D.I.Y Car Elfing Kit + Trapped Elf Vent Air Freshener Holiday Car Hacks

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Momma Told Me: I could certainly use an elf or two around here!

When my car was totaled (before you panic no one was harmed but my beautiful purple P.T.'s undercarriage) on St.Patrick's Day I was devastated. Vehicles are just things, and things can be replaced, but my car is my rolling sanctuary. It's my place where all is zen, and I'm completely in control of the music, the sights, the smells. And I take immaculate care of my car- whenever I can fit in the time. So, when I ended up getting a replacement vehicle with 60k less miles it was not only the 'newest' car I'd ever owned, it was a bit stressful to know how to properly care for and maintain it. For example, in the past, I'd always walked in and asked for the standard high mile Pennzoil® oil change, but now I had a younger engine, a Turbo engine, and it was ticking it's way towards past due on those regular maintenance services when I took possession of it.

I'd intended to drive it straight from signing the papers to my local Walmart, but somehow life got in the way and 1 round trip road trip to Oregon to visit Momma, and I found myself past due! And every day that ticks closer to the holidays I wind up with more and more on my plate and less time to juggle everything on my honey do list. Thankfully I'm at my local Walmart at least once, if not twice, a week. It's my one-stop-shop to knock multiple things off my seasonal checklist. From prescription refills to a new Winter jacket or just some party snacks for the big game, I can achieve a lot all at once.

So you won't be surprised to hear I brought my new wheels into my local Walmart Automotive department and they had a good chuckle at the fact this is now the 6th car I've brought to them for regular service. (Just try and guess how many emergency tires I purchased there in the past year.) It started a few years ago when I was trying to drop my car off at a local lube and oil chain but simply didn't have time to sit around and wait for more than an hour. After my first Walmart oil change I was hooked by not just the convenience of being able to shop while I waited, but also the ability to follow my car's progress while shopping, and the amazing prices on quality Pennzoil® Platinum Full Synthetic Motor Oil change packages. And now even more states can enjoy the convenience of Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic thanks to Walmart locations in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee expanding to offer these services!

And it was during a recent shopping trip, and Walmart automotive service, visit that I was inspired by this sentiment, and the theme of the season. You see, I give back a lot when I'm in my car. It may seem strange but I stop at intersections, or near fast food joints all the time and buy meals, or give money, to outstretched hands in our community. I'm also that person who regularly pays for the order behind me in a drive-thru.

 I believe in paying things forward and spreading unexpected cheer, and few times are as stressful as the holidays, no matter how much cheer they bring. So I picked up a cute greeting card, a tire pressure gauge, some craft supplies, and a Walmart gift card with $44.88 on it. Yes, $44.88, the precise amount to help another shopper check of their upcoming oil change while getting some holiday shopping done thanks the the rollback ($49.88 to $44.88) on Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic oil changes now through December 27, 2016.

My favorite DIY projects are also ones I can share, so I knew my Flattened Elf Vent Air Freshener was going to be the perfect handmade touch to complete my little car 'Elfing' kit. All you need to get started is:

Pair of Scissors

Hot Glue Gun (Mini is fine)

Small Clothespins

1 Sheet Red, Green And 2 Sheets White Felt

Peppermint (Or Your Fragrance of Choice) Essential Oil

Small Bells

Pencil (NOTE: I used a marker and the oil made residual ink bleed over time)

Optional Markers or Fabric Paint To Decorate

Start by pulling up a few reference photos of elf legs to decide on the style you want to go with. You don't have to be a world class artist- feel free to take some creative liberties when drawing your leg and feet outline on one of your white felt sheets. TIP 1: For your white 'base' felt go with the stiffer felt sheet over the soft fabric style felt. This will help give your finishes product more stability when you glue your bells on at the end. TIP 2: Place your clothespin on your fabric when planning the length of your elf legs. Ideally your clothes pin will run along the length of the leg, and not exceed the leg in width.

Cut your legs out carefully and use the stiff white leg cutout as a template to trace your feet onto your green felt, and your pants onto your secondary (softer) white felt sheet. Once your white pants are cutout trace the pants onto the red felt and cut a second pair of identical pants. TIP 3: This project will make 2 Flattened Elf Vent Air Fresheners- Just cut a second 'base' pant/leg template from your stiff white felt, and a second pair of green shoes, and you will have everything you need to assemble 2- no need to cut out extra white or red pants.

Next use your hot glue gun to attach your green shoes to the bottom of your elf legs base. Place your red pants over your white pants, lined up identical. Carefully cut slightly angled strips across your (layered) pants. This will create two sets of interlocking stripes in each color, with which you will use to make your elves' stockings.

The next part can get a little tricky, so be careful to arrange your strips in ascending order from largest to smallest (sort of to create the illusion of striped long johns). One at a time place your strips from smallest to largest, skipping a size between each color, alternating red and white. Don't get frustrated if you start to get straggler glue strings, they'll clean up easily when you're done.

Once all of your felt pieces are glued on you will have an extra set of alternating red and white stripes perfect to make a second elf, if desired. Flip your pants over and glue a clothespin on each leg, paying attention to angle them just right to allow room for both to clip without hitting each other. Flip your pants over and glue your bells onto the tips of your elf shoes. Lastly, add a few drops of Peppermint Essential Oil to the legs. Only 2-3 drops are more than enough to keep your car smelling great for weeks! If you really want to go the extra mile when gifting you can give your recipient a bottle of essential oil to refresh their elf legs all season long!

Now that my car was smelling great, and running great thanks to it's recent Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic Motor Oil change, it was time to spread a little holiday cheer and share some of the joy of a happy car during the holidays. I wrote a little note in my greeting card explaining a little about who I was and why I wanted to do something nice for a stranger, tucked my Walmart gift card inside, and tied it up with the tire gauge and handmade air freshener.

I'm not going to lie, I get butterflies everything I 'stop and drop' something like a 'boo kit' or 'elfing kit'- I always worry I'll get caught in the act and some stranger will come rushing out of a store or their house with the wrong impression. So I tried to keep my photos brief here, haha! Really all I did was pull up to a random parking spot and tuck my Elfing Kit into the windshield wiper on the vehicle next to me. It was that easy. And just think how awesome it will be for someone to discover this on their windshield instead of one of those classic business card or advertisement spam flyers! P.S. How adorbs does the elf air freshener look sticking out of my air vent???

Of course there is no season for giving- it's important (to me) to give back all year round- it's my way of helping to make the universe a little brighter. But there is a season of dinner parties, frantic gift list shopping, family photos, and road trips- and it's easy to let your regular car care slide in the middle of it. Naturally its' also one of the most dangerous seasons to ignore regular vehicle maintenance, so make sure you bring your car by the Walmart Automotive Care department during your next shopping trip. Remember, for a limited time you can take advantage of that great Pennzoil® Platinum Full Synthetic Oil change rollback of $44.88 through December 27th, 2016! So, go ahead and dish- what have you been overlooking when it comes to your car care as the holidays sneak closer?

What Daughter Says: Be someone's elf this season and surprise a stranger with a little extra cheer- then let Walmart be your elf and save you time while you shop.