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.

Lovely cakes noideawottoget

Ah thank you Felix

Thanks to this thread I now need to make a tree skirt. Though I have no idea how to go about it...

The picture is last years wrapping efforts. I must have made 100's of the damned snowflakes! It killed my hands. This year I'm going with something easier but still naice- tartan and stags is the main theme with ribbons (I think gold) with jingle bells.

Oops, I missed the picture off!

Hope I may have just pinned loads of stuff from your Christmas board on to mine

I am going to make DD a Christmas stocking. We are pretending this is her first Christmas even though last year was technically. Will go down to the market after payday and see what fabric I can find.

Here is my board.

I've remembered that I bought some material for new stockings for the Dcs. I love it. I'll post a picture tomorrow in daylight.

We have two trees. A black one in the living room that has gold decorations and a real tree in the kitchen that is a riot of colour and has all the decorations the Dcs have made over the last 18 yrs. It has a few of mine too.

Oh, and I bought brown paper in the sales last year and loads of ribbon in different colours. I'm trying for a different colour for each person.

I think I've found my spiritual home
I've followed lots of peoples pinterest boards (thanks ladies!) and taking lots of notes of how to ponce up our Christmas.
I've just made some fudge for DM and going to get started on the marshmallow fudge for DF and siblings tomorrow. Made some practice marshmallows today, which have turned out ok and planning to make our Christmas cakes the week after next. Soooooo excited!

Hooray! Poncetastic time! I've started making some mini felt bunting for one of the trees (I'm aiming for 5 this year). I've also just ordered a job lot of crystals and tiny bells.

Not sure how to link my Pinterest (on phone) but I'm Squitch on there if anyone wants to have a look :)

I've made a few mini knitted stockings, plan to do at least 20 more I want an advent calendar and possibly as a little gift at lunch with their place settings. Lunch is going to be between 6 and 18 people so think it'll depend on that!
Lunch is at my mil, but we're in charge of table layout/decorations and menu! Our house wouldn't be big enough, though I'm sure there'll be a few dinner parties at ours over the festive season (ham in come does not sound poncey but is bloody gorgeous!)

Also thinking I need a tree skirt, can't afford to be completely poncey and have a real tree so think it's about time I made a skirt to hide the ugly plastic feet.

I would link to my Pinterest, it's cluttered and over run with Christmas stuff, but
A. I don't want to 'out' myself, can't remember what stupid threads I've started before or commented on
and
B. I've no idea how to link

*ham in come! I think I'll pass.

Ham in come brilliant!

That has to be one of the best typos I've seen!

Oh wow! Well. That doesn't sound so good! Massively embarrassed now. It's coke by the way. Don't think I can ever serve that again! At least not without giggling and looking like this --->

Ooh, this could be my spiritual home

I love a bit of poncing, though the finished results vary quite wildly :o
Let me see if I can link to the wreath I made last year for my door......
but just ignore the lurking face :o

Ham in come! :o

I am an odd bird in that I want to ponce it up yet also be less materialistic and have it be about family and a lovely meal, etc rather than presents and such. I want to make as many decs as possible so this is a good place to be.

I want to do this initial thing with the presents.

I really need lots of help! Spent Xmas in hospital last year and have no idea what's happening this year, whether I'll even be alive but I have to try. Can't crochet as am not good at that kind of thing but want lots of help with everything else.

I want bling, poncetastic, most utterly fabulous for my lovely family. I've already promised a big bunch of mistletoe.

Dashing, I'm really sorry to hear that. We'll help with ideas of course. We'll try to help you create the Christmas you want.

What's your vision like, Dashing? As far as your perfect Christmas. :)

dashing (ideally poinsettias of course, but MN doesn't seem to offer those yet!)

Mistletoe is a must of course. Can you order a length of tartan ribbon (or colourscheme appropriate) on ebay and use it to tie up bunches of mustletoe to hang in most rooms? It can also be used for tying ivy in rounds to create natural wreaths. And for hanging pinecones up like this - you could spray paint them first. I seriously think a lot of good can be done with a can of spray paint and a length of pretty ribbon!

Buy some canvases and paints and make some simple family pictures like these www.pinterest.com/pin/92042386110106743/ for your family to hang every year - with all your handprints in would be lovely.

As for crochet... do you like the look of it? What is your colourscheme? I would be happy to make a really amateur version of this for you if you PM me your address!

mrsfox that wreath is divine! Poncetastic in the extreme! And cheerfulyank I do like those initial parcels - might try something similar with brown paper and my stamp set!

Woo hoo!

This is always the highlight of my year

Yay! How exciting! Instead of a tree skirt I've been using a basket but this year will be using an "old" pail/bucket.

My christmas board: here

Each year I buy new ornaments like these for the dcs. We choose the character etc that they're into and the each have a very small tree to decorate and now they're getting older it's great! We bought most on eBay pretty cheap- the guy's selling them still and the rest we happen upon!

There's a free app called Gift It which you can use to help budget and write present lists.

Dashing I hope you have a brilliant christmas and let us know which areas in particular you would like ideas for.

Ham in come

TheFantasticMrsFox lovely wreath. at the face lurking.

Dashing, so sorry. Of course we'll help :)

StupidFlanders, do you have the link to the seller please?

I have lots of lovely Pinterest boards to follow now :)

I've got all my Christmas food books out and I'm going to spend a lovely while looking through them

We like to involve the whole family in the poncey projects in the lead up to Christmas. Last year the DC's made peppermint bark and melted snowmen cookies to share with everyone at our annual children's hot chocolate party!

I am currently planning the DC's advent calendar activities. The calendar I made last year is similar to the one pictured but hung on ribbon (sorry it has our name on the actual one!). I like to fill it with a mix of small gifts (socks, hair clips, top's), activities (visit father Christmas, see Christmas lights, theatre trip, Christmas market, weekend away, out for hot chocolate, feeding reindeers), movie nights at home, baking, craft projects and chocolate coins.

Planning to start on the flavoured gin/vodka over the weekend.