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".

Recipes look like either shortbread or gingerbread would work?

recipes.csrsugar.com.au/recipe-items/shortbread-christmas-tree/

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/gingerbread-star-tree

Now I want to make one

@Trumpton mum has decided she'd like paper whites can you recommend where to buy them please? She thinks it's not possible as thinks she needs bulb fibre but thanks to your posts I know better and can surprise her with them

@SistemaAddict
Oh bless you . What a lovely idea for her.
I got this years from Sarah Raven and they look lovely quality .
Let me know if you want link on best way to grow and how to feed them gin to stunt the greenery to prevent the flop ( ooer missus ) without stunting the flowers .

The recipes look fine Cankles but not the instructions on the gingerbread one where it tells you to cut out the stars out in descending order which I assume means largest first.

I use the Lakeland set of 10 cutters. They advise cutting two of each size.

You need to start with the smallest, then go 2 by 2 until you reach the last cutter, which is surprisingly big. If you haven’t enough dough left for the very last, it won’t matter much and will not be noticeable.

But if you start with the largest and then run out before you get to the top of the tree it will look very sad.

I've had a few days off work and have dug out my Christmas crafts to see what I've made / what's still to do. I've posted some pics - all crochet. Not convinced with the snowman - the head and buttons aren't aligned right but it's for my 2yo niece so I'm sure she won't care.

lucysmam you inspired me to dig out a snowflake garland I made a few years ago.
If you're not happy with the way they're turning out, tie them together into a garland - they don't hang flat so little flaws are hidden.

Plan for this afternoon is to finish the tree - I have some mini Pom poms, beads and ribbon put aside, I'm just not quite sure which to use and how to to it just yet..

My second bit of poncing for the week - added fairy lights to the staircase. Usually would do this at the start of November to add some cheer and cosiness once the clocks have gone back, but decided to go early this year. It’ll make me happy every evening when the darkness rolls in.

Right, lockdown started this morning here, makes shopping for xmas stuff complicated. Going to do a food shop later and will get ingredients to make Christmas pudding on Sunday before we all go back to work/school (no wfh for us).

@CrazyBaubles where are your snowflake patterns from? Some different ones would be good to add maybe!

• adding fairy lights to stairs... Lovely idea? How did you fix them. Last year I wove some around our stairs, and turned hall way lights off it was so beautiful.

Really gave an extra special air, I'm not sure about loosing that impact by doing it now though... Very tempting!

I’ll add paper stars and possibly other decorations as well in December to make it feel more Christmassy, and also to add to the impact it makes as we will obviously be very used to seeing it by that time.

I just wound the fairy lights in and out every second baluster.

What a lovely thread. I'm very stressed about something and reading this thread has given me a respite, thank you!

While I am here, could I ask a question? I have a blank piece of wall in my sitting room, and every year I wish I had 'something Christmassy' to hang there. But I can never think of what to put there. Any suggestions?

@Noideawottodo maybe a pre-lit wreath or a wall hanging or a framed Christmas cross stitch picture. Obviously for maximum ponce you should create it yourself alternatively places like Etsy or Not on the High Street will have crafted stuff or maybe Cox and Cox or The Range (depending on your budget) for artificial wreaths

Will a wreath look weird inside? I'm feeling awful now I didn't sign up to the local wreath making day with pheasant feathers and everything!

We don't have spindles on our stairs, so I use command hooks under the handrail to attach lights to.

Wreaths on the wall are quite trendy at the moment as far as I can tell but fresh ones don’t last more than a few days, maybe a week, inside in the warmth so I’d just use a good fake one and then you’ll have it from year to year. I like the eucalyptus one that Cox&Cox have got this year.

One of these Noidea ?
I think someone has made one up thread.

I found most of the snowflake patterns on Pinterest - the ones I saved were:
snowflake1

snowflake2

snowflake3

I finished my mini tree for MIL. Quite happy with it. Back to cross stitch for a while (I have a Christmas one on the go but I'm very slow at it so it's slow going)

noidea I hang a tiny wicker wreath inside (and once I finish my crochet one that'll hang inside too).
The other option is a Christmas picture, cross stitch or wall hanging (again, making a crochet one is on my never ending to do list).

Sorry, the start of that message was for @lucysmam

@Ninkanink

Wreaths on the wall are quite trendy at the moment as far as I can tell but fresh ones don’t last more than a few days, maybe a week, inside in the warmth so I’d just use a good fake one and then you’ll have it from year to year. I like the eucalyptus one that Cox&Cox have got this year.

It's perfect! Thank you Poncers xx

Why have one wreath when you could have seven?

@CrazyBaubles thank you. I think I need more practise but might have a go at the first two over the weekend if I get chance.

That’s not my wall by the way. I just saw it on Pinterest. I add sprigs of fresh greenery to my fake garlands and wreaths every few days. They look lovely and lush and smell gorgeous. Total cheat but it works well.

I know I have white wool up in the attic somewhere and you lot have got me excited to try a snowflake. That garland is fabulous. I’m sure I’ll end up hiding my attempts in a drawer or flinging the hook in frustration

@thelegohooverer do not get frustrated & chuck the hook!! My latest attempt has an extra point in one of the cluster bits; goodness knows how that happened but I'm not pulling this one.

I’ve found my people! settles in for Christmassy goodness I started my poncetastic Christmas today by getting the sloe gin on the go. I know, I know, it’s really late but I’m not sure where October went!

thelego lucysmam is right, give a snowflake a go but don't get too frustrated. Keep your attempts, there's usually a use for them (Chuck them on the tree / on presents).
If you get stuck post here, there are a fair few cricketers who will help.

Also, love the idea of those wreaths!