Em's Construction Cake

 I've been looking forward to trying a digger/construction cake for a while! Myles' 3rd birthday was a perfect time for it as he loves all things digger/construction! Not sure if he was more excited to eat it or play with it!! I was nervous about cutting into the cake and what chocolates to use but it was very easy in the end and effective. I made two round cakes on top of each other, then roughly ripped some of the top off and placed it on the board. I then iced it all over (it didn't matter if cake crumbs got mixed in the icing as it looked like dirt anyway). I then used crushed choc ripple biscuits to cover the 'hole' with 'dirt', added broken honeycomb and Malteasers and placed the mini construction vehicles on. The only problem was the honeycomb shrunk due to moisture being in the fridge over night, so needs to be added last minute to keep it's colour and shape.

After cutting the back of the cake off we let him play in the crumbled down bit, which he of course loved!

Em's Gummy Bears

Juice gummy bears

I bought a gummy bear mould because I saw that you could make your own from wine on Pinterest. Then when researching I found out you can make them from jelly or juice too (probably almost anything). So I've been experimenting with my new mould and dropper. They are very small, however, so I would recommend getting a good sized mould.

Jelly

First I tried making them with jelly, using this recipe (85g packet of jelly, 1Tbs Gelatin, 1/3 water) and used cornflour to stop them sticking. They tasted great, however I didn't have the right amount of gelatin   when I made the green ones. They still set but where more like jelly.

Jelly gummy bears- yum! 

Juice

I then tried juice gummy bears with normal bought juice using this recipe, (1/2 cup juice, 1Tbs sugar, 2 Tbs gelatin) although I used normal sugar instead of honey. I used apple and black currant and breakfast juice. Once again it was easy and yummy. Hardest part is waiting for them to set. 

Juice gummy bears

Wine

I then tried making ones with wine. I decided to make a big batch to give as a Christmas present to my sister who loves lollies and wine. I used this recipe (1/2 cup wine, 2 Tbs Gelatine, 1/4 cup sugar). They taste great too with the flavour of the wine yet being sweet lolly. I bought the cheapest bottles of wine (Pinot Grigio, Rosé and Cab Merlot) and made batches and batches with my one small mould I had. I ended up filling a 2L container and almost used up the wines.

Tips

• Cornflour is good to stop them sticking together
• It is good to wait a bit for them to set at room temperature or put the mould on a tray before putting them in the fridge to stop them spilling.
• Store in an airtight container (preferably full to reduce condensation) in the fridge. They go softer at room temperature. They also dry out and shrink if not sealed.

I HAVE to try these coffee ones soon! Yum!

 

EDIT:

I played around with a few different things to make Christmas gummies. Red and green of course. I used a much bigger mould, which worked fine. The jelly (using the recipe/ratio above) was probably my favourite in flavour and gumminess. It was very sticky, however, so definitely had to be coated in cornflour. 

I also tried cordial diluted to drinking strength (1:4) but it was very weak in flavour and super firm (1/2 cup liquid to 2Tbs gelatin). A cordial strength of 3:1 and half the amount of gelatin seemed to work better (a little stickier though).

 

And just because.. how cool are these crocheted gummy bears! Next project?

Em's Lego Camo Cake

I was told my nephew likes "anything camouflage", so I decided for my two nephews birthdays to make a marble cake with vanilla, chocolate and green to create a camo cake! They both also like Lego so I made it in the shape of a Lego brick, which was instantly recognised and got squeals of excitement form them both. It came out awesomely. I couldn't wait for him to cut into it! The Lego shape was created using Oreos and then iced over. (could have also used marshmallows?) So simple and effective!

