Taylor, Author at TaylorMade

Conversation Heart Cold Packs

February 5, 2018 By Taylor Leave a Comment

If your kids are anything like mine then these Conversation Heart Cold Packs will be a big hit at your house!! We call them “boo boo buddies” and they are very well loved :) We keep these guys in the freezer and the kids know right where to find them… you bonked your head, got a scratch, your legs are sore? Go grab a boo boo buddy! These are the perfect little custom gift and they are easier than you think!

pastel fabric for hearts
dark pink or red fabric for words
iron on adhesive/fusible interfacing
heart template (DOWNLOAD HERE)
rice or flax seeds for filling

Using the heart template, cut two hearts from each color fabric.

For the letters, there are several ways you can do them. If you have a Cricut or Silhouette Machine, cutting your letters out on that is a great option. You could also use felt and sew them on. I used Wonder Under (fusible interfacing) and ironed it to my dark pink fabric. Then I hand wrote my letters (don’t forget to write them backwards) on the back and cut them out.

Iron the letters to one side of the hearts you have cut out.

Next, place the heart pieces right sides together, pin and sew. Be sure to leave a 2″ opening on one side of the heart. That will be where you fill the heart in the next step! After you sew the hearts, clip the curves, the tip of the heart and the center where the heart meets. Clip carefully! You don’t want to clip too close to the line you just sewed but clipping well around those curves will allow your heart to lay flat with no puckering.

Flip your hearts right side out and press.

Now its time to fill your hearts 🙂 I used plain brown rice because thats what I had. Flax seeds are a little more expensive but they make amazing cold packs. If you have any essential oils it would be a great idea to add a few drops to your rice also… we have a Lavender one and they kids actually fight over it, it smells amazing! I just spooned the rice into the opening then used a pin to keep it closed and sewed the opening shut.

Voila! Super easy custom cold packs! Your kids bonked heads will be so happy! Happy Valentine’s Day

Check out another favorite Valentine’s Day project HERE and another Boo Boo Buddy HERE :)

Holiday Apple Tea Punch

November 28, 2017 By Taylor Leave a Comment

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!! The holidays are here and one thing is for sure… there will be holiday parties! I absolutely LOVE hosting but this time of year can be stressful because it’s as if a whole year’s worth of celebrations, eating and parties all come together into one little month! If you are anything like me, you worry that you are not enjoying the season because everything rushes by so fast. When I am having a party (any time of the year) my single most important tip is to make anything and everything you can make ahead of time! Finish the decor then make the food and the drinks the day before too! That way you can enjoy your company and visit instead of playing short order cook.

I came up with a super fun and very easy Holiday Punch that you can make, pop in the fridge a day early and the flavors will only get better! I love Iced Tea so this is a fun and festive spin on that. I used Milo’s Tea which I love because it is fresh brewed, and made from natural ingredients with no preservatives or added acids! It has a super fresh taste like you just brewed it at home! Milo’s is a Holiday must have; they offer Unsweet Tea, Tea Sweetened with Pure Cane Sugar, No Calorie, Decaf… even Lemonade. I used the “No Calorie” because I just need all the help I can get this time of year haha. Milo’s was started years ago in Alabama by a woman named Bea when her husband Milo returned from WWII and they have been brewing fresh tea ever since… How cute is that?! I found Milo’s at my local Randall’s in the refrigerated juice and dairy section but they are available at lots of retailers. Find a store near you by using the store locator.

Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients:

2 cups Milo’s No Calorie Sweet Tea

1.5 cups Club Soda (or a little less if you like it sweeter)

1/2 cup Apple Cider

the juice from 1/2 of a Lemon

a dash of Cinnamon

Sugar

Cloves, Cranberries, Apples and Lemons for garnish

Mix the following ingredients; Milo’s Tea, Club Soda, Apple Cider and Fresh Lemon in a pitcher.

Then add a dash of Cinnamon and mix together. Slice apples and lemons and drop in the punch. Add a few cloves and cranberries and refrigerate for a few hours or even overnight.

