Poncetastic 2017

[Annwithnoe]

Since there doesn't seem to be a poncetastic thread, and to avoid confusion with thread titles, would I be out of order to start this one?

First order of business, a toast to our dearly missed Fellatio Nelson, wherever she may be and a quote from her original thread:

^
"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".

^

I use the brown paper that Amazon sends parcels wrapped in (if it's crumpled, I iron it) otherwise i feel awful stuffing all that perfectly good paper in the bin! Very un-poncy I know

@SallyLockhartsDog I love that! Very sustainable!

Just been to hobbycraft- dangerous! Bought a few bits for some tentative poncing. A wreath wire, 3 kinds of ribbon which match my tablecloth fabric and some fat quarters in the same designs, and some wooden stars. So, combined with my pine cones, hopefully they will combine to be a door wreath, some dangling pine cone ornaments and a fabric 'paper chain' which I am hoping will be a simple but effective garland and a bit more chic than bunting. That should be the extent of my crafting this year, quite a few projects on the go.

We have a Lemax village which we add to every year so had a look at the garden centre, although it's dh's really (I just Hoover up the snow at the end). Bought a bottle brush tree and some tiny led star lights for the villagers!

I really should stop now. It's only October (I know that's swearing in here, but it really is.....)!!

I can't wait to see the fabric paper chain!

@GingerAndTheBiscuits : the idea of putting it in the oven is just to melt the fat. Once that's done: sorted!

Just keep giving it the odd stir while it's cooling.

I know it's late, given that we're halfway through October already, but can I ponce along please? I'm not hosting (never have; DPs and ILs have bigger houses ), but this is probably the first year that DD will be old enough for Christmas to mean anything, plus I was inspired by the Christmas wrapping thread. So I am planning:
-Present wrapping - adult presents wrapped in fabric (to be claimed back and re-used, and a stash built up year by year), the fabric to be plain jewel tones with contrasting patterned ribbons, and children's presents wrapped in brown paper and decorated like reindeer;
-felt stocking garland for advent, which I've got lots of felt for and will fill with chocolates/sweets/activities (eg a slip of paper with 'today we're seeing Father Christmas' on it);
-I want to start a tradition which I heard about on mn of taking DD shopping for a Christmas decoration of her choice to put on the tree;
-I'm going to make a gingerbread house (complete with melted boiled sweet windows) to take to DH's big extended family christmas meet up;

Also considering making something boozy to give to various hosts, but not sure what yet...

Ooh, and a wreath - DM taught me how to make foliage ones last year, but considering a bauble one for this year.

Fridge hopefully like this one, except these are my fabrics. We have a new house with a gentle hint of retro, so I'm hoping this will go with it!

Fabric wrapping - genius! I may have to explore this further

Ginger, google 'furoshiki' for ideas

I love the idea of fabric wrapping but isn't it terribly expensive? Or do you all just give very small, beautifully wrapped presents?

I've just made a couple of these as gifts. I don't want to post my actual ones in case the fabric outs me! Pretty sure one of my planned recipients is on MN.

Thenewaveragebear: those cards are lovely.

Musicform: are you sure they are sloes if there are no thorns? Damsons maybe?

It can be expensive if you buy specialist fabric and get new every year. I'm a miserly wench though, so will get cheap fabric (polycotton will do) and rootle around in my local fabric shops' bargain bins for scraps of fabric and ribbon to decorate, or get ribbons from ebay etc. Unless the gift recipient wants to keep the fabric (which they're more than welcome to do) I'll collect the wrappings afterwards and put them away for next year. My plan is that each year for a few years I will add to the wrapping stash using a different style or theme each year until I have a varied selection which I can put on rotation, replacing individual wrappings as they wear out.

Ann, those are fab!

That makes sense give. I suppose you could do a couple as 'props' for under the tree that look stunning but aren't real gifts..... I really really need to stop hanging out on this board.

Nigel's Christmas Chronicles has just arrived. I think I might die of poncetasticness

Ooooh Ann that's a great idea, I know what to make for my mum now.

I was wondering if I'd need to hem the wrapping paper if I plan on reusing it for several years.

For repeated use you need not only proper hemming but proper beautifully complementary bias binding.

Here's my first ten links.... I'm actually pretty pleased with it (I don't ponce often!), just another 30 to go!

Love it.

Love it thenewaverage

I'm currently feeling sick after eating the left over bits from the Nigella choc and pistachio fudge . Anyone got any good food gift presentation ideas?

I have had lovely cello bags off eBay/Amazon in the past: generally plain clear but with Christmassy designs e.g. snowflakes or gingerbreadmen. Either scrunch & ribbon (etc) or fold & sticker.

This year I have a crate of Kilner jars I may have mentioned them ten times already but I am that excited so no bags for me.

Depending on the person and the food (not helpful I know!), in pound land and other cheaper shops you can get little ceramic cooking dishes which you could use as hamper baskets covered over in cellophane- I did one for dsis a few years back with a Pyrex style cooking pot and some nice foodie bits from TKMaxx, but I'm sure would be nicer with your own homemade goodies!

Behold, my first ponce! Thank you for the inspiration fellow poncers! I bought some fancy jar cover things but they were too small. Harrumph. So I clearly will have to fashion some out of Christmas material myself.