{How To} Create a Hanging Chalkboard! (Part 1)

Hi!

Today I bring you a little DIY tutorial.

It all started when I was cooking or in the kitchen and would realize I was out of something and needed to jot it down but had no place to do so.

I used to have a notepad on the side of my fridge for such times, but I already have wonderful spice storage ideas for that space, a la this one from AmyBites.com, plus I wanted a more fun, decorative way to make this list. I digress. 

Since chalkboards seem to be all the rage right now, I set my mind on that being the right solution.

Here are some ideas I really like:

ArtsyChicksRule.com

So I thought chalkboard paint would be the solution, but then I saw these little guys at the Dollar Spot at Target for $3 each, and my little creative wheels started turning!

I knew I could make my own customized chalkboard for essentially $9--what a deal! Plus, I like to use tools whenever possible, rather than just slopping on some paint (plus you have to WAAAAAIT for it to dry...booooorrring.).

So here's what I did:

1) Unscrew swivel stands.

2) Find chains to use for desired look and length between each board.

When jewelry breaks and I'm not particularly into it anymore, I put it in my craft box for later use!

Methinks I like this one!

3) After measuring and marking where you want each chain to be nailed, hammer those suckers in! (I used the hole left my the screw I removed from the swivel as a guide, and I sort of just laid out the chain and eyeballed what I thought would look best!)

Scientifically measuring how long that little piece o' chain should be.

Hammer time! (A favorite time!)

 4) Use pliers, wire cutters, tweezers, fingernails, what-have-you, to pry open the link at the place you want the chain to be cut and then do so (or recruit a husband to do so--and have him educate you.)

husband's man hands taking care of bidness.

5) Basically repeat this process five more times, and then all of your boards will be connected!

Pretend this picture shows that they are connected by tiny broken necklace chains!

6) Hold up your new creation on the wall to see how long your chain that is going to hang the whole thing up needs to be; Use a piece of jute string to mark it off on the wall, and then hold it up to your chain so you know how long to cut it. (More fancy math and science!!!)

7) Hammer a nail up in that wall and hang it up!

BEFORE (sad, lonely wall):

AFTER:

OK, to be honest, it's not as amazing-looking as I'd hoped. I need to zhush it all up a little more! I'm thinking a fun knob in place of the nail, like one of these from Hobby Lobby, since we just got a local-ish Hobby Lobby!!!

A pretty, glass flower: currently $3

A more vintage vibe; Currently: $4

This quirky, fun ampersand; Currently only $2!

OR ONE WITH SPARKLE!!! $4.50

I'm also thinking it could be fun to paint or embellish the frame...what do you think??? Next post I will show you how I attached chalk, because what good is this chalkboard if you can't write on it!!!???

Thanks for reading!

Stay Glittery!

Meg

Fall Wreath and Outside Decor

Hi, Glitterhearts!

This week I've spent some time getting crafty, fall-ifying my house and just overall enjoying the autumn season. 

Here's a wreath I created two years ago, but since it had seen better days, what with poor storage and a move, I decided to put new life into it.

BEFORE:

It just lacked a overall sense of sass, so with some extra pizzazz (a.k.a. hot glue, fake flowers, ribbon, etc.,), my wreath transformed into this!

AFTER:

Doesn't it look perkier and happier?! I added a large sunflower to the top left, more leaves, fluffed up the ribbon and reattached falling pieces.

Here is my wreath on the door! I tied a large piece of burlap ribbon to it, and hung it from a command strip on the screen door as opposed to the front door--I want to to be as visible as possible, and all throughout the day, not just when my front door is open.

I have this cute lil' sunflower-shaped windchime hanging up, too, and I love how its shadow adds an extra design element to the siding of the entryway! Yay for free decor--thanks, Sun! You're the best.

My entryway makes me so happy and cozy-feeling. 

You can still see the pencil marks behind the brown paint marker from when I laid down the words. Hahah...I'm just lazy enough to not bust out the eraser. 

And here are the other images of the front-of-house decor! 

Way to go with the smudged lens, Meg.

I didn't purchase anything this year! It's all from the last couple of years, The wind chime was from the dollar store, and the 3-tiered pumpkin was from the gift shop of a pumpkin-picking farm.

You can barely see that cute little owl, but knowing he's there makes me smile! Also, do you see how I expertly got in the yellow sunflower in the background? Also from the dollar store! Woot! It's a windchime, but its chimes don't make pretty music, so it's better just mounted to the fence gate.

