Poncetastic 2020

[VivaJen]

I came on looking for the annual thread but can't find it so here is the start (courtesy of Fellatio - wherever you are)

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".

Mincemeat is done! 5 jars so might need to do some test mince pies at the weekend, purely for research purposes you understand...

@GoGoGone; I've been doing this one for several years.www.sainsburysmagazine.co.uk/recipes/chocolate/spiced-choc

How can I give these some oomph? Some kind of glaze perhaps but I don't want them
Shiny.

@tentative3

I feel your pain about the potential lockdown! I’m trying to think of other activities aside from paper chain making, baking, foraging and writing cards etc!

Write a list of treats to go in the foodbank and go shopping for them. Forgive me if that sounds terribly worthy, but OH and I do a foodbank shopping trip each year and actually really enjoy it! Painting your own baubles? Can you still get those kits where you melt something (I have no idea, some kind of crushed crystals from memory?) into shapes as decorations?

This is a lovely idea, thank you. We have a food bank very close to us that we donate too and I know DS in particular will enjoy the list making.

I’ve got a crystal growing kit and a few of those ‘melting’ craft kits (I knew what you meant!)

@SistemaAddict where did you get those wooden decorations? They look so cute and I could let the dc loose on a few. You could add a smidge of glitter?

@SistemaAddict

How can I give these some oomph? Some kind of glaze perhaps but I don't want them Shiny.

Dots of glitter glue? Red glittery nose for Rudolph. Gold for the tree to look like either baubles or tinsel. Silver dots around the star. Gold dots around the hearts etc.

EKKONG 100 Pieces Wooden Christmas Tree Decoration Set, Christmas Hanging Ornaments, Christmas Pendant, Hanging Tree Ornaments,Ornaments for Christmas, DIY Crafts (100 pcs) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07YSJ7XK9/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_EjGFFb34CKJ0T

Dc have been let loose. I bought metallic markers for decorating them but because they are wooden they have absorbed some of the colour so they are more dull than I wanted. I am stringing them on jute with frosted pine cones, cinnamon sticks, dried orange slices and festive ribbon.

First delivery of the poncetastic season arrived today, happy happy 🎄

@tentative3 I had forgotten all about those kits with the crystals! I used to love doing them. I wonder what they were called 🤔

[quote lucysmam]@tentative3 I had forgotten all about those kits with the crystals! I used to love doing them. I wonder what they were called 🤔[/quote]
Take-it-and-bake-it?

They were very popular here. I haven’t seen them for ages

I am a newbie to poncing, but need help already!

I had a load of crab apples from the garden that I thought I could dry out in the oven so I could turn them into some kind of decoration with my pine cones. I kept the heat low but unfortunately they all just burst into a mush. Any ideas how else I could dry them out?

Lucysmam, their official name is Makit & Bakit and there are lots on Amazon and Ebay.

Anyone here make their own crackers? Any tips for a newbie this year.

@SistemaAddict maybe a thin coat of 50:50 pva/water would give them a slight gleam to lift the flat matt finish.

I’m thinking that a pearlescent spray might be nice but I’ve only ever used the food spray for fondant. I’m sure there’s a craft equivalent but I’ve no idea whether it would look ok.

@TrickyD thank you! I'd never have remembered; I'm off for a browse

If you have someone who's gluten free I can highly recommend this www.nigella.com/recipes/christmas-spiced-chocolate-cake it's fab even for gluten eaters.

@sueelleker thanks that looks delicious. Do you think the fancy tin is essential or can I get away with a normal one?

Although it does remind me that I have been jonesing for the Nordic spruce tin from nigellas vanilla cake for years and haven't quite been able to justify it. Maybe this is the year!

Maybe a coat of clear nail polish on the wooden decorations? Don't know if that will be too shiny though?

@GoGogone; I don't know-I already had a bundt tin, so I used it. The cake isn't too heavy, so an ordinary tin would probably be OK.

Oh my, those Nordic tins! 🥰 I have cake tin lust!

That cake looks fab.

Anyone got a favourite gluten free Christmas pudding recipe please?

Could you just substitute GF flour in the recipe? And use GF breadcrumbs.

I think you are right Sue. Will give it a go.

Thinking about it, I might use spelt?

@BletheringHeights

Hurricane vases .

I found this hurricane glass style vase on ikea:

www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/pomp-vase-lantern-clear-glass-70109817/

Was going to get one of those, and maybe look at their wrapping paper too.