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.

Hope, your bunting is lovely!

Donthackmenow your pud looks great. I really want to make some now too

Umlauf you're knocking out these gorgeous decorations so quickly. Definitely putting the rest of us to shame Need to get my finger out now and make something.

My Christmas fabric arrived this morning and it's wonderful. Also got a free pack of rectangles of different Christmassy fabrics so need to think of something I can do with them. Any ideas? They are all green/red/white patterns so go together well. The rectangles are about 20cm x 40cm and there's 6 of them.

umlauf you can get pectin sachets on Amazon (though in probably more bulk than you are after!) or a quick Google shows it in various supermarkets. Perhaps a kindly MNer could post it to you? :)

Has anyone ever made stollen? I fancy giving it a go but think it might be a bit complicated!

help, i need cinnamon sticks that actually smell.
i ordered some off ebay - some sticks dont smell and others only faintly.
seller said theyre a "natural product ", and cinnamon that really smells have been enhanced?
is that true?
i need some to add to garlands , christmas decs ect but i want the scent too?
any advice appreciated.

wfrances have you looked in the Asian section of the supermarket? Our local asda has a 'World Food' aisle that has loads of Asian products (flour, various tins etc) and they always have big bags of spices, including cinnamon sticks. They are really cheap too compared to the tiny ones in jars you get in the normal spice aisle!

I seem to have accidentally made three puddings instead of two! And I have a very unponcetastic burn on my thumb from the steamer

Ooh accidental pudding! I like

wfrances not sure if it would float your boat but Zoflora are doing a cinnamon scent for Christmas.
I normally use it for mopping the porch of wet dog smells and I pour a little in the washing machine when I wash their beds. This one is lovely though and I have actually mopped floors with it and it made the house smell lovely (perhaps a little early in the year yet mind :o)
Heavily diluted I imagine you could pop it in a spray bottle and squirt to your hearts content :o

I LOVE Christmas (and so loving reading this thread!) but im not very crafty, I couldn't get the hang of crochet at all and I've never sewed anything. I can sort of knit, so Im going to try and knit some decorations. Maybe.

I'd love some ideas or tips on nice poncey things to make that are too difficult or can be sewn by hand. An idiots guide basically! In thinking felt stuff, or salt dough maybe? Any tips appreciated!

delurking to show some felt cushions I made. I also have plans for bunting with little jingle bells to go on my mantelpiece, and cherry bourbon is infusing nicely in a kilner jar.

another of my cushions

I am also a delurker but lost my first post so trying again... I am not so great at sewing/knitting etc but planning to make similar to this, which I made last year, and I will also try make a garland of paper swedish christmas stars. I have made my mincemeat and three flagons of various vodkas (rhubarb&vanilla, sloe and christmas) and bought paperwhite narcissis/narcissi (?) bulbs - but now I have to track down the post further up-thread that tells me what I need to do with them!

*'Twas me, Trumpton, that was / is OP about Paperwhites.
Tuesday 14th October at 05.20 .

In the Avon catalogue there are LED light up table runners. I have already purchased from EBay the chair covers and fireguard but I think the table runner is OTT even for me. I think.
My crafty contribution is limited to making a wreath. I've just made a lovely one for Halloween using Amazon bought wreath frame and floristry wire, and various orange brown and black bits from pound shops and habiknit. It has a jaunty witches hat on n the top. Off to Pinterest for christmas wreath ideas.

Finally soaking my fruit for the cake! Ended up using spiced rum and it smells wonderful. Will be baking tomorrow

Thanks Trumpton - got it!

Sherlocked those cushions are amazing! Did you work off a pattern or just freestyle?

Sherlocked I love your cushions! I might have a go at those.
Wfrances I would try adding cinnamon oil. The florists/craft cinnamon definitely doesnt smell as strong as the one you would buy for cooking with but it costs a lot less as the cooking ingredient one is tiny.

Are you adding pine cones as well to your garland? You could put your sticks and cinnamon sticks in a bag with cinnamon oil, put in the hot press for the next 4 weeks or until you are ready to assemble your garland. Or another idea is to buy a bag of those ready scented cones you see in christmas shops.

thanks all
ive now purchased some cinnamon oil .

shelocked those cushions are lovely! I've been trying to source some Christmas cushions, I particularly like reindeer, so might give my own a go. Wish me luck!

Although I've been unable to craft this weekend due to visitors I feel I have fulfilled my ponce quota by driving over to France to collect giant pinecones, which I will spray paint white and fashion into a wreath with wire and ribbon, and pebbles from the beach for my narcissi.

Back to Ikea! This time no arguments
Didn't buy anything, but found some gorgeous old fashioned design wrapping paper (if I don't go down the brown paper route) and some quite nice faux pine garlands and wreaths, they look quite realistic for a base to add to.
Trying to decide if I want to bother with a Christmas cake this year. No one is really that bothered so I don't think it's worth the expense, but it feels wrong not having one!
Definitely going to start the pudding vodka this week though!

Just climbed back into bed with a hot choc and a hot water bottle.
I made the Christmas puddings this morning.
The rest of the family can have a stir when they wake up.
Would it be so very wrong to go and poke them all with a wooden spoon ?

Still loving this thread and all the pictures. I'm on holiday atm so no poncing but I have made a great start on crocheting a Secret Santa gift for a group I'm in.

Back on Friday and I hope to be able to start in earnest then.

Baked my cake last night but reckon I've over done it I'm not sure what it's meant to be like! It was in for 4 hours as wasn't cooked in the middle every time I skewered it. Left it to cool overnight in the oven as it was 11 by the time I took it out and wrapped it up this morning and it seems a bit solid will it be ok? Not sure if it's just dense and it's meant to be like that.