Love my rickety fence, which is actually held together in some places by string! haha! I keep saying it's "vintage." Jeremy's warming up to the idea. :)

Previous owner left behind his patio chairs and table! Score!!!

 

 My sweet friend, Kristy, bought me this tiny pumpkin--the only real one I have so far-when we went to the pumpkin farm yesterday. Now I think of her and her son whenever I see it and the beautiful afternoon we spent together there! Makes me smile.

Cute little buttercups growing in the grass.

The previous home owner  also left behind this door mat, really quite appropriate for fall! Yay! Free!

I will leave you today with the face of my sweet, large kitty, Wilbur. He loves spending his time looking out the front and back door, wishing he was fierce enough to pounce on the leaves and chipmunks!!! 

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Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you enjoyed my little fall decor tour. What did you do for your fall decor? Any additional ideas for me? I'm itching to add outdoor pillows to those chairs...but of course I want a bargain!

Stay tuned for more fall posts, including one about a delicious and easy home-made pumpkin bread that I made, recipe included. 

Have a great day!

Stay glittery,

Meg

Our First Home! (Part 2)

Hey again! How's it going?

Thanks for coming back to check out the rest of the pictures of our home as it looked when we first laid eyes on it on the Internet and at the showing. If you missed Part 1, check it out here! We left off with pictures of the downstairs.

Let's continue the tour with the upstairs, shall we?

When we were first house-hunting, we were looking for a three- or even four-bedroom because we wanted 1) a master bedroom, 2) an actual guest bedroom and 3) designated space for my and Jeremy's hobbies and interests--mine being a makeup/vanity area and Jeremy's being a music-playing space/studio. A desk needed to go somewhere, too. We figured this loft could be a third-room substitute.

I love the light that this space gets! We are currently making this an office/music space, and I have to constantly stop myself from turning it and every other part of our home into a woman cave, full of girlyness and glitter. Poor Jeremy. :/

 Here is the spacious and currently poopy- coffee-colored guest bathroom. I love how guests will truly have their own bathroom, slash, that I have more room to make a mess and spread out all of my hair products (once again, poor Jeremy)!!! 

 This is the second bedroom, which is currently transforming into a guest room/beauty room (a.k.a., sparkly woman cave).

Here is our bedroom. I wish it looked as good now as it does here. It's currently the saddest place in the hosue, with only a bed for furniture and clothing lining the walls. :/ We plan on keeping the dark gray wall color and are using it to inspire a very dark, romantic and glamorous space.

There is a walk-in closet (the door you see on the left), a good-sized bathroom just next to it, and a smaller closet that will be for shoes, accessories and storage (just out of the picture, on the right).

And here is the master bathroom, for which we have renovation plans. It has a nice soaking tub, which is my jam all day long. I love to take baths, and I've used it so much already--such a sweet, simple luxury!

The last house picture is of the downstairs half bathroom (one of three bathrooms, if you were counting) that is located just to the right when you enter the front door. Probably should have included that in the earlier post--oh well!

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So, after seeing the house, we knew we wanted to make an offer, and we did so that night, which was Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. The house had just come on the market, and we felt pretty strongly it was going to get snapped up if we didn't bite. It turns out there were other interested parties, so we were happyyyyy!!! We went back and forth with the buyer just a few times and settled on a price on Memorial Day.

On Friday, May 22, we were "definitely not looking for a house right now," on Monday, May 25, contracts were being drawn up, and by Wednesday, May 27, both we and the buyer had signed off on a 60-day closing--eek! In true Team Jester style, we made a huge decision in a short amount of time, but when God gives you the green light, you put your foot on the gas pedal and GO!

And here is my sweet hubs with the keys to our castle on the day of our closing, July 27!

Not sure why we didn't take a couple shot; I was just so excited to get in the door of MY house!

Look at that handsome smile. We are both so happy and thankful to have a place of our own to work on and decorate.

Here is one of the two lakes that are at the front of the community, a total favorite feature of a tucked-away, quiet neighborhood.

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I hope you enjoyed our first-home story and all the "before" pictures! I plan on showing you all of our progress on the many projects we have done/are doing/will do, so please subscribe and keep checking back! 

Stay tuned for the next post, which will showcase our kitchen transformation on the cheap using primarily lots o' paint!

Stay glittery,

Meghan