DIY Rustic Key Racks

 

Every year for Christmas, instead of spending a ton of money on individual gifts for everyone, we do small gifts or lotto tickets. I love to craft, so of course every year I try my best to make something new for everyone. 

 

This year, I made all of the men a DIY Rustic Key Rack. 

 

I have had a box of old keys sitting in my craft closet for quite some time now, so I figured I needed to use them for something fun. I spent about 3 hours using two pairs of pliers to bend one key at a time. Some of them broke, but luckily I had more than enough spares.

 

I purchased a bundle of the wood from Hobby Lobby for around $4 a bundle. I bought two bundles, and I love them because each piece is completely different, and I love the rustic look of the unfinished wood.

 

I also purchased some decorative nail heads from Hobby Lobby. (They were in the wood isle.) 

 

I used a hammer to tightly seal each key to the wood.

 

This project is so easy, cheap and fun to make!

Everyone loved them! (I even made one for out house!)

 

Here are the supplies you need:

- keys

- wood pieces

-decorative nails

- hangers for the back

 

NOTE: I did not include hangers for the backs for each of these gifts, simply because I know some people in my family would want to hang it differently than others, so I figured I would leave the hanging decisions up to each individual.

 

There are so many possibilities with a DIY project like this one. This would even be a wonderful house warming gift as well!

 

If you recreate this DIY, I would love to see it, leave it in the comments below, or tag them using #CreatingVirginiaAnne

 

Happy crafting everyone! <3

EASY & CHEAP Pooping Reindeer Ugly Christmas Sweaters - DIY

Every year for Christmas my brothers and our significant others have a lotto party night, where we buy scratch off tickets instead of buy each other  presents. This year we decided to make it an UGLY SWEATER PARTY as well! EEkkk! As soon as we decided that I was overly excited to make a fun set of sweaters for the hubby and I to wear!

Things you need:

Sweaters

felt (colors listed below)

tulle

present bows

hot glue gun or fabric glue

scissors

marker to trace with

 

I started off by buying different colors of felt.

The colors I used are:

tan

cream

red

black

white

You need the most of the tan for the body of the deer,

You also need a good chunk of cream felt to use for the antlers.

I laid out the felt and drew on my reindeer.

I then cut it out and pieced him together.

I traced the hubby's hands on the tan, then my hands on the cream felt, so that the cream antlers were smaller than the tan antlers.

I also cut out a red oval for the reindeer nose!

 

I then laid out our two white sweaters that I bought for $5 each at WalMart.

I measured the height difference between my hubby and I, so that when we stood next to one another our reindeer matched up.

I plugged in my hot glue gun and let it heat up!

Then I got to gluing!

 

For the eyes, I cut out white felt and black rectangles to make the pupils.

I then used some black felt for the reindeer feet, and I took white tulle and bunched it up along the bottom of the sweaters, under the reindeer feet, to make it look like snow. I used hot glue for all of it and it help on very well!

The next step is applying the present bows!

I used 8 bows total.

I glued two bows falling from the reindeer's rear end.

and then I piled on the remaining 6 bows just above the tulle (which is acting as the snow)

The picture below shows that!

Our sweaters were a HUGE hit at the party! and people were even asking us if they could borow them! Which of course they can!

I paired my sweater with my long Santa hat, my red leggings, my stripped Christmas stockings that go above the knee, and my reindeer slippers that I absolutely adore!

The only downside is, I didn't want to take the chances to put it in the washing machine.. so I hand washed them, just to be safe.  

If you make your own version of this Ugly Christmas Sweater be sure to share it in the comments below, or tag #CVA on Instagram! I would love to see your creations! Even if you don't make this version, if this post even inspired you to create your own Ugly Sweater please share it too!

Chocolate Reindeer - DIY

Here is a fun and easy DIY for Christmas time! It is great for kids, or even adults! It is even great for a fun stocking stuffer!!

Here is what you'll need:

Hershey's chocolate bars

Brown construction paper

Red construction paper

White or Off-white construction paper

Googly eyes

Brown pipe cleaners

Scissors

Hot glue gun

 

1.  I started off by cutting the brown construction paper down to size, in order for it to wrap around the candy bar without having extra paper to hang over the sides. I just measured one, then cut all the pieces of brown construction paper to match. 

2. I then wrapped the brown construction paper around the candy bar and only used a small dot of hot glue on the corners of the paper, so that it didn't melt the chocolate bar at all.

3. I then folded one pipe cleaner in half, making a V shape, I then took two small pieces of another pipe cleaner and wrapped them around the ends of the V shaped pipe cleaner. I put a small dot of hot glue on the point of the V and stuck it inside the back of the brown construction paper that I had already wrapped around the candy bar.

4. I cut out cloud shapes from the off-white paper and sized them to the candy bar. I then used a small dot of hot glue to attach that.

5. I cut out off-white circles and smaller red circles and glued them together. (This is the reindeer's hair.)

6. I then placed them on the candy bar with a dot of hot glue as well. (This is the nose!) I added googly eyes between the hair and the nose, and TAH-DAH!!

You now have adorable and edible reindeer treats to pass out!

 

 

I passed these cuties out to all of the kiddos at our Christmas parties this year. They were a huge hit! Even some adults asked me for one to take home!

So make sure you make extra! Because everyone will want one!

These would even be great for your child's classroom or sports team around the holidays! As long as the chocolate is approved! But in all honesty, you could make smaller versions around granola bars and other rectangular snacks!   

If you make some of these, or a different version, please remember to share a picture in the comments below or even tag #CVA on Instagram! I would love to see your creations!

Mom's Christmas Place Mats - DIY

 

I helped my mom make these adorable Christmas themed place mats with my nephew today! They were quick, easy and fun for all of us!

