My First DIY - Salt Dough Ornaments

The other afternoon I did my first DIY project just for you! I made Salt Dough Ornaments. For all sorts of reasons! I plan to put some of them on my christmas tree, and I plan to use some of the "tags" for gift bags! Hope you enjoy! 

Salt Dough is EXTREMELY cheap & easy to make! & It's fun too!

If you've ever made a homemade pizza, or anything really with dough, you're already experienced enough to make salt dough. 

The ingredients are 1 cup of all purpose flour, 1 cup of lukewarm water, and 1 cup of salt. 
Materials: You'll need A sheet of wax paper (big enough to roll your dough out on), A roller, and whatever materials you would like to use to shape your ornaments. (Cookie cutter, Knife, toothpicks, ect.)

1. In a large bowl mix the salt & flour together, while 

2. Gradually stir in water. Mix well until it forms a doughy consistency.

3. With your hands form a ball with your dough and kneed it for at least 5 minutes. The longer you kneed your dough the smoother it will be to roll. 

4. Roll your Dough out, then cut out the ornaments you choose to make!

Make and bake your own creations!

Here are some of mine. 

You can paint your creations with acrylic paints and seal with varnish or polyurethane spray.

You can let your salt dough creations air dry, however salt dough can also be dried in the oven. 

There are a few options to color your salt dough: 

1. Add powdered tempera paint to your flour

2. add food coloring or paint to the water before you mix it with the salt/flour, or 

3. add natural coloring like instant coffee, cocoa, or curry powder.

Have a wonderful & blessed day! xoxo -Taylor 

Hello, November.

November is one of my favorite months of the year. I'm wonderful with the cold weather & I'm excited for it to be winter again. I enjoy getting out all my cozy sweaters, long sleeves, stockings, and scarves.

November makes me feel especially thankful, for plenty of reasons. I am a very thankful person regardless of the month, weather, or situation, but for some reason there's just an extra feeling of thankfulness in the air. November also finds me wanting to cook. I don't do all that much cooking, but I love little projects. Like Peanut-Butter cookies, or french-toast, or spaghetti. Not really thanksgiving-type foods, I know, I just feel so creative this month. Also the Presidential election took place this month, and was probably the most heated election of our time. I don't have any personal thoughts on the turnout of the election, I just pray that America is in good hands, that will guide us back onto the path we need to be on. 

This is a list of things I love about this season. 

1. Big Comfy Sweaters 

I don't know what it is about them, but I think sweaters are just too cute. I love to be comfortable & I don't get dressed up very often. My favorite thing to wear is a big loose sweater. 

2. Hot Cocoa

I could drink hot chocolate with anything. Next to coffee, this is my favorite winter drink. 

3. Campfires

Nothing gets me more excited for winter than a fire. Whether it's in a fireplace, or pit, or whatever you like. There is not a better, more comforting feeling, than cuddling close to a warm fire. I like to drink my cocoa next to a fire.(: 

4. Christmas Music

I can't get enough of it. It's just so full of joy, and love. I love the winter weather, and that family feeling that comes with the holidays. Christmas is my favorite holiday! This is my favorite Christmas song(: 

5. Knitted things

I've mentioned that I have a love for knitting. I love love love knit hats & scarves! Here is a link for free  knit-patterns. This one is my favorite!

6. Of course, the Weather

I love the fall leaf change! It is gorgeous where I live!

7. Pumpkins

I love everything pumpkin!(: I recently went to a Pumpkin Patch with my boyfriend and we picked our own 2 mini punkin's. My mom's pumpkin pie is phenomenal. I love roasted pumpkin seeds, pumpkin bread, & carving pumpkins. It's all so fun! 

These are our lovely little punkin's! 

8. Black Friday

I love to shop.(: 

9. "No-Shave November"

This one is just funny. 

10. Most of all, Thanksgiving

I love spending time eating all the wonderful food my grandparents cook & being with my whole family. This holiday is probably my third favorite. Under Christmas, and Valentines day. 

Today.

Today I decided to start a blog. I got my inspiration from a lovely little blog called A Beautiful Mess. My name is Taylor, and I love things crafty, nifty, thrifty, and cute.(: I'm a lover of Jesus Christ, and am your average 16 year old girl. I love to Pinterest, Facebook, and of course, blog! I follow many many blogs on bloglovin'. I am a big fan of DIY crafts, and really anything crafty that I can make myself. I love cooking, painting, and loving my boyfriend, Cory. I am part of a family of five, live in Friendly North Carolina, and I go to a spirited little high school school right in the middle. 




Here are some of my favorite things. 




1. Jesus. Hands down. My absolute favorite thing to do is spend time with my savior. 

2. Cory
My boyfriend & best friend Cory has to be the sweetest boy God ever made. I know that sounds mushy, and it is, but I'm serious. He is such an amazing person, & is so funny. All he does is give, & love, & he means the world to me. So he is my second favorite. (: 

3. Craft. 
Anything Crafty, nifty, thrifty, or artsy is just love! I love to read DIY Craft tutorials. Like this Paper Christmas Tree tutorial. 

4. Knitting. 

I never have much time for it anymore, but over the summer I took up knitting as a hobby. My grandma decided she would learn also, and we plan to give away some 70 to 100 scarves (Hand-Knitted) to our local food drive or soup kitchen this Christmas. I came up with that idea one afternoon while I was eating lunch, and my mom and I talked it over and decided we could do it this Christmas. Our county has a high unemployment rate, and a lot of people can't afford their house, let alone a scarf or a jacket for the winter. (Which I have heard will be a hard one this year) So that is my way of giving back to my God, and my community. Our ministry is called "At Home Missions". I think it is awesome to give what you have extra to someone who is in need. For me, that is my ability to knit, and my time. Next year I hope to reach at least 200 scarves, and 100 knit hats or mittens.

5. Paint

I love to paint. I don't know what it is about a blank canvas and a paintbrush that gets me so inspired. This is definitely one of my favorite hobbies. 

Well, those are just a few of the things I enjoy doing. I hope you have a wonderful & blessed day! 

xoxo -Taylor