The bottom of the cake before icing

Em's Baby Shower gifts

A good friend of mine is having her baby shower and after researching I made her a chalkboard sign she can use as the baby gets older. Being a graphic designer, this was suiting form me. I also love those growth shots! I also made a sock bouquet and towel teddy bear. The card was a cute baby carriage with buttons and according pleat fan.. All in the blue theme.. I also had a go at making little gingerbread teddy bear cookies, an idea I saw on Pinterest but I used Tiny Teddy biscuits. It was too fiddly to have it holding/hugging the tiny teddy so I ended up making them pregnant :) Any excuse for a themed get together with games! And what great ideas for food, gifts and games..

Game ideas:

A lot of quiz type ones are great! Match the baby animal or famous babies, baby related scategories, nursery rhymes etc.. And of course predictions and advice cards can be fun, even creating a time capsule for the baby to open when 18..

Pin the dummy on the baby or sperm on the egg

Guess how many lollies in the bottle

Skull drink from a baby bottle

Spit the dummy (see how far each can spit a dummy)
Mum or Dad? Choose between the facts (when first walked etc)

Labour or porn- Close up pics of faces and have to guess which

Name the song (with baby theme)

Guess the baby food

Match celebrity baby name 

Pass the parcel
Animal babies quiz

Minute to win style games 
The list is endless!

Cutest-baby-shower-ideas- Some great ones on this site

And I love the idea of giving blue or pink shower poufs as gifts to say from one shower to another! (or any blue/pink shower related item for that matter)

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Em's Mad Hatter Hens

I finally got to have a Mad Hatter's themed party! And what a party! What a theme! For my hen's, my sister, Mum and I planned a Mad Hatter's tea party, making the food, decorating my sister's backyard and organising plenty of fun games. I couldn't leave it up to others to plan it as I didn't want to be left out!! We all collecting things for the day for ages, getting lots of inspiration from Pinterest.. I picked up lots of teacups from op shops and made eat me and drink me tags and other decos/props.. Mum brought over a trailer load of stuff from her place to set up the outside area of my sister's along with varies eccentric things my sister had around her place.. We also spent the week making all sorts of Alice in Wonderland and tea party inspired food..

Decos:

Mismatched chairs, lace and mismatched tablecloths, doilies, little hankies as serviettes, dresser, hat stand, gypsy chandelier, knitted throw rugs, suitcases, bird cage, piles of vintage books, tea cups and tea pots a plenty, roses, hats, scarves, pom pom curtain, clocks, lamp, and all sorts of other vintage and old random objects!

Down the rabbit hole welcome sign and helium heart balloons

Rabbits feet to lead outside

"Read the directions, and directly you'll be directed in the right direction"

"If you don't know where you are going any road can take you there"

Croquet: mallets made from a pool cue and old rolling pin and cardboard flamingoes and hedgehog ball

Cardboard card soldiers

Food and Drinks:

We made 2 types of punches, one ice tea mojiti one and a sangria. We also had a variety of teas and coffee. We had lots of fun making all the food. Scones, quiches, sandwiches, cupcakes, as well as themed food, apple roses, heart tarts, teabag cookies, and "mad" cake!!

This one makes you smaller punch

This one makes you taller sangria

Drink me

Eat me

The Queen of Hearts made some tarts

"Mad" cake!!

Apple roses

Tea bag cookies and heart tarts

Costumes:

Everyone coincidentally came as something different from Alice in Wonderland (although no Alice).

Queen of hearts

Off with your head!

Queen and the caterpillar

"We're all Mad Here"- Cheshire Cat

I'm late, I'm late!!- Rabbit

"Painting the roses red"- Rose bush and card soldier

"Twinkle, Twinkle little bat"- Cheshire Cat and Dormouse

Games:

Chess, croquet, twister painted on the lawn, plus a few hen's related games. And I got everyone to kiss with lipstick and sign my visitor's book :)

Chess

Croquet

"OFF WITH YOUR HEAD" The Queen of hearts

Twister on the lawn

Blowing the biggest condom game!

Checkmate!

The visitors book

Now we have all the Alice in Wonderland/ Mad Hatters decorations we'll have to have another party sometime!! Was an excellent theme that I can now cross off my bucket list!!