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".

^

My mum is also allergic to mushrooms!

I made more chilli jam last night, though our homegrown chillies aren't ripening very fast now it's almost December. I had to put 50% shop bought in (though they're needed to temper the Scotch Bonnets anyway!).

I love all of those greetings cards. I so wish I was artistic.

Ex dil is terrible with shitake mushrooms (she gets covered in awful eczema) she's ok with the others though.

Ppeatfruit
Sorry . Paperwhite Narcissus , lovely scent and easy to grow on pebbles .

I have taken delivery of a glue gun! Can anyone give me ideas what to do with it??? I have always wanted one but now that it is here, I have no ideas!

Mine is literally my new favourite toy. I kicked my robovac into the corner when glue gun arrived!
I've seen some cute snowflake things where you trace a snowflake, or any design onto acetate with the glue. When it sets you peel it off and you have created a little plastic shape. You can then use them for stencilling onto your cards or onto brown paper to make wrapping paper. We're trying this at the weekend!!

littlecraftcorner.wordpress.com/2016/12/02/hot-glue-snowflakes/amp/

diyjoy.com/hot-glue-gun-crafts-ideas#

Wow! Fab links and fab ideas -thank you! I had no idea!

Think we might do snowmen not snowflakes though, the snowflakes look like they need a steady hand!

I want to use my toy glue gun when I make a cinnamon sticks candle holder.

Also used it to uhm, glue, the feathers on a wreath. It's a lot easier to use than glue, but I'm bloody glad I got the cool version rather than hot as I'm clumsy.

Wooooooo hoooooo!! Just finished DC1 advent calendar .

It has taken sooo long to sew all the pieces.

Now just to finish DC2's

Love my glue gun by the way. Used it to glue my pinecones onto a wreath!

Wow, SallyLockhart, that's gorgeous!

Thanks Trumpton They're really LOVELY what a good idea. I've planted up half my hyacinth bulbs (and am overwintering the pelargoniums) on the terrace.

But I've got to take it easy because I sprained my back ,doing gardening of course! . So doing the planting in stages!

Wow that is lovely sallyLockhart

I've done some more Christmas cards

All the lovely photos on this thread make me feel snuggly and festive. Love the Poncetastic quiche!

I pinned this checklist of photos to take over Christmas today and I am looking forward to completing it (as far as a HathChristmas permits - some of it is a bit too American so needs substituting).

I made a vegan spiced cake that was too wet so I have now cut it up and dried it out (like biscuits) in the oven.

The spicing is amazing I've never done it before , you put whole cloves, half a nutmeg, and cardamom seeds in a grinder with some flaked almonds. I also have cut up whole vanilla pods and soaked them in olive oil. I Just leave the jar in a cool cupboard (Because I don't like the stuff they put in the ready made vanilla essence) It's amazing!

I won't use so many cloves next time it's a bit strong! I'l use them in mulled wine too (I hate the pepper so I have to make my own mulled wine mix too.

The cards and the advent calendar are really lovely! I want to make some more cards or do something with my glue gun but I am laid low with a flu type virus that has made its way through the family one by one. Me and ds2 have it at the moment and I am too tired to do anything.

My plans for once I am better though is to make some of these pinwheel cookies as a practice before Christmas. I plan to make one set of red and one set of green. I found these amazing essence drops on Ocado here in mulled wine flavour for the red and lime flavour for the green!

Does anyone have a good recipe for easy Christmas biscuits? I want to do some with my almost 3 year old. And also a good salt dough recipe please! xx

I've been busy crafting today. I'm doing a craft night/social for some of the mums from school, so I'm thinking of a few simple but effective card ideas to show them. We're also going to make snow scene jam jars and little bobble hat decorations. These are my cards so far! Paper craft isn't really my forte so I'm quite pleased with these!

mrshathaway that is some list - I get all British and shudder at the though of kissing h under mistletoe whilst one of my family take a picture 😂
wiifitmama get better soon. Those pinwheel cookies look good but my baking cupboard is too traditional!
ppeatfruit have you a link to the cake ?
cutesbababear I read on this board somewhere that Nigella does a good cut cookie recipe on her website.
newwave they look lovely - I wish my boys school did that kind of social!

Mrs pear it's not a school run social, it's just me and a few friends. I've been hugely coerced into it since doing a sewing machine workshop after some friends said they couldn't use theirs properly- and now they seem to think I am some WI type/kirstie allsop! It should be fun though, few glasses of wine, nibbles, few crafts.

Sounds a lovely evening thenewwave

Been round the German market here yesterday, got lots of poncey ideas and a few stocking fillers for DP!

Wow Hairspray I'm super envious! We have a French Christmas market here but it won't start till mid December and then only runs for a few days