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".

I too have spent the summer on a building site !
3000 bricks had to replaced on the gable wall, chimneys down , re- roofed , kitchen ceiling comes down soon . I asked the ( lovely ) builder for a time line and he said 23rd December looked good to him !
I was quite rude in my reply.
I have an 8 inch hole in my bedroom wall stuffed with carrier bags where they took an old gas flue out .
My craft room has been made into an office for dd who moved back from London in March .
I want my house back so I can ponce properly !

@Trumpton...I'm very late to ask, but does growing the bulbs in a hurricane lamp/vase affair stop the plants flopping over? Are the flowers inside too, or do they peek out of the top?
So many questions lol!

@Boholady
The hurricane vase certainly helps to stop the “ flop” but the best thing of all is feeding them gin !

Cornell university did a study and replacing the water with diluted gin 1 to 8 ratio reduces the height of the greenery whilst not affecting the flowers !
The study is HERE

@Trumpton I have a very similar hole in one wall but mine is stuffed with cheap ikea fleece with a bucket underneath !

The roofer just came and has said he'll comenback tomorrow with a bigger ladder, bit from what he can see he thinks the whole thing needs redoing. So no craft room for the foreseeable future.

@LaChatte
Oh buggeration !

Not that it will stop me poncing though! DH broke another cup today (he's broken 2 bowls and 2 cups in the past month), so I'm now allowed to make some more! I'm thinking about maybe making matching napkin rings for the xmas table, but I haven't decided on this year's colour scheme yet.

Thank you for the explanation @Trumpton

I think I will try next year!

One of my narcissi is starting to sprout, just a tip of green out of the bulb. Does anyone know if I should bring them in seeing as Christmas is only 2 months away?

@SistemaAddict. Much too early ! Keep them cool until at least mid November . I don’t start mine until 11th November .
But they are fabulous whenever they flower !

Every year I have a theme in the sun room where 10 of us eat dinner ( no restrictions on numbers here )
This year I am going for log cabin chic ! ( poncetastic enough ?)
So like this ....

Bunting will be crisscrossed with fairy lights and made from a hunting tartan .

Just need the builders to get out of my way and I can wallpaper . I treat it like a stage set , it only takes me a morning to wallpaper one full wall and two dwarf walls .... I have been known to do it I’m my pjs but DH is retired now and does not approve of my slapdash ways !

Ooh I like to see your sunroom theme Trumpton That looks really great.

I spent Sunday morning painting, cutting in wearing dressing gown and slippers. We have painted the porch and hall and one zingy mustard wall in dining/sitting room.

DH doesn’t realise it but it is all part of my Christmas prep.

Also wanted to add that for all those with very young children, don’t get disheartened if the poncing is limited and child focussed. It’s great.

When mine were small I was limited to putting hoover round, chucking some white company Christmas scent onto the tree branches, gathering some greenery with kids and loosely arranging on table/mantelpiece and very occasionally making Christmas pudding but usually not. Oh and stringing up home made snowflakes cut out of paper.

White Company scent

www.thesprucecrafts.com/amazing-snowflake-templates-1356264

Snow flake ideas

Hang on a sec @Trumpton are you saying you re-paper the walls each year for xmas ?

These are my favourites . I certainly did them with 7 year olds at school one year .

I can also recommend this gingerbread recipe, recommended here I think. It’s pretty easy to handle.

I usually don’t ice them or make it into bunting, they just go straight into biscuit jar and get eaten by teens but I might do so this year.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/gingerbread-bunting

Yes LaChatte be in awe of Trumpton a different theme every year.

Go on Trumpton share some themes and take a bow 🙇‍♀️

@Canklesforankles thanks for the snowflake link. I've saved it to do some with dd2 for the front windows (and probably hers too).

I have pastry problems . I have several bags of SR that Grandad picks up whenever he goes shopping, "just in case", but only one bag of (what looks to be) Polish cake flour. I've been wondering since yesterday whether to use it or see if my usually well stocked work friend has a bag I can pinch & replace 🤔

I'm just about to start another snowflake before work. I might even get round to making up a couple of the little advent calendar houses this afternoon too.

@Trumpton I'd love to see pics too! Maybe it'll help me with what to do with my kitchen. I've no idea where to start in here but would like it to be festive!

It’s a bit rough and ready .
Last year I had help to paint as I had been diagnosed with btpreast cancer in the summer and was bravely plodding on (!)
All ok now .

Cakes by DD . She took over years ago appalled by my icing !

Last years cake and idea for this years ...log cabin

Trumpton I love last years cake! What were the trees made from?? I'm not sure what to do with mine yet 🤔

I bought myself a small present on my shop today...

The trees on last years cake were piped and flooded . They were very delicate . I don’t know if dd added anything to the royal icing . I don’t think so . Then just wire lights threaded round .

Ahem ......I just wrapped a present ... well it’s an empty box but I wanted to learn the technique! Only took me about 30 mins . But I understand it now .

@lucysmam
That glass is astonishing!

Wow trumpton! I'd love to do that- do you have a guide/ instruction?