Bags of Jelly!

My mum hasn't been well lately, so I made her this bag to cheer her up- and it worked. She loves it and can't wait to use it. The bag was a Jan Knight design from an old Handmade magazine. Was very simple to do, and I just love the fabrics. Mum loves blue, so she adores it.

Jelly Slice

100-150g Butter or Margarine

250g packet of plain biscuts (milk coffee/marie)

395g can of Sweetened condensed milk

A Packet of jelly

A sachet of gelatin

Lemon juice

Make the jelly as per usual according to the instructions on the box. However, use a little less water. Do not put it in the fridge, but leave it to sit on the benchtop.

Crush the biscuts in a blender (or a paper bag or two with a rolling pin will work if you don't have a blender!) Melt butter in microwave, and mix through the biscuts till mixture is firm and will hold together if pressed by the back of a spoon. I find it is always best to use too much butter than not enough. If you don't have enough butter you will end up with biscut floaties in your slice. Put biscut mixture into a slice container (roughly 22cmx33cm. Tupperware ones are great, but even a cooking tray will still work. ) And press down firmly. Set aside.

Pour the sweetened condensced milk and juice of a lemon into a bowl. Bowl water in a kettle and using 3/4 Cup of hot water, mix in the sachet of gelatin (roughly 2 rounded teaspoons.) Stir thoroughly, then add to the sweetened condescend milk. Beat for about 1-2 minutes, until the gelatin is mixed through. Pour this mixture onto the biscut base, and then put into the fridge. Leave it to set for about 30-60 minutes. Just keep checking back, and until the white mixture is not runny or wobbly, and is set and cold

Using the back of a spoon, and a ladel, gently scoop the jelly onto the white surface, letting it run over the back of the spoon. This way it will not wreck your top white layer, and you won't get floaty white bits in your jelly.

Put back in fridge and leave to set for a couple of hours, and then cut into squares using a sharp knife. And voila!

It's a very easy recipe, and one that is always a firm favourite with kids, and adults alike. My brother and younger cousin LOVE jelly slice, particularly green jelly slice. Have fun! :)

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble."

Psalm 46:1

The newest member of the family....

BLUEY!

Yes, I'm aware how un-original the name is, but it suits him! :P I made darling little Bluey snail this morning (only took me about half an hour) after seeing this wonderful tutorial on Ric Rac.
Isn't he just so cute? I gave him to mum and she thinks he is wonderful! I shall now have to make him a friend, (perhaps a pink one, named Pinkie? Or maybe Barbie would be more appropriate....)

Go make yourself a cute snail! They are super easy, and I'm sure kids will love them!
I can even imagine making a caterpillar now.....


Oh, and you have no idea how excited I was to recieve this big box in the mail yesterday!! (well, after my two dogs nearly were successful in ripping it from my wonderful postie's hands!)

So, what's in it? I don't know. Well, I do know roughly what's in it, but not really. Am I making sense? Probably not. You see, I'm apart of a Christmas Advent swap on the Handmade craft forum. We have to collect 24 small goodies (could be bought or handmade....crafty or non crafty...) and then make a last handmade item. Then we wrap up each of the goodies individually and label them, 1...2...3...4...etc etc... Finally, put them all in a big box, and mail to your swap partner before December, so they can open each package one day at a time in the lead up to Christmas.

So, the lovely lady who was sending to me, Kerron, was quite amazing and super organised and already sent me my box of goodies! So I haven't looked inside (although the temptation is imense!!) and I have quickly whisked away into a cupboard so it is out of sight, out of mind....(except that I keep thinking about it and wondering what's inside!) I was going to give the box straight to my mum to mind, but I think she would somehow more eager than I was to open it up!! Which I don't know how that is possible!! Bring on December I say!!

Oh, and I had a request for the jelly slice recipe from Clair. So I will be making some today (hopefully...if I can get myself organised....I still haven't had a shower...been too busy making Bluey...)

Anyway, the sun is shining and all the animals are outside and basking in the sun. Have a lovely day everyone!