The items you need are:

Place mats (a lighter color works best)

Brown paint

Green paint

Red paint

Black sharpie or black paint

Red Sharpie (optional)

A hand and a foot!

First, you take the place mat, and lay them out. Paint the foot being used green, and place it towards the bottom left corner. Then take the hand being used, paint it brown and place it just above and to the right of the foot print. Then repeat that step two more times. (Or even more if you'd like!)

Next, take the red paint and just use a small amount. Dip in a thumb and a finger tip to make the Santa in the sleigh! Let the paint dry.

After the paint is dry, we then used a black sharpie to draw in the detailing of the sleigh and reindeer. Ropes, antlers, the bottom of the sleigh, and of course Santa's face!

My mom used a red sharpie to write Merry Christmas, however you can also use some red paint if you want to! When it was all done she wrote his name and the year on it, so that they will remember forever.

  

My momma made these as a surprise gift for my nephews parents. This is a fun project to do with kids of all ages! It is also a great way to watch the kids hands and feet grow over the years!

If you make a Christmas place mat of your own please remember to share them in the comments below or even tag #CVA on Instagram! I would love to see your creations! 

Scrapbooking #1

I have been on a major scrapbooking kick lately! On a roll I guess.. haha! I have a TON of pictures printed that are just sitting in a box. So slowly but surely I will get them all scrapbooked and lookin' good! I just wanted to share a few of the ones I have completed recently. A variety! I figured I would share them on here, maybe for a few layout ideas. I went for a very simple layout plan on all of them. Minimal stickers and fun background pages! I purchased most of the background pages from Walmart. I will do a post in the next few days specifically on the paper packets I bought from Walmart.

I am currently working on more and will share them soon!

 

2013 Memories Ornament

2013 was full of amazing memories for us.  Hunting. Traveling. Exploring. Laughing. Crying. Crafting. Loving. Living. It was just amazing.

We decided to end the year with making a "Memories Ornament" We simply just took a plain silver ornament off of our Christmas tree, and wrote on it with a sharpie. We covered with it our favorite memories from 2013.

We plan on doing this every year from now on.

Think about it...

Wouldn't it be cool 20 years from now to look back at all the memories written all over the Christmas tree!? 

I think so!

I also love starting new traditions! ☺

 

Pack Up Your Christmas Stuff Fast + Easy! (OH! + Cheap too!)

As much as I love Christmas + all of the fun decorations... the wreaths, the mini village on our stairs, the tree, lights and many many ornaments... I also get to a point after New Years where I just can't wait to get our house back to being itself and put all of the Christmas clutter away.

 

Last week I went to Big Lots and purchased 4 of these "It's a Keeper" Ornament storage boxes. Let me tell you these little things are $8 life savers! Yes I said only $8! 

I know that may sound like a lot for what it looks like, however, I fit ALL of our Christmas tree ornaments in ONE of these. I wrapped up our little glass village and other mini fragile decorations into another one of these. Then I used the 2 left over ones for mini trees, pillows, Christmas blankets, lights, and anything else I had left laying around.

I then labeled each one with the contents and into storage they went! Then I picked up our Christmas Tree over my shoulder and tossed it into the backyard. I love the look, smell and spirit that a Christmas Tree brings, however I am so sick and tired of the needles thinking that they can move in with us and take over our house! 

 

These things don't look like much, I know... but believe you me.... I am extremely happy with these bad boys. Made my Christmas organization so much easier than what I have done in the past. 

Say goodbye to random Tupperware that have funny shapes and only hold certain things. 

I love how these are cloth and flexible, they form into our storage spaces and bend, stretch and collapse if they are not completely full! SCORE!

Merry Chrismas!

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and are safe this season! xoxoxoxo

DIY Meat Rub { Beef }

For the guys of my family this year, I made them little baggies of seasoning for beef. I wanted to do big jars of them for each male of the family, however, to be completely honest, it was just way to expensive. So a little one meal bag is what they got. I made cute little labels and everything! :D

I just mixed all the ingredients together and put about 4 tbsp in each baggy, then attached a tag and used a twisty tie to close it.

 

Beef Rub Ingredients:

{ Recipe I got from my school pal }

  

 And here is a picture of the basket I held them in while I passed them out.

DIY Hand Scrub for the Ladies

 for Every year for the past couple of years, I try to craft something up for all of the males and females in my family. (the kiddos too!) This year for the ladies I made a hand scrub that I found ONLINE. So cheap, easy and simple!

I bought plastic containers from Hobby Lobby for $0.77! I used the recipe that I found online which was just sugar and Dawn Olay Hand Renewal Dish Soap (I used the pomegranate scent ) but have also tried the blue scent (both are amazing!) 

 

I mixed the ingredients in a large bowl. To be honest, I didn't really measure anything out, I just poured some sugar into the bowl, and gradually added soap as I was stirring. When I felt like it has at a good hand scrub consistancy, then I stopped and mixed it very good, then used a funnel to put it in the bottles without having a huge mess on my hands!

I made a simple little "Merry Christmas" label for each one and I used a silver twist tie to attach the label. I am so excited to hand these out at my family Christmas Eve parties today! :)

Our Wreath 2013

Okay, so this post is not something that I bought or made, however, my AMAZING Uncle made this for us! He makes us all wreaths for our doors every year around Christmas time, and they always look different, yet they always take your breath away! 

This year, as you can see, it has tan and maroon in it with silver bows, and flowers and bells.

I just cant even express how beautiful it is! Every time I look at it it takes my breath away!

My Uncle is so beyond talented and I cant thank him enough for all that he does for me. From the past to the present to the future. He is and always will be AMAZING. ♥