Poncetastic Christmas 2014

[HopeAndStories]

(Posting FellatioNelson's OP from previous years )
_

OK, first of all, I know it's still September by we need to start this thread now because as you all know, having a truly Poncetastic Christmas involves precision planning, strategy, bravery, heroics, and frequently martyrdom. A bit like the war in Afghanistan, only with nicer food and sparkly shoes.

So, if you, like me, actually want to make the next twelve weeks of your life a misery by hand-crafting your cards, finding a huge bucket for Nigella's turkey in brine, pickling pears, shrivelling oranges in a low oven for those rustic au naturel decorations, dragging half a holly bush back from the woods, and just generally being a smug annoying jobsworth ponce, join me on this thread.

Feel free to post photos of previous tree-trimming, cake icing or table centrepiece triumphs, discuss this year's bauble colour themes, debate the merits of Delia versus Gordon, road-test a selection of canapes and cocktails, (all in the line of duty) and link to lovely inspirational photos/craft ideas for a truly Poncetastic Christmas.

Warning: If your idea of a good Christmas involves Pizza, ITV, gravy granules or anything with 'Aunt Bessies' on the packet, this is not the thread for you.

Mice pies.

Hope, he's lovely. I think he looks great. :)

How big jars do you want, Felix I make a lot of jam (insert autumnal ponce emoticon) and I find that the cheapest way to get jars is to buy the value curd or jam from asda or Tesco in the size that you want. Cheapest is Tesco value lemon curd at 22p for a 1lb ish jar.

For kilner type flip lid things, asda have one at £1 I think but people say that the seals are rubbish - I've not tried them. I like ikea's clippy jar range www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/categories/series/24046/ which starts at 80p for a 500ml. I find these pretty much as good as Kilner. Their bottles are lovely also.

Thanks for the tip WildFlowers! I'll keep that in my mind. My DF is a man of simple tastes and I think overpowering cloves would be a bit of a shock!

Ooh Zebra the ikea ones look perfect! There's one 10 minutes up the road too. Thank you.

Can I make mincemeat now and store it until dec?

I'm right near an ikea also, Felix. 'Tis good. I wonder if the Xmas stuff is in yet, I couldn't see it on the website...

Re mincemeat storage, it depends on the recipe. If it's a classic recipe with dried fruits etc or full of booze it'll store fine. Eg Delia classic recipe says keeps indefinitely but best within the year. But some lighter recipes with lots of fresh fruits don't store in jars as well.

I've not been to ours since last month but my friend over in Manchester said they had all the Xmas decs in last week. I may have to go this week for a quick look

Thanks for the info re mincemeat. I've found a recipe with good reviews which uses dried fruit and dark rum so I'm sure it will keep if I make it soon.

I've still got last year's boozy mincemeat in the larder... it looks fine!

Thanks TheOne :)

I've attempted a robin too, though I think I should have swapped the main body and the wing colours around. This was just a practice though so I can make others like that.

The mincemeat I made last year seems fine too. I'm not making anymore this year.

Hope I'm jealous of the craft stash you found! I fear there's nothing that good hiding in my crap craft corner. I did however clear the kitchen cupboards today and wash out all the unwanted jars ready for chilli jam.

Ridiculously over excited for a shopping trip for craft supplies! In my defence DH is working most days 8am-11pm, so I don't have the car. My lovely parents are taking me and DS out for the day, the only condition is I have to talk my Dad into getting an oil cloth tablecloth
Ikea in Cardiff did have some Christmas stuff in, definitely not the full range as I know they take up a much larger space than what was out. Just a few display trees with decs on. Not long till it's overtaken tho I expect!

girlywhirly I did think about a patchwork Christmas cushion. My only worry is that as I don't have a sewing machine I'd have to do it all by hand... Maybe do-able...

I am very jealous of your IKEA trips. I spent a very frustrating few minutes arguing with Anna the Virtual IKEAbot yesterday. I'm in Spain, where they don't bring out the Christmas decorations until Christmastime, and I don't think they are in the stores yet. I like the look of their faux trees (I know, not poncetastic at all but I do have a mobile baby...)

Oh hope, that little robin is just lovely! I need something like him to top my crochet wreath. Although, in theory, it should be crocheted..

Owl :) There's no shopping better than for craft supplies

Thanks Umlauf :) I've made a rubbish Christmas pudding decoration this morning. The glue was still a bit wet on the berry when I took the photo and the stitching is rubbish at the top, but practice makes perfect!

I wouldn't know where to even start with crocheting...!

I've done something else this morning which I'm not sure whether it counts as poncy or not but I know my 18/19/20 year old nieces will love- I've painted their bottles of wine with a gold glittery paint I found in Wilko. They do look pretty.

Hope that Christmas pudding is lovely!

Has anyone got any suggestions as to how to wrap a bracelet? It didn't come in a box or anything and I want to make it look really special!

Xxx

IKEA Glasgow had all their Christmas stuff out at the weekend [much to DH's annoyance].

Hope, your felt decorations are lovely!

Duzz, if the bracelet is a flexible one, could you make a 'cracker' from a tube of card the size of the folded bracelet, and cover with Christmas paper or even fabric, leaving enough at each end to gather and tie with sparkly ribbon? And a gift tag as well.

If it's a rigid bangle type I would do a gift bag. Looking at Hope's Christmas pud, you could cut two circles larger than the bracelet and make a kind of slip in pouch to present it in.

duzzlightyear, buy some silver/gold/shiny card and make a gift box. Template here

Then put it in with loads of tissue paper.

Hope, I think you are too critical of your decorations. They all look gorgeous to me. I've not noticed bad work or mistakes.

Thanks duzz, girly and TheOne :) They may look ok from the front but the back is a completely different story But I figured the back wouldn't be seen once it's on the tree.

I made another robin earlier and I prefer this one to the one I made yesterday (sorry for all the pictures btw )

I need to go to Ikea, and I've been trying hard to persuade DH to take me to The Range, but he's not having it :(

Waaaah I wish I could see pictures on the app I'll log on to the laptop at some point as I'm dying to see the felt robins

You have made me want to make felt Christmas pudding bunting for the kitchen!

I love those decorations
My own sewing skills are such that I tend to produce 'rustic' looking results so I have the DCs' school-made crafts featuring on the tree.

Hope those decs are fab! The two robins make a cute couple, and the pudding is so cute!
Wild a pudding bunting?! What a great idea!
Well the shopping trip was a success! Stocked up on a load of crafts stuff, and found a lovely wipeclean Christmas tablecloth! But I didn't have the table measurement with me so I'll have to go back....darn it
I got a planner for all the Christmas organisation
There is one major problem I'm having now though.....what project do I start first?!

Hope and WildFlowers I have shamelessly copied your ideas and set about creating felt Christmas pudding bunting for my kitchen! Progress thus far as pictured.

Today is my day off and I had all sorts of crafty plans but poor DS is off nursery so I might not manage much. Boo! I actually find myself hoping for rainy days so I can stay in and make Christmassy things whilst listening to the Kings' carols.

DD2 has a training day today so we are off to visit DD1 in her student digs and then go shopping. DD2 has plans to mooch round Primark and H&M looking poor and mournful until I crack and buy her something. I plan to go to John Lewis and visit their haberdashery department to stock up on poncy fabric and ribbon and their Christmas department to steal some ideas stroke some decorations.

However, I am dismayed to discover that Amazon do not recognise my poncy credentials and have sent me this as a recommendation.