We all make bad decisions.

New Year's Eve, for instance. There's a tendency, albeit a fabulous one, to buy tons of brand new clothes and accessories coated inch-for-inch in solid glitter, sequins, gold leafing and general gaud. The mission is to out-dress the New Year's Eve Ball in Times Square, even if you die trying.

But that stuff ain’t cheap, and it adds up. Come Monday, you’re back in your khakis wondering if a trip through Chick-Fil-A will overdraw the checking account. The good news is, you can get the same look for a lot less if you just use that heavy thing sitting between your shoulders. Creativity, craft stores and stuff you have in your closet can leave you looking just as shiny as those $795 glitter-coated Christian Louboutins at Saks.

Glitter and glue = good

It is New Year’s Eve, so we encourage you to go there. Yes, there. Glitter shoe there. Take an old high heel and cover it in spray glue. Dust it with a liberal coating of loose glitter. Let it dry, then repeat to fill in all the missing spots. Use Super Glue to add extra sequins wherever strikes your fancy. Do this one outside, or lay down a healthy dose of old newspapers. And put the dog away unless you want to find silver sparkles in the kibble for months.

Scrappy do

Take an old headband and wrap it in a yard of thick wire ribbon. Secure the ends with a little dab of glue, or just tuck the ribbon behind your hair for easy removal later. Add sticky rhinestones until you pass out. We found this “Cheers” sticker in the scrapbook section of Michael’s in Clearwater for $3. If you’re into scrapbooking, you can reuse it later.

Clip it. Clip it good.

Got some of Grandma’s old clip-on earrings? Clip them to the front of plain shoes for a fancy look, just like they used to do back in the Falcon Crest days. If you were born this century and don’t keep in touch with Granny, check local thrift stores for cheap earrings. We found these for 99 cents each at the Salvation Army in St. Petersburg. Try mixing and matching styles for a funky touch.

Borrow from Barbie

If you have kids, or if you’re just a compulsive hoarder of toys from your childhood, break out the Barbie shoes. Leave them as is, or give them a quick paint job like these, made by Martha Kirby of Tampa. Poke a hole through the top of the heel with a safety pin and attach it to ready-made earring chains, available at most craft and jewelry supply stores.

Get nailed

Who says you have to spend $50 to get your makeup done at a counter? Pick up a packet of nail gems at the drug store, plus a tube of eyelash glue. Using the wooden stick in the nail gem kit, dip the gem into the lash glue and apply it along your lash line, or on the outside corners of your eyes. Let the glue dry, and commence drunken crying when you remember you’re single at midnight.

Deal Diva Stephanie

Photos: By the amazing Kathleen Flynn, Times