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.

phase that is beautiful, very elegant. It wouldn't last 5 mins with DS! I bet you're dying to put it up!

trumpton I think I might try and grow some, but I do kill most plants . How big are your hurricane jars? I might try and do them in Kilner jars. I live near the beach - could sand be used instead of pebbles?

I should think that 1.5 litre kilner jars would do.
They are about the right height.

Umm sand I am not sure but I can't think why not .

These are a selection of my containers ( the kilner jar has coffee rum in it ) not dirty water !

I am loving forward to putting it on our high mantelpiece out of reach of little hands. It it Not A Toy.

I am more of a half ponce as i tend to take shortcuts.I havnt got the time to make my own stockings so i bought some plain red ones from m and s and have ordered some iron on letters in red gingham,will attatch the ketters to said stockings and maybe some other bits and bobs too,maybe felt decorations?

Is it too late to start sloe gin?I have some sloes and a jar just need to get gin!

school have a look in Hobbycraft if you're near one. My local one had a whole section with plain stocking and various decorations to DIY

Got my ingredients for mincemeat so may make it tonight if I've got time. Think I'm going to skip on Christmas cake as too much moving house stuff to sort out

I'd like to make dd a stocking but can't find any fabric I like. I was looking at Michael Miller ones but it's all a bit blue! I love the retro prints but would like something red as I think it will look nicer. Any ideas where I can look?

Try Fabric rehab for retro Michael miller type fabric .

Ooh thank you I'll have a look.

So my first bit of poncing is officially done! Got my mincemeat sitting over night then I'll jar it tomorrow. It smells INCREDIBLE!

Trumpton that website is my dream!! I love this one for a stocking with red lining and I really want this one to make a Christmas Day dress for dd

Christmas cake is in the oven and smells lovely.

Went into town today and ended up buying the Lakeland xmas planner. And some Xmas pot pouri, room scent and some light up pine cone thingie. I saw a gorgeous pin on Pinterest last year which had a three tier wooden stand a bit like a cake stand and it had some pine cones, candles etc on. I loved it so much I sourced the stand which I could only find in the states and I almost bought it and had it shipped over. The supplier was rubbish though so I didnt. And then found one on TK Maxx on line earlier this year! So I have it ready to go - the pine cone thingie from M&S will hopefully be nice on it. Need to figure out where to put it now!

Only just got to the end of this fantastic thread, so shamelessly place marking!

I've been inspired to look for an ebay mantelpiece to sort out our bleak lounge. I didn't even know you could get them for so cheap!

Will be making my own (delia's) mincemeat soon. Does anyone know how many jars I'd need to store it all until I bake the pies?

Looking forward to getting my ponce on!

Felix if you are anywhere near me I'd gladly give you one of my Christmas cakes. (I make a big one and cut it into 4). In fact I'd rather give one away than see the school sell them for £2 each.

Ponceurs, I no longer have much poncing capacity but a few years ago I got loads of red and green gingham and made reusable wrapping. wrapped with contrasting ribbon.

Woollyback that's very kind! I have loads of dried fruit left over from this mincemeat so I'm hoping I'll have time to make a quick one before we move. My Mum said she no longer bothers making one as there's only her and my Dad at home so it goes to waste, so I was planning on (somehow) making them a mini one.

Mummyboo I made it and doubled the recipe and only filled 3 1.5l kilner jars. It is quite dense. So you won't need much capacity.

Thanks Umlauf, I've only got one 1.5l Kilner jar, so I might get another to be sure. Brazen excuse to shop for kilner jars

Feeling very festive this morning. My Christmas cakes are in the oven I've been listening to Christmas music and my order has arrived from the BookPeople.

I'm still making felt decorations bored now. I promised myself I'd finish one project before starting the next one like I usually do, but I really want to start the salt dough stuff...

if Trumpton is still around can I ask a question about the bulbs as I'm rubbish at all things living and really want to do these!! When you say 'water to the bottom of the bulbs' do you mean so the water is just touching the bottom of the bulbs or is it ok to come up the bulbs a little bit? What if all my bulbs arent at the same height in the vase? Obviously I'll try to get them all level, but is it better for one to be a little bit deeper in the water as opposed to one being out of the water if I aiming to reach the bottom of the bulb? Sorry if that all sounds daft?!

I feel I am very behind in my ponceing. Have made my sloe gin but I'm
Still pinning on pinterest looking for the perfect craft project.

Phew I found you! I'm going to petition hq to sticky the poncetastic thread

I have had to moved house so have to completely rethink how it will all work.

Loving sine of the Christmas dedication on here.

Last year I ended up with so many dishes included in dinner I completely forgot to serve two of them!

This Christmas dd will be almost 3,so Christmas is going the BEST

How do I add pictures? Can I do it from safari on my phone rather than the app? I've got loads of crochet snowflakes done I'm a James Brett sparkle wool they look lovely .
Ponceurs what Christmas pudding recipe do you all use? I'm debating between nigella or Nigella or Nigel Slater ones

cheese underneath the reply box are three "buttons", a smiley one, an I and a paperclip. If you tap the paperclip it should take you straight to your photos and you just tap on the one you want to post (at least it does on my iPhone!) :)

Mine are using that wool too cheesecheeseplease - the part mohairy one?? I love it - they look so ethereal! I quite fancy making myself a hat in it too but have to get through everyone else's presents first.

So far I've made fingerless gloves and a matching hat for DSis, a may rose wreath for DM (might have to do something else though in case she thinks its awful), and a glasses case and chunky bobble hat for DF. I need to make a coffee flask cosy for DB, hats for both BILs, and a baby hat for baby DS. I also have a huge Xmas wreath project for me to do too that I'm half way through.

Also to make are vodkas, jams, tiny santa hats for the vodka jars and jam jars, biscotti in various flavours, and hot chocolate mixes. I think that is everything, notwithstanding the twitch!

Umlauf you're going to be busy