"OH SHIT KIT" The perfect gift to someone with a hangover...

Do you know someone who is about to turn 21?!

Or anyone that is about to have a celebration night, where there will be drinking involved?! 

Then this is the easiest, cheapest, most perfect DIY gift bag for you to make!

My cousin is turned 21 today! 

We are all going to dinner tonight, and out afterwards. 

I put together this little gift bag from a group of us, to help her through the following day.

The bag reads:

"OH SHIT KIT"

The day after your 21st birthday you may be a little hungover.....

So we put together this kit to help you get sober.

Some Aleve, Gatorade, and even a snack.

Don't worry girl we got your back!" 

I simply just typed up the message in word document, I played around with fonts & printed it! I then colored in some of the letters. Cut the paper down to size, and glued it to the bag before I put the items inside!

  

Inside the bag includes:

1 bottle of Aleve  tablets

1 box of granola bars

1 bag of popcorn (one of her favorite snacks)

1 bottle of Gatorade

1 package of chewy Tums

1 tube of chap-stick

1 pack of gum

And the fun part is, you can include all of that or none of that at all, and make up your own kit!

I have another cousin turning 21 early next year that is a male, and I will be making him one as well, but I know I am going to include different items, that he would prefer!

If you make one of these easy and cheap yet fun and reliable gift bags please share it in the comments below or #CVA on Instagram!

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! 

Anniversary Gift Basket & Boquet! (perfect gift for any man!) DIY

The hubby and I have been married for 2 years! 

Gosh, I can almost not believe it! It honestly feels like just yesterday I walked down that isle towards him. 

Well this year, we decided to keep it low key, and just spend the day together as a family. We actually went to a local museum and spent the entire day there just the two of us! It was perfect!

Anyways... of course I can't not make anything for him, so I put together this MAN BASKET for him. 

I included some of his favorite things, such as:

 Arizona Sweet Tea

Hunting items (face cover, vest and scent a way items)

Candy

Slippers

Slim Jim

 

 

I wrote out how long we have been married for, in years, months, weeks and days. I attached it to a basket from the Dollar Tree with twist ties. 

It was simple and he loved it because it was from the heart and full of some of his favorite things!

I also made him a Marriage Doesn't Suck bouquet! Because we are MINT TO BE! Corny but so cute, right?! ☺♥

His most favorite suckers around this time of the year are the caramel apple suckers. So I bought a huge bag of them and a piece of floral foam from the Dollar Tree. I also bought a giant bag of Wint-O-Green Life Savers, and Andes mints (more favorites of his) and used an old giant pickle jar that I had washed an put aside for a random DIY. 

 

I stuck the suckers into the floral foam that I duct taped to the lid of the pickle jar. I fanned them out so look somewhat like a bouquet. I then took the mints (both kinds) and mixed them up inside of the jar. I placed the lid on and taped on my homemade signs.

 

I wrote out 

"TO A MARRIAGE THAT DOESN'T SUCK!" 

and 

"BECAUSE WE ARE MINT TO BE!"

I had these waiting for my amazing husband this morning when he woke up, and he loves them! Not to mention I love them too because I also get to snack on them! hehe

I know that some men can be hard to get gifts for, or to make things for. This is perfect because you can fill it with their favorite items and use their favorite mints and candies! It was fairly cheap and very easy to make!

Please post pictures of your creations in the comments below if you make this. I would love to see them! You can also tag #CVA on Instagram!

Now I am going to spend the rest of the evening with my hubby ♥

DIY: Beaded Bookmarks

(click on the pictures to make them larger)

 

Part of a present James & I gave to his Grandmother were two bookmarks. I made a thicker, more fun looking book mark,  for her to use with any book. Then I strung up a more dainty looking bookmark using seed beads and a cross charm on one end for her to use with her Bible.

She seemed to love these as well, and I have been having a blast making more bookmarks to gift away, as well as for James and myself.

These homemade bookmarks are so easy and there is really no end to possibilities, because so many color schemes can be used, and different beads and charms also!

To make each bookmark, I just collect a string (elastic, yarn, etc) and some beads. I also pick out a charm or two for the ends. I string on the beads. and TAH-DAH! Yes, it really is that easy!

Cheap and Quick Kids Easter Bucket

 

I knew my nephew was going to be getting so much candy and goodies on Easter, but I still wanted to do something fun for him. 

