Poncetastic 2016

[WaitingForEgg]

Ok this thread may commence from midnight in honour of Fellatio. I sadly abandoned last years mid run due to pre-eclampsia and early birth of my December baby and therefore fully intend to throw myself fully into this years festivities:

"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".

Let's surpass all poncestastic pasts please

Marking place. Love a bit of ponce but don't start anything Christmas until after DC3's November birthday so am just warming up.

This year as every year the presents will be wrapped in red and silver. Then I wrap with ribbon and add a decoration - one year was those tiny Ikea cornstalk elves. This year will be a small silver bauble (from last year's sales) and a crocheted snowflake, as I learned to hook earlier this year. I need to get a lot more of those done as I've only done half a dozen or so.

Will be confectioning for preschool/school staffroom gifts in a few weeks but do them all fresh the weekend before the last week of term. Current list:

Oat & raisin cookies
Peanut butter cookies
GF triple chocolate brownie
Peppermint creams
Nutella fudge
Tablet
Meringues

Might do some Santa hats for wine for teachers' gifts.

Loving all the Pinterest board links; following you all. Here's mine for good measure. I also have a Party Food board which might be of interest (click through).

Oh wow, you are an artist! Love the mouse, and the little mittens!

I am crocheting 4 blankets. I started in September. I am now beginning to think this was unwise as I seem to be developing repetitive strain injury... On my final one and can't wait to get done.

I've done Attic 24 Coastal Ripple, Cosy Stripe and am on Harmony. I did my own version of the ripple pattern for DBro.

Bridget- that is absolutely stunning!

Thank you cookiefiend! I must say, I had a lot of fun making it.

Love it bloodybridget

I need a cheap way to present my food hampers - any ideas?

MammaGnomes I'm doing chutneys with cheese and crackers for my parents this year and might add a ham and turkey pie from the butchers. I'm also going to put some sweet stuff in it though.

Oooop this fell of my "I'm on" list!

littletike Wilkos sell hamper baskets from £2.50 I used them last year and am re using some this year.

Thanks Chelazla!

My paperwhites are doing ok I think! Just brought them in as their roots have established.

They look good and are at the same stage as mine. If they look as if they are going to flower too soon you can always cool them for a few days . My house is positively arctic cool so I am generally ok on my timings .

Thet look so good! I am totally doing some next year!

Have been moving house so a bit slow getting going this year.

However really pleased that I managed to get some friends round for wreath making evening last night.

A friend had cut her wisteria back and we used that to make the rings (did have a bag of hobby craft twiggy hoops in reserve) and people bought greenery and I did some food and supplied string, wire and raffia.

Here's a pic of the evening's efforts - some minimal, some with lots of ribbons, some with rosemary and bay - lovely

I know you lot will be the right people to ask - I need small bottles to divide our sloe gin into to give out as gifts. Preferably between 100-200mls. Is eBay the best place do you think?

How did I not know about this thread??? I'm going back to the beginning to read every post.

So far this year I've made baked/dried out oranges for garlands and a wreath which I will be making next weekend. I bought a few rolls of brown paper and have turned it into "snowball" print paper using a sponge dabbler and white paint then outlining with silver glitter pen when dry.

I'll be making my own hessian stitched gift tags for family.

I've also made some
polka dot mugs that will be gifting will homemade biscuits and rocky roads wrapped in cellophane inside.

I'm currently stitching felt Christmas tree decorations in front of the TV and have been knitting
flags for bunting. I love poncing!

On another note anyone got any bright ideas for creating a non alcoholic baileys? Before you all baulk in horror - am currently
early days pregnant and fingers crossed will stay that way, so hoping to find a way to enjoy the wonder of copious Baileys without actually drinking Baileys.

Have cracked non alcoholic mulled wine though.

highcastle I bought www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00A397JLG/ref=pe_385721_51767431_TE_dp_1these . I'm pleased with the shape but am wondering now if 100ml is a bit small. Haven't filled them yet.

whyistherumgone non-alcoholic mulled wine sounds good. How did you do it?

Oops link fail, sorry these

Thanks, there seems to be a few different types on Amazon so I'll order those next week. First time we've ever done sloe gin and we've got four litres soaking so I hope it turns out nice.

Inthehighcastle I got mine from Wares of Knutsford I use the ones that look like lea and perrins bottles!
I think I bought 36. Good price and they don't leak.
I am hoping to get some of mine back for next year only asking v close friends and family so as to save on wasting resources and money!

Love the wreaths. I am not at all well ponced this year. Think the children and I will do some baking later, but just to eat as it is far to early for gifts etc.

Have discovered dd1 is to have minor surgery next week (tonsils) and has to be kept away from other children and people for two weeks so that is slightly cramping loads of the things I had planned. On the plus side we will have loads of making time in the house!

Here are our child-like tea advent calendars- poncing with toddlers I'd not Pinterest worthy!

Anyone know how to make garlands? An idiots guide would be good, better still if it can be done cheap and stay fresh!

Can anyone give tips for drying out the inside of small Kilner type bottles? Mine have a few drops of water in the bottom that I can't seem to shift. I'm thinking I might need to use a hair drier or is there an easier way?

For those of you who are tinsel averse how do you prevent your tree from being a bit dull?
It probably doesn't help that some of my baubles are a bit dull - I've collected hand painted glass baubles, murano glass and Swarovski stars and they just disappear. Last year I made tiny mirrors to hang behind them hoping to throw more light around but it's still a bit meh.
DH would be happy to solve the problem with blue lights (faints) and lashings of tinsel.
I've been holding firm on the tinsel issue for the last decade but I'm wondering if it's actually the only way to bring the tree to life.

Howmanysleeps- it's like making a wreath except you use a rope as the base.
Take smallish sprigs of whatever greenery you are using and start at one end of the rope.
Use green florist wire to secure the first bunch, then add the next about an inch along the rope so that the sprigs of the second bunch cover the wire holding the first bunch. Secure, repeat.
It's not hard, just tedious.
I find it easier to wire in extra pine ones, berries etc after I've made the garland but some people do it as they go along.

No idea about keeping it fresh though.

Amy, could you dry the kilner bottles in the oven?

(And, tinsel tinsel tinsel on the tree, but that's because I always do, and can't imagine not, so feel free to ignore!)