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 love those reindeer decorations. What are they made from? I wrapped my first Christmas presents today as we are seeing relatives next week and will pass them on. Felt very festive!

I also did another two Christmas cards today as pictured.

Wii they are made from little plywood cut out reindeers from the works, two sandwiched together and painted.

Loving the crochet wreath!

These are some ceramic decorations I made last year, looking forward to getting them out on the 1st of December.

And my little Christmas pud salt and pepper shakers. Not sure if I'll have time to do anything for this year (between making, drying, bisk firing, glazing and firing again it takes bloody ages when you can only do two hours a week, very frustrating).

WOW! Gorgeous handwork.

Right am now feeling very inspired. Have even dug my amazon parcel from the recycling and folded up the brown paper.

Current plans include fudge, christmas cake (but which one), damson voddy as have had some on freezer for ages, rhubarb gin maybe, gingerbread men. Will also make cards and gift tags.

It is a bit of a shame that I am on the low carb bootcamp but I guess it will stop me eating all the potential presents. I also have some nice fake kilner jars from Aldi which may become sweetie receptacles.

I have already finished some christmas knitting of socks but that isn't very poncey really.

Done my arancello this morning & started personalising the stockings over the weekend (which was a project I intended to do last year & never got round to!!)
Next tasks after that are card making & gift wrapping...

Made spiced arancello and candy cane vodka this weekend, and did a huge inventory of everything else I need to do/make....

Will be making some lime, prosecco and passionfruit jelly later in the week and will finish writing up my cook book/round robin for this year.

I love this thread! You are all so talented. Don't host and can't sew, knot or crochet. But I do paper crafts and get out Christmas recipes. I'm going to make a non alcohol fed Christmas cake and the Nigella cut cookie mentioned up thread - I'll ice them simply with the white icing pen. Also gingerbread men - boys won't be happy if we don't make them. oh and sausage rolls.

This week is wrapping - done 2 x teacher gifts today. Must crack on!

I'm in practice mode, so I had my first go at making macarons, I'll make them again for when we have people over.

The things people are producing are beautiful, thanks for being such an inspiring bunch!

@FridgeCut they look amazing! I always want to have a go but everything I have read about them makes them out to be impossibly difficult.

If you can make meringue and pipe in a reasonable circle then you'll be fine. They really weren't that tricky really. I did wedge the oven door open a crack with a wooden spoon to stop humidity.

Made some little wooden snowmen today. I have my first craft fair on Sunday, to sell my ribbons and a few other bits and bobs, so these and the reindeer ones are to sell. I might keep one! Another five to do in red and green, and then I'm done, at least until I've actually sold some.

Lidl today had some lovely Christmas card stuff in, I bought a book of printed papers for £2.99 and they had other bits too.

I've tried making macarons on several occasions, I managed a few times, but every time I tried chocolate ones they failed, they are now known as shitskits in the house, because they really did look like poop.

Love the wrapping pear where are the boxes from?

Good luck with the craft fair newaverage I would definitely buy those snowmen!

I didn't find macarons too difficult - as long as you have plenty of time, no distractions and a good recipe!

DM is taking me to IKEA this weekend, will be buying lots of plain paper for block printing onto and then using for wrapping!

Love the snow men and macarons - although my piping is very dodgy so may be one to try for hilarity!
sallylockhartsdog the paper is last year's stampin up. I made the boxes - they are baker boxes.

Oh and good luck newaverage

Oh and here are my cards for this year, have been making them in the evening with DM

plus 1 more for good measure!

Well finished boxes and did my tags

Christmas and thank you cards next.

Having to be frugal this year and use up stuff. But I thinking black and white with silver for family.

Lovely cards hairspray I am no where as near talented as you and wiifitmama - mine are very much stamp and go

Hairspray - I got my paper from Ikea again this year. They have some really lovely things! ... including printed brown paper and pretty seasonal stencils. Have a good look and rummage before you commit yourself to lots of work.

I've been doing a bazillion crochet snowflakes and other seasonal shapes, all of which need blocking. I probably have another dozen or so to do but I've run out of snowflake patterns (for added ponce they are of course all different) so they will be all "others". The stocking was difficult and the mittens took years off my life but I love the stag and will do more angels as well.

I was planning on doing two x2m rolls of repeating patterns to work as an accent paper with a plain and a copper and gold one I spied in card factory earlier this week... I like to wrap in several different colours and papers that look nice together, makes it look like I have had lots of different things from many people... I am a child!