Before you serve your punch, you can really impress your guest with cinnamon sugar rimmed glasses. Just add a little sugar and a sprinkle of cinnamon to a flat plate and mix it around. Then take a lemon slice and slide it around the rim of a glass a few times and dip the rim in the cinnamon sugar. Everyone will think you are very fancy ;) Let that set for a few minutes. Then add ice and pour in your Holiday Apple Tea Punch… so festive, fresh and tasty!

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® andMilo’s Tea Company, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #PassTheMilos http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Purple Princess Costume

October 31, 2017 By Taylor Leave a Comment

Happy Halloween Everyone!! At last I have our final costume of the season ready to share with you guys today! This is Bee’s REAL costume :) She played my model for a few things then this was the first year she decided she had an opinion haha!

The past few years she never really cared about Halloween (probably because she was too little) but this year she was VERY decisive and requested to be a Purple Princess. I usually wait because toddlers are notorious for changing their minds but she never did. I like a kid who makes a confident decision! To be honest purple isn’t even my favorite… maybe the classic pink princess, a pretty blush, even Cinderella blue?? Nope. Purple.

So I started looking for patterns, and when I came across THIS ONE from Made for Mermaids she started screaming and jumping so I knew it was the one! A total bonus.. y’all this pattern is free! The pattern is a 5T and is pretty much true to size I would say but Bee isn’t a 5T she’s more of a 3/4T. So, I took it in a little on the sides of the bodice and shortened the length quite a bit. The pattern was super easy to follow and actually went pretty quick, the bodice was a very satisfying sew!

The skirt on the other hand is not my friend haha! Tulle is kind of hard to work with (especially if you aren’t a perfectionist because I’m definitely not!) It’s like invisible fabric then I thought 10 layers would be a good idea hahaha… it’s really not. But she’s three and she loves it so I’m going to call it a win :) Look at how much twirling power it has…

I used light blue, pink, light pink and lavender for the tulle. Then I used a glittery satin for the bodice and a very fun sheer iridescent fabric for the sash. I found the princess crown from Amazon and the shoes were from Target.

Overall I would say this is one happy princess and that is my favorite part! Be sure to check out all of our other costumes from this year (Phineas and Ferb, La Croix, Letterboard) Have a safe and Happy Halloween.

Letterboard Costume

October 26, 2017 By Taylor 2 Comments

Moving right along with our costume parade this year, today I am sharing a costume for me… I’m a Letterboard! If you follow me on Instagram (@taylormadecreates) then you know about my love for these things so I thought what better for me than a Letterboard Costume?!

I love this one because its is SO simple that anyone can do it (my 8 year old actually helped me with this one) and it can be done super last minute, which lets face it… that’s how we all do Halloween Costumes right?! All you need is a thick posterboard like a science fair board, black felt, silver cardstock and some letterboard letters.

Directions:

I started by cutting the side flaps off of the Science Fair Board. Then I cut a piece of black felt a little larger than the board. I layered my felt with some batting, it isn’t necessary but I have tons of it and I thought it might make it more realistic. I then sewed tons of lines horizontally across the black felt (1″ apart). That is also optional… Sewing is relaxing to me but you could also use a white pen, or puff paint etc.

Then I just wrapped the felt around the board and used hot glue to adhere it. I found this corrugated silver cardstock at Joanns that seemed perfect for the frame. If you can’t find this you can use any think silver paper or you could even cover cardboard strips with foil, something to look like the aluminum frame. I used hot glue to attach the silver cardstock to the perimeter of the board.

Next… come up with your quote and attach your letters! Did you catch my subtle Mean Girls reference here ;) I debated cutting letters out of cardstock or felt… which you could easily do! Joann’s carries a brand of Letterboards with accessories that are super affordable. I used my coupon on these 2″ letters and it was just over $3 which I really couldn’t beat! (not sponsored I just love Joanns haha)

Lastly, attach a ribbon, again… with hot glue, to the back of the board.

I love how cute and easy this costume turned out! I’m already thinking how I can use this as a decoration for future parties haha! And yes I know my lines aren’t straight… so for anyone that thinks my projects are “just so perfect” here ya go! Done is better than perfect am I right?? Do any of you “grown ups” dress up? Tell me what you are going to be this year! And as always if you make this costume please please please send me a picture! I love to see them :) Happy Crafting!