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 saw the measurements for making your own Moravian strips, somewhere , probably on YouTube. The important thing seemed to be using paper coloured on both sides as both would be visible.

Just found it, 1/2 inch by 12 inches or 1inch by 24.

Yes, you can make your own, but especially when you’re first learning it’s a lot easier to do it with the pre-prepared strips - the paper is of a good thickness, and they are very precisely cut. If they’re crooked or not all identical it makes it a lot harder, and they won’t look as nice.

The measurements depend on how small or large you want them, and the length to width ratio needs to be correct.

If you have some good thick paper (but not too thick) it would be easy enough to mark out the strips yourself. A guillotine would make it a lot easier!

That is a very good point about the need for precision cutting and a guillotine being useful. I was tempted to have a go, but am reconsidering.

Catching up here with a lovely cup of tea. This is one of my favourite threads. But I have to ask why there are so many shy and apologetic poncers!? It’s not about the skill level (though it’s inspiring to see some of the amazing pictures that are posted) but the effort made in all sorts of little ways that people, who don’t get it, wouldn’t ever think to do. Poncing, imo, is a mindset rather than an ability level, so it all counts!

And now I’ll step down off the soapbox!

Tricky I’m sure it would be fine if you have the patience to mark out the strips and cut them with scissors - you could always make enough for one or two stars and see how you like it - then you will also be able to judge whether you have the right thickness of paper. Printer paper is too thin for sure.

I agree with you lego - poncing, as I understand it, is definitely about attitude and approach. My reason/excuse for any caveats I’ve led with here and there is that I’m a terrible, terrible perfectionist with a head full of ideas but I’m also rather lazy and quite easily stressed out by pressure so I’m usually quite apologetic to myself for falling short of very high expectations... In reality though im happy enough even if half my ideas never come to fruition, because I love the cosiness of planning them.

In any case, I love these threads too and always read along every Christmas but other than a brief dip into one a few years ago I usually just lurk.

This year I am not working so I will have more time for poncing, which is lovely!

HollyAndIvy she's not far off 11. She does get frustrated easily & doubts her abilities to do things.

I’m a terrible, terrible perfectionist with a head full of ideas but I’m also rather lazy and quite easily stressed out by pressure so I’m usually quite apologetic to myself for falling short of very high expectations

Oh that sounds so familiar 😂

She’ll be fine! Provided you use the tutorial I posted, which is very easy and makes it clear exactly what you need to do, she should be able to follow along (some of them are not nearly as good and make it way too complicated). I remember doing them at about eight or so.

Once she has done two or three, or maybe a few more, she probably won’t even need to follow the tutorial, she will be able to do it without referring to the instructions. If she likes methodical, repetitive actions it will suit her very well. I find it quite meditative once I am in the swing of it...

TrickyD to make it even easier it really doesn’t actually matter if you have one sided patterned paper, as long as you’re happy with some variance in the pattern. They also look just as nice made out of a coloured, non-patterned paper (especially white, red, or silver).

Was supposed to say gold in there as well!

Not diy poncing but I've got &ss=e&v=1.0 this advent calendar for myself on the way. I'm looking forward to putting it up...somewhere! I gave up on my advent house idea to go on the empty cabinet. Might have to have [https://hattifant.com/christmas-town-advent-calendar-to-color/ the Hattifant one]] for next year though. I've really wanted it since I saw it last year.

Oooh my second link went sooo wrong there!

hattifant.com/christmas-town-advent-calendar-to-color/ hattifant one

I am thinking about decorating the transom window with a stained glass-y drawing (happily up quite high so forgiving for people like me who don’t draw much.) I was thinking about using DS’s washable markers but I’m worried they’re not so washable as all that. Has anyone else tried that sort of thing?

So I jarred my mincemeat on Thursday and ordered some bits for poncing and then dramatically went into labour at 38 weeks at 1 am on Friday, and baby was here just before midnight last night! Cannot wait to go and choose the Christmas tree with our new daughter!

@WisestIsShe

Oh those paper chains are lovely *@hintofvintagepink*.

Thank you!

@TheWoollybacksWife

Did you use a punch to create the fancy edge hintofvintagepink? They're lovely.

Yes it’s one from Dovecraft that I’ve had for a few years. We’ve got a few punchers which are great fun for the DCs. We have some very original paper chain patterns going on, let’s just say that!

@RestorationInsanity

So I jarred my mincemeat on Thursday and ordered some bits for poncing and then dramatically went into labour at 38 weeks at 1 am on Friday, and baby was here just before midnight last night! Cannot wait to go and choose the Christmas tree with our new daughter!

Wow congratulations!! I think you may win the Poncetastic thread for the best creation this year x

Many congratulations @RestorationInsanity How considerate of her to wait until you had finished your mincemeat, too!

 congratulations @RestorationInsanity!

I've been lurking on the poncetastic threads for years - I see myself more as an armchair poncer than an active one... I love all the ideas but there never seems to be enough time in the run-up to Christmas. Maybe I need to start sooner? In fact, maybe I'll get ahead on Christmas 2021!

I might have to get that hattifant advent calendar - would you colour it all in advance, or a bit every day for advent?

Massive congratulations RestorationInsanity! Enjoy picking your tree with your baby

What wonderful news RestorationInsanity!. Very best wishes to you and your daughter. 👏💕

SocraticCat I think I'd do it beforehand; I have more time around now than in the run up to Christmas (usually between 2 jobs and the chaos that is primary school run up to Christmas, as well as our own stuff to do). This year...I have oodles of time though which has been lovely for crafting with dd2 (and sometimes 1 when she emerges from her pit ) and doing things I want to as well.

@RestorationInsanity what wonderful news!! Having a small baby at Christmas is a wonderful thing!

And I agree, you definitely win this year’s prize for most lovely creation on the thread!