I went to the Dollar Tree and got to shopping!

This was such a cheap and easy Easter gift, yet it was fun and full of fun things!

I bought... 

 Squish balls, a growing snake, M&Ms, bubbles, sand bucket, giant chalk, a phone, and puzzles!

 

 For a total of about $15 I got my nephew a bucket full of fun things that he loves and that he will actually use. and Only 1 item was candy! (his favorite ares 'emmas") haha! I cant wait for him to empty this bucket and play with all the fun things inside! 

If you have a Dollar Tree around you, and you have a small gift you want or need to give, I highly suggest going to the Dollar Tree and filling a fun bucket or box with a ton of small and fun items!

Wrap a Present to look like Spongebob!

My nephew turns 2 this week and he is in love with Spongebob Squarepants! also Blue's Clues and Cat in the hat and Dora and oh so much more! But today is his birthday party and the theme is Spongebob! 

I wanted to do something very special for his presents. James, Jeff, Chelsea and I went in together on his presents like we normally do. We got him a giant floor piano and a Little Tykes grill!  (Which he loves by the way!) Anyways... I saw the grill box and all I could think about was how it looked like Spongebob.... so that is what I turned it into!

I took the box and wrapped it with a yellow table cloth from the dollar tree, and I then used brown and white construction paper to make his pants and shirt. 

I used black, pink, red, yellow and blue construction paper for his eyes, nose, mouth, tie and belt. I didn't really follow a template.. I sort of just free handed all of the cuts and shapes.  

For Spongebob's arms and legs I used the roll from the wrapping paper! I cut it into pieces and simply rolled construction paper around it! 

To make his hands and shoes I cut out small hands with yellow construction paper and used black for the shapes of his shoes. I taped them to the inside of each roll. 

My last touch to this wrap job was to add his sponge holes (pores) so I took a yellow Sharpie and just drew random circles all over him. You can't really see it in the pictures but in person it really finished off the look!

I think he came out great and he was a huge hit at the party! 

I wrapped the piano in white wrapping paper and used colored dye-cut letters to spell out Happy 2nd Birthday Kameron! Just to go along with the grill a little...

 

For Kam's card, I used Sharpies and construction paper to make a replica of Spongebobs Pineapple house that he lives in under the sea.

(like what I did there?! ) haha!

I used yellow construction paper and cut it into somewhat of a pineapple shape. I then took a brown Sharpie and drew the lines all over the yellow cut out. 

I outlined the brown with orange and added a small brown V in each square to give it that pineapple spike look.

For the top of the pineapple I took green construction paper and cut out two different size grass chunks.  I outlined each in dark green Sharpie and glued them together, and to the top of the card. 

I then cut out two circles (for the windows) and a door in light blue construction paper and drew the frames and dots with black Sharpie. I shaded them in with a metallic silver Sharpie to make them look glossy and metal like. I used the same colors and technique for the door handle also, but I attached it with a small blue brad, SO IT ACTUALLY SPINS! (how cool, right?! ) I thought so... haha!

I used blue, pink and navy paper to cut out little flowers and a small piece of yellow scrap for the center of the flowers. I also outlined the flowers in similar Sharpie colors. Just to make them POP a little. 

Next... was Gary. Spongebob's pet snail and one of his best friends. You can't forget about Gary!

For Gary I cut out his shell in pink and glued it to his body that I cut out from green. I outlined him in Sharpie in colors that were similar to the paper colors and added two beady red eyes.  He was complete so I glued him on, like you see above!

My last step was to glue a piece of card stock on the back to make the flap, so the card actually opens and is a functioning card. I cut a piece of card stock to the size of the pineapple and ran my glue stick along the top edge and stuck it to the pack of the pineapple.

Now it is completed and opens like a real card!

It was so much fun to make this card and James was very impressed on how much it looked like Spongebob's House!

Do you know some who would love a Spongebob present and card??

Make them one!

Beer Birthday Cake!

The 21st birthday cake that I made for my cousin. ☺

 First off... HAPPY BIRTHDAY MYLES!

Second...

This cake was extrememly easy to make...

Here are the steps that I did:

1. Buy beer (30 pack)

2. Buy candy, decorations, wrapping paper, ribbon, scissors, tape, cardboard, and anything else you want to use to decorate it.

