to be racking up on some great Black Friday deals AND you have a great appreciation for the sparklier things in life (like me) then you will LOVE transforming a pair of boring shoes into a pair of show-stopping ones!Okay, okay... You have all seen these boots, AND even these. Although, my original inspiration was KARA!I just could not make a decision on which DIY shoe project to complete, so I bit the bullet and combined my crafts.  Here's how I achieved my glittery studded wedges- PERFECT for the approaching holiday season.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------supplies:shoes, brush, mod podge (I bought the sparkle finish, for added pizazz), martha stewart fine glitter (in smoky quartz), thumb tacks, spray paint--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Spray Paint Your Heart Out!

First, I spray painted the shoes, so that no red would show through.  Depending on your shoe color, this may not be necessary.  I already owned the spray paint and just went crazy.

2. Podge, Sprinkle, Repeat.

After the shoes were dry, about 30 minutes later, I added the mod podge with a paint brush and sprinkled the glitter on.  Some tutorials instruct you to mix in the glitter with the MP, but that did not achieve the right amount of sparkle for me.  I just sprinkled over a tray and reused the excess.

3. Get Tacky!I started at the highest point that I wanted studs, and went in a straight line from there- getting less strategic as I went down towards the soles.

4. LOOK AWESOME!This step is all up to you, y'all.  Rock these shoes with your favorite outfit, I know there are a couple of holiday parties that these will accompany me to!  This project took me like two hours total, and cost >$10!  Hope you guys liked reading about my DIY Wedges!

Sunday Crafternoons

Something about cooler weather and approaching holidays make me yearn for creating and crafting.I was in search for a new desk, a small one, just for my laptop and crafts.Nothing crazy.Enter: One $15.00 desk from the thrift store:BEFORE:

HELLO, possibilities!
Next step was choosing paint and talking my sister in to helping me pick a color. Easy peasy.

AFTER:

I have not bought new drawer pulls yet! Waiting to use my coupon at Michael's Arts and Crafts :)

We chose Valspar Brillant Gold spray paint! Aaaaand I love it. It's so shiny against my gray walls.

The pennant banner was another craft done the same day using paint samples.  You know- the ones you grab to see what color you would like on your walls.  I put it in an old frame that used to hold a mirror, but this was waaaay more fun to look at! Then, I used the left over paint samples to make this colorful art piece.

"Be Merry"

Now, I have the best creative space to work in!

All for under $30!

Have you guys been up to any great projects lately?Share them with me!Have a great Sunday, my little chickens.

{DIY: Jewelry Pin Board}

I was having a bit of trouble keeping all of my statement necklaces and long jewelry organized and in sight.  I saw this pin on Pinterest :

via Pinterest

 I knew it would keep this merrymaker's jewelry in the right place.I also had a bulletin board in my closet that needed a facelift.  Here we go!
Pretty easy steps:1. Pick some fab fabric.  I went for a tribal pattern.  Obvi! Depending on your size of bulletin board you may need anywhere from 1 yard to a 1.25 yards.

2. Spread fabric taut over bulletin board 

& pin/staple fabric along border.  I used these push pins from Target ($2.99) because they are pretty :)  Then use a sharp knife or exacto knife to cut off extra fabric along the sides.

3. HANG ON THE WALL! :)

4. Use more pins to hang jewelry in whatever order you'd like!

5. ENJOY and more importantly... 

Accessorize. 

lots of love + DIY

here are a couple things i am head over heels for right now:
my new (you guessed it) HEADBAND.it sparkles- it's stretchy- its from target.j'adore.

oh it's the simple things in life.pretty little liars, the tv show.it has become my secret (obvi, not anymore) guilty tv obsession.

via

my new Essie finger nail polish: Wicked.I love rockin darker nail colors and different shades of red and purple.This shade is like a perfect mix of all those.

via

My first spring/summer shoe purchase.
These studded gladiator flip flops were screaming my name at Target today.
They are so versatile + comfy.
They come in a lot of colors and I am definitely gonna splurge another $12.99 for the turquoise pair.

via

What are you LOVING these days, my little chickens?

Here's what I did over the weekend:

(besides eat and drink beer)

DIY: Spray Paint
My new additions to my room:
They were a gift from a family friend.
(there's a matching bookshelf, also)
I loved them + they are super useful.
BUT I was so not crazy about the formica fake wood.
woof.

Since my wall are like a medium gray, I wanted another deep color than could easily translate as I change and rearrange.  In my bedroom, I like darker neutrals with pops of color that I can change often, because I get bored easily.

(This is my first love affair with spray paint*, we didn't get along the whole day, but we may have a second date- it just depends)

FIRST, I primed everything.

THEN I PAINTED

yeah, i'm not that technical.

I wanted the nightstand to be different so I chose a purple to match my tapestry.

Oh and Ozzy really wanted to be a part of this DIY reveal.

What a ham.

For the dresser and bookshelf- I went with Valspar's Indigo Streamer.

It didn't photograph well and the lighting is HORRIBLE (its actually darker than this), 

but TRUST ME it looks FAB against the gray walls.

I will tackle the bookshelf another weekend.  I think I got carpal tunnel syndrome 

from holding the spray button for so long.

*I don't claim to have any knowledge of painting, and I am certainly not an expert. I live and learn from doing.  It was fun and if you want to spice things up in your area, it was pretty easy :)

XOXO

glitz + glam

Minus the cat and insert a hairy black canine as my alarm clock and you will see what I was doing at 6am this morning.  Yep, it's been a long day.

Silly pup.  

However, I did have the extra time to finish my housekeeping on the site.  

Don't you LOVE the new layout? 

On today's menu: glitz + glam.

Beyonce has embraced the bright pink lipstick trend, and pulled it off flawlessly.

Lookin' good, B.

Beyonce

 The heels steal the show with these shoes.

Here's the run down:

Add gold embellished shoe, throw on LBD, and BOOM instant party.

shoes

 I cannot resist dogs in jewelry.  And if you don't like this picture in one way or another, 

then I don't like you.

Cutie Patootie.

accessorized canine

Tangerine and Turquoise are the colors for spring and summer.  I've incorporate the two, plus purple and medium gray, in redoing my bedroom.  I found some inspiration with this tree as a painted headboard so that may become my next step on the redecorating ladder.
I'm short one upholstered leather turquoise chair.
Love love love.

room

Lastly, don't let your eyes fool you, it's not really bread.  Toast themed cork coasters are the rage at the Museum of Modern Art.  And I'd like to grab a loaf or two myself. 

toast coasters

spread the word, my dears.

As we continue our beginner's housekeeping and redecorating here at Matters of Merrymaking (and I hope you like what you see), we are glad to have you follow us.  We are definitely proud of our blossoming little flower, so continue to tell your friends and share our link on your social media outlet.

just copy and paste this link and SHARE on Facebook, Twitter, or your poison of choice.

http://mattersofmerrymaking.blogspot.com

My next DIY project is to paint these pieces given to me by a family friend.  I love the furniture (nightstand, dresser, and bookshelf also) but the fake wood look does not go with my recently re-done room.  SO i am thinking of painting them a lighter gray than my walls.

My desk is in the same room, and it is black, so we will have to see what mood strikes!

I will post pics of the process, of course.

Any suggestions?

Are any of my followers embarking on some redecorating themselves?

Cheers, xx