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".

^

Still loving this thread although feeling very inadequate! Haven't even made a cake this year. Very tempted by the cranberry and clementine gin though. Might give that a go.

We got all our decorations down yesterday and I have started decorating the house but basically just got boxes into the right rooms so far.

DH doing the outside lights tomorrow. We did have tasteful warm white ones but he replaced them last year and the new ones are not as nice.

Last year we had a little real tree in the hall and I had want d to make little white salt dough decorations for it but of course never got around to it. Then I bought bags of cotton balls to thread and then wind around the tree but never did that either! Found the bags of cotton balls yesterday so might try that. The tree has been in th garden all year and we will bring it in again this year.

thenewaveragebear - I have done a couple of Xmas cakes like that. They are what my grandmother used to do. I think I still have some of the little decorations. And a foil wrap. And my parents used to have some of those foil decorations- I think my dad still has some.

I'm Irish and years ago my grandmother 'sent away to England' for some amazing foil decorations. They were purple and gold and silver and hung from the ceiling. Proper crackly foil not the really soft stuff. I loved them.

I have the Lakeland version of the Christmas tree biscuit mould but have never made it.

thenewaveragebear1983 Yup, and quite squishy to touch.

My mum had some absolutely fabulous hand painted baubles she bought from abroad (the USSR so a while ago!), but one of our dogs destroyed a lot of them .

I have started doing my cards , so very behind ! I would like to get them finished this week .
Paperwhite bulbs are being sulky this year , I might ask Unwins if they have any tips .

Oooh those are lovely, Trumpton. Are the map places significant or was it "what you had in"?

I photocopied maps I had in and then cut out tree shapes . They sit proud of the background are are edged in Stickles glitter glue . The tiny lights were from Paperchase and were what I built the design around .

Further poncing round here,

Tree (plastic) sadly, we don't drive

Mittens I made a few years ago

Brown sugar meringues for the hampers

Today I used old boxes, brown paper, tissue paper, metallic Sharpies, pipe cleaners and Quality Street wrappers to make prop gold, frankincense and myrrh for the school nativity.

thenewaveragebear1983 I'm a lurker but I have the cake decorations, minus the foil wrap! Bought them in a cook shop years ago and use them every year. The only way to decorate a cake as far as I'm concerned!

Finished some cups as presents, and a load of buttons to sell at our pottery Christmas sale (benefits go to the pottery association). Going to stir up the pudding tingly and steam tomorrow, only slightly behind schedule

Tingly? Tonight, stupid tablet.

I've rescued a box of 1970s foil chains from my mother's attic and they are fabulous. They are a little brittle so I should probably donate them to a museum instead of risking them on my ceiling but I can't help myself.

I know that there is a back lit grinning santa head up there somewhere too but I can't find it

I'm really loving the retro look (now that I've got sufficient distance from my childhood and bored myself sufficiently with good taste) but I want real stuff rather than imitation.

Trumpton the map-trees are fabulous.

It's St Nick here so we've polished some boots shoes and put sweets and satsumas in , very similar what you'd get in a stocking over here really.

Also, he will get a huge IKEA shark plushie and some finger puppets, not to mention we'll finally be decorating the tree and house. So excited!

CheshireChat - we used to live in Hungary and St Miklaus visits today and leaves sweets etc in shoes too. Or sticks if you've been naughty. DS is 16 now and probably forgets as he was 10 when we left but I remembered this year and have put chocolate in his shoes. He's off school and hasn't noticed yet.

I'm now in the UK, but obviously want to get him used to it, he seemed a bit puzzled when I told him we have to put the boots out. Trying to persuade him it's not Christmas.

Have been having a go at the pva/ cornflour decoratiins. Took a bit of experimenting to get the dough just right! These are my daughters with a red button pressed in

Wet pleased with my homemade baubles
Glass baubles filled with some of my nail polish stash that I like but don't/won't wear.

Rainbow they are fabulous!! Can't believe they have come out so well. How did you do them?

The baubles look great. I tried doing similar with paint but it didn't work very well. Nail varnish is inspired!
I love the little red buttons Funny. Simple and very effective

Great poncing going on in the past week since I last read the thread. I an making felt ornaments as I have decided that a second tree will be needed. Only have four so far but hope to make several more before tree time this weekend.

rainin are you sewing the felt ornaments?.... would love to see a picture!

Here's my wreath!....

I went and collected it all from local forest.... felt naughty!!

I'm also knitting fingerless gloves for sister and mum.

Thinking of making bird feeders for mil.

@SallyLockhartsDog just poured the polish in (you need the best part of a whole bottle) swirled it round and left upside down to dry (into a foil lined container).
Holographic polish took about 12 hours to dry, glitter was nearly 24. Thicker polish worked better but is more of a bugger to coat the inside.

Very pleased with the results!

Pooop, yes sewing them. Will take a snap later. Have five now.

Here is a picture of what I have so far...

Wow! They're fab!!