Poncetastic Christmas 2014

[HopeAndStories]

(Posting FellatioNelson's OP from previous years )
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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.

Love the Holy Night bunting! Beautiful colours.

Does anyone have any good ideas for Christmas decorations to put along / off picture rails or on expanses of white walls? I have one year old twins who are into everything and have arms like octopuses which means the garland round the fireplace (my favourite Christmas bit) and a tree in our main living area are non runners. Unfortunately there's no suitable space to put a tree up on a table and I'm struggling to work out how I can make the space festive. Thanks

I'm planning to make a wreath out of the baubles we can't use because of DS. You could make a few different wreaths and hang them from picture rails.

Thanks for kind comments! They're lovely because my DH has no understanding of crafts or prettiness and just says "lovely dear..." stillwearingoddsocks are you on a mobile? I can't see picturs on my mobile but on the website it's ok. They weren't a link, just a pic in the comments. mrspiddlewink it took so long I am never doing it again! but you can find a tutorial on the Attic24 blog - it's called "jolly festive bunting." I changed the words and colour scheme but the rest was the same.

Whilst playing with felt I made this decoration last night. Be totally honest, if you were my MIL and you didn't have a creative bone in your body, would you like this decoration for your tree? It is her house. Or does it look rubbish? If rubbish, I won't be offended because my DH would like it as it's the house he grew up in!

Umlauf that's really cute, I'm sure she will love it!

Thanks Umlauf - how did you do the stars?

Love the house

The house is really lovely Umlauf, what a great idea may have to nick it . I'd love to receive it :)

Which stars do you mean mrspinkleton? The stars on the crochet banner are Attic 24s teeny tiny stars - the ones underneath I made whilst heavily pregnant and stuck indoors - I keep them up all year though! They were made using that self drying clay stuff. It is not as good as normal clay as quite breakable but better than salt dough as it keeps its shape better and doesn't puff up at the edges.

Thanks for house comments - I think I'll give it to her along with a gift voucher as something to open on the day.. She can always hang it round the back of the tree if she doesn't like it!

Take it or not, how about putting a load of those huge white paper snowflakes on the wall, next have some and I got loads really cheaply one year from Wilkos.

This year I am putting a Victorian paper sleigh and reindeers attached by threads up my stairs which would also work on a big wall but maybe a bit traditional?. I'll try and find a link.

Santa sleigh garland

Takeit- you can get Christmas tree wall stickers.

snowflakes

Mine were £1 each though.

lots of nice ideas on pinterest. I'm doing the tree made of Xmas cards, but the felt Christmas tree with removable decorations would be fab for your twins..

We're having a party on 7th Dec and I'm doing a buffet. I want a really amazing looking table.

I'm planning this as my cake decoration (hope this link works as on my phone): m.flickr.com/#/photos/36641529@N06/4244239104/

Not sure what to do as my table theme. Dining room is red, furniture is dark oak. Do I go traditional/tartan and adapt the cake colours or have a winter wonderland within the room with a sparkly white table?

You could do Nordic white and red. Pound land has nice felt snowflake mats and coasters.

Umlauf, you are clever.

I saw some Christmas puds similar to yours in a posh shop in town, not made of felt, a kind of wool fabric, and they were £3.99 each! There were also some garlands of white pom-poms, alternate large and small ones, but I couldn't see a price on those. The pom-pom makers could do those easily. Obviously these are the on trend decs this year.

Thanks. Love the idea of a wall Christmas tree, will now need to spend a suitably long time on Pinterest researching! We had gold snowflakes on the wall last year so would prefer something different this year, maybe a whole series of wall christmas trees?!

Umlauf, beautiful crochet work!

Thank you! girly I should charge...

Does anyone know whether Nigella's chilli jam could be made without jam sugar or pectin? I've found a fresh chilli supplier but can't get jam sugar or pectin...

Hi Umlauf. When I make chilli jam I use Jam sugar from Asda. I dont know if chillis would have enough pectin in them to set. I make it every december alongside Nigella's mince pie recipe.

Thanks nic I live abroad though so can't get it here. I did bring back 1kg of jam sugar in my hand luggage last time and have just made my strawberry and champagne jam this afternoon and used it all up, however won't be back in the uk before Christmas to stock up!! Just wondering if there was a substitute. I've seen pectin sachets for sale in eBay but all postage from America...

Umlauf I wonder if this answer from the Nigella team is of any use to you.

I meant to say I can post pectin sachets to you if required.

Umlauf, love the house - I'd be thrilled if someone made me a decoration showing mine! Your MIL should be delighted.

Where are you, Umlauf - northern hemisphere? There should be some crab apples on trees if so - you could use some of them for a super high pectin source?