Rag trees

I've just made a couple of these. Very simple to do and quite quick. Cut random pieces of cloth into squares about 2cm square and poke them into a polystyrene ball with something like a stylus. You need it pointed but not sharp. Cover the ball all over and then either poke a hole at the top, put a drop of glue in the hole and push a knotted loop of ribbon in for a bauble or push a length of dowel in the bottom for a tree. To make it stand up I bought a pack of plastic champagne glasses from the pound shop and used the bases, which just pop off, pushed on to the bottom of the dowel.

Decorated cupcakes

I went to the annual WI supper and dance last night and my contribution was to be 12 cup cakes. I learned how to do these when I attended a cake decorating course a few years ago. A very thoughtful present from one of my sons! They are very easy but look spectacular.

I made the cupcakes with a basic Victoria sponge recipie
8oz Self Raising flour
8oz Sugar
8oz Soft Margarine such as Stork
4 eggs.

You also need

Butter icing Make some butter icing by mixing 8oz icing sugar with 4oz margarine until combined.     (Using soft margarine gives a softer consistency which you need for these cakes.)
1 pack of mini marshmallows
Silver or coloured dragees, mine were pearl pink and white
Coloured sugar (Two teaspoons of sugar and 1 drop of food colouring, mix well and leave overnight. Just before using, break up the sugar crystals with the back of a teaspoon.)

Cream the margarine with the sugar until it is turns light in colour and is all mixed in. Add an egg with a little of the flour and mix in. Do the same with the other eggs and finally add the rest of the flour. I used large cupcake cases and this mix made 20 cupcakes. Fill each case about three quarters full as you need a level top on the cake. Bake for aprox. 20 minutes at gas mark 5

Place the cakes on a wire trivet to cool.
Using the mini marshmallows cut them diagonally across.

I did about 50 at a time. Holding each half marshmallow by the tip dip the cut side into your coloured sugar, if using. Starting at the top of the cake place the marshmallows in the 12, 3, 6, and 9 positions of the clock. This gives you a rough idea of symmetry. Add more marshmallows around the rim until it is full.

Do the second inner ring the same and then the third.

Finally add three dragees to the center.
All done!

As you can see you can vary the colours and use different coloured sugar as well. It is also possible to get a fuller look by doing four circles of marshmallows but I didn't have enough time for that!

Superb Snowflakes

Isn't nature wonderful? I found these amazing pictures that I just need to share. We all know that snowflakes are six sided and no two are the same but these pictures are exceptional with amazing detail.

 

My first proper Book Fold

The first proper book fold I've done. I've just come back from Malta where I went for my friends daughters wedding. Before I went I thought I would take something to do if I had any spare time. I was thinking this because I get up early and I knew none of their family did and there is only so much breakfast you can eat! So I took the pattern, a paper ruler, bit of ribbon, pencil and rubber then " borrowed" a hardback book from the left-behind-bookshelf and did this sitting on my balcony the day before the wedding. I was really pleased with it as I was convinced I had done it upside down until I started folding the pages and the word appeared like magic!

Thanks to Jo Black at Allinthefolds  for the free pattern.

Amazing Rainbow

This was Norway last year,the most amazing sight I have ever seen. Apparently it is down to ice crystals in the air but I thought the town was going to catch fire!

My Daughters Birthday cake this year

A very easy cake. Chocolate cake base then butter cream mixed with Nutella spread all over. Push Cadbury's fingers or kit-kats into the sides. Then just place the buttons into the butter cream in the shape of the flowers in a random pattern.

Jelly Worms

 Ideal for Hallow'een.

You need;
A packet of jelly, the hard block type, seems to work better than the crystals. Kosher jelly comes in wonderful flavours and colours but turns back to water overnight.
Straws, thick ones work best, save McDonalds ones if you can't get any. If you use the ones with the concertina bendy bit pull them out to their full length as it gives the 'saddle' on the worm.
A tall glass such as a pint glass as your worms will be the length of your glass.
Cooking spray, Lurpack is a good one.

Make the jelly up to the packet instructions but just to three quarters of a pint or 425ml.
Holding the straws as a bunch in your hand spray the oil straight down the straws, turn them around and spray up the other end. Shake them a bit or tap them on the bench to get the oil distributed.

Pack the straws into your pint glass, the longer the glass, the longer the worm. Pour the jelly over the top down all the straws. Then leave it in the 'fridge to set.

The next bit is a bit messy as all the excess jelly is surrounding the straws and your hands get sticky and slippery. Just keep washing the jelly off your hands so you still have a good grip.
Pull one straw out of the glass and grip the top of the straw in your right hand (assuming you're right handed). Then grip the straw with your left finger and thumb and squeeze the straw while pushing down. The worm should come out easily.

And that's it, a plate full of jelly worms.

The 'saddle' on the worm from the bendy straw.