3. Cut 3 pieces of cardboard into circles. One with a 1.5 foot diameter, one with about 1 foot diameter, and the third one about a half of food diameter.

(I honestly didn't measure them... I just started cutting...) HA! ☺

4. Wrap the cardboard circles in wrapping paper to make them pretty.

5. Start with the biggest circle and cover it in beer cans.... in the shape of a circle. When that layer is done, move onto step 6.

6. Next Place the middle sized circle on top of that layer and cover that in beer cans.

7. Place the smallest circle on top of that layer and cover them in the last couple of cans.

8. Take some ribbon and tie a large piece around each layer of cans. (to hold them together.) I also tied a large ribbon from top to bottom of the cake to hold the layers together.

9. Decorate your cake with any items that you want to add to it. I did lotto tickets, candy, and cigars. 

10. TAH-DAH! It's time to deliver the cake!

I love this project because it is so fun and it always gets fun reactions from people. I also love it because you can do it for so many different occasions. Birthdays... graduations (college of course!)... valentines day... anniversary's... or simply just for fun! :) Next time I make one of these I will try to film it . ☺

Please share your Can Cakes with me! I would love to see them!

Present Idea - DIY Date jar

 Every year I buy James gifts, but because I love crafting so much, I also try to make him a few things as well. Here is one gift I have made him this year... A DATE JAR! 

Even though we always find adventures and we ALWAYS have fun together, I think that sometimes it will be fun and spontaneous to just pick a date out of a jar and do it! Sounds like a great time, right?!

I had a clear vase with a lid in my candy buffet box from the wedding, so I washed it out and cleaned it up, then I just used black scrap-booking stickers to label it "DaTe JaR" So easy! (and cute!)

I went to Hobby Lobby and bought a pack of Popsicle sticks (the wider ones) and I just used a black sharpie to write a date idea on each one. I believe there are about 150-200 sticks and dates in this jar.

It only took me about a half hour to think up and write out each date idea and then just drop the stick into the jar. 

 

Some of the Date Ideas I used are:

- Coffee Date -Sushi Date - She picks a movie -He picks a movie -Hold hands and walk around a mall - Netflix night -Camp out in the backyard -Day long road trip - Rollerblading -  Fishing - Cuddle Date! - Chinese Food - Chili's - Leon's - Movies - and many many more! If you need some more ideas, feel free to ask and I will share more! 

I have this wrapped up and under our Christmas tree waiting for him!

This is also a great Valentines Day present, or anniversary gift that is easy and it doesn't cost a lot of money!

Christmas Scarf Crazy

With Christmas being just around the corner, I have been preparing some presents for some of my family members. I always get stuck on what to get my mother-in-law, grandmother-in-law, Godmother, and grandma.... I was sitting here thinking about what I could buy them or even better make them. Then it came to me! I love arm knitting.... so they are all getting scarfs!  

{ Some of them may even get 2! }

I got to knitting, and TAH-DAH! I finished them all today! I couldn't be happier, and I just hope they all love them! :)

DIY GRADUATION season!

My little cousin whom I have always looked at as a little brother just graduated high school. Although it makes me a little sad because him and his brother are so grown, I cant help but let my excitement for him overcome that little bit of sadness. I am beyond proud of the amazing men that they have become and I love them dearly. 

For his graduation party, I made a small advice booklet and labeled it "Life Advice for Cole" and then I set it out at his party and everyone who wanted to could write a piece of advice to him to always look back on.

The next part of his DIY party was the card I made him. As you can see from a few of my previous posts, I am obsessed with making cards right now. This one is pretty simple... although my favorite part was I used a 2nd graduation cap cutout on the inside of the card and didnt glue the top of it down, then we slipped some cash in it before we gave it to him, and it because a money holding card! Easy-Peasy! :)

The last part of this DIY Grad season post is my MOST FAVORITE!! (always save the best for last right?!) ;) 

I made this fun story telling candy board.

I

This was so much fun to do! I got the first few candy sentences from Google... but then I was stuck. I stood in the candy isle of CVS for almost an hour thinking of different ways to use different candies. (and candies that he would actually like at that!) I was so excited on how well this turned out and it was extremely easy to put together! I just wrote on black foam board with a silver sharpie and hot glued each candy on as I went. It was a huge hit at the party and I am very proud of this craft! :)

Happy Friday!!!