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 Sock Monkey

I have always wanted to try making a sock monkey using this pattern. They are so neat and tidy. So when a pair of patterned socks were being thrown out I decided to try it. It was relatively easy, just need to be patient to get it neat. I cut the top of the socks off by accident somehow so his legs and arms, I think, are too short! :( I really want to make another one now I have practiced with this one. I have so many cool old long stripes socks I can use!

So many cool ideas!

Bubby loves playing with the button eyes. I made sure I sewed them on well!

Kids Stuffed Toys

There are so many cute DIY ideas for making kids stuffed toys! I love the sock monkeys/animals and elephants always seem to be my favourite but rabbits, giraffes and Octopuses can all be so cute! I made the tag dinosaur and a sock monkey. If only I had enough time now to make more of these for Bubby. Too bad he takes up my time now! 

Sock Animals:

Sock monkey- Love these!! So cute! I made mine below based on these

Em's own first sock monkey- want to make another one! (instructions via)

Sock elephants- Gotta do this next!!

Sock Kangaroo- with pattern LOVE these!

Glove squirrel

Baby Tag Toys: 

Lion, Sun, Bear

My own tag dinosaur- easy and cute (pattern via)

Felt Dinosaur- great bold colours

Giraffe- with pattern

Hedgehog

Elephants:

Elephant- with pattern and picture instructions- This is on my next to do list!

Or these Sock elephants

Elephants- Love the patterned fabrics!

Elephants

Elephant

Felt baby elephants

Contrasting fabrics and stitching

Elephant

Unavailable on Etsy but may be able to replicate using an old jean pocket!

Octopuses:

Octopus

Octopus- gotta make this once Bubby is older!

Braided yarn Octopus- not a stuffed toy but still cute and simple

Braided Yarn Dolls- Similar simple yarn toys!

 

Other Toys:

Hedgehog doorstop- or could be a lighter stuffed toy!

This is mine I made as a door stop

Koi free pattern download- I've always wanted to make this!

Stuffed balloon animals- similar technique to my knot pillow

Cute owl bookends or Stuffed toys

Felt Chooks

Patchwork Scottie Dog

Toy Dachshunds-
love the folksy patterns on these fabrics designed by Alice Apple

Animal Patterns

Em's Bee Hotel

Bee hotels are a place for solitary bees to nest, rest and breed (not honey bees who make there own nests). I like the quirky and interesting look of a bee hotel and also the thought of maybe attracting the beneficial creature so made one for my Mother-in-Law who has a garden full of quirky interesting things and bee attracting plants. I really like these ones my Dad made so used it as inspiration. Gardening Australia has some great info and specifics for making a bee hotel. 

I used gathered or recycled materials from around our place to create the whole bee hotel. Firstly, I put together a house shaped box with back from scrap wood and covered the roof with some metal to give a little more shelter. The depth is about 15cm. Then cut some scrap untreated firewood blocks to fit the house and drilled different sized holes (they should range from 3-8mm) to a depth of the drill bit (about 10cm)

To attract a variety of bees and for the visual interest, I filled a bit of scrap steel tube with clay from our garden and poked holes in it. I then arranged the wood and pipe filling in the spaces with bamboo I cut from our plants about 10cm with an enclosed joint at the back end. I then collected some sticks to fill in more spaces jamming it in tight so it wouldn't fall apart.

I like all the different textures, shapes and colours created by the different materials (sticks, hollow bamboo, wood, clay pipe etc.) The bamboo holes are probably too small and the sticks should probably have been from pithy stems so I don't know how well it will work as a bee hotel but I think it looks cool!

It should face North-East-ish in sunny/semi-shaded sheltered position between 1-2m off the ground

Em's Knitted Blanket #3

As soon as I had cast off my last knitted blanket I cast a new one on still using a lot of the beautiful yarns I had. This one I decided was for my Step-Mum's 60th who complimented my first knitted blanket. I used the same technique with a mix of yarn weights, 2 yarns each row, leaving the ends for tassels and not using any furry yarns.

I tried to base it more on the aqua and green colours with added dark purple (since I had so much purple) and touches of orange. It turned out a bit brighter, more colourful and a bit more block-stripey. It took me 2 years with a little help from a little Bubby. 

The needles are empty for the moment. I think I've made enough knitted blankets for a while and it has become a lot harder to find the time with a little Bubby. Although I do have a Mother-in-law who hasn't got one..?

Related posts:

Em's Knitted Blanket #1	Em's Knitted Blanket #2
Em's Frayed Denim  Patchwork Picnic Rug	Em's Jumper/Sweater Blanket