Poncetastic Christmas 2021

[VivaJen]

Welcome to the 2021 Poncetastic thread. With a nod to Fellatio (wherever she is), at the stroke of midnight, let the poncing commence.

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.

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 jobs worth 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 canapés 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 Bessie’s' on the packet, this is not the thread for you".

Do any of you make panettone over the Christmas season? There's a simple looking recipe in the mag I picked up but it says you need a panettone tin - could I just use a round cake tin?

I’ve never made one - we buy a pandoro every year because we like it to be a plain cake. I guess you probably could make it in a cake tin but you’d have to adjust baking times I suppose. Otherwise you might be able to find a tin on eBay.

Or you could do these @lucysmam!

Mini Panettone

Phone won’t let me quote, but ref the question re brown paper, I’ve just tried stamping
Penguin stamp from Artcuts (LOVE that site)
Other stamp, not sure where from
Ink pads cheap as chips from hobbycraft

I’m feeling a bit Meh at the moment, so planning adding a bit of poncetastic to my Christmas planning.
I had a play with gift bags yesterday, the front one has a little seaglass jar charm

They look nice Holly, and just the right size for pack ups too!

I'll have a mooch on ebay for a second hand tin but don't think I'd use it much in reality.

@WorriedMillie oooh I’ve not heard of artcuts- will definitely go a-mooching there

I really like the idea of getting the artcuts wooden baubles with a couple of the snowflake stamps and then using them as gift tags which can then be used as an "extra Christmas gift" which can then be hung on the tree.

In reality worried that the time and effort will not be appreciated and the stress of me being creative

I’m thinking of doing artcuts tags/tree decs too, but also worry they’d get binned!

I’ve got a fire writing pen thingy, so could personalise them….

Last year off Etsy what went down well we're Christmas cards with a glass Christmas tree as the picture so that you could keep the tree and use it as a bauble. I might expand on that idea and use as gift tag trinkets instead

I love those fused glass Christmas trees
My problem is that I want to try and make things myself, I get all inspired, then get frazzled/run out of time
I’m definitely starting earlier this year!

@DanceWithYourBalloon and @lucysmam thank you both, I might have a stab soon as a change from knitting.
I’ve finished the 24 little pockets for the advent calendar and am just starting on the backing which is tree shaped

@lucysmam thank you for posting that photo! I’ve walked right past those exact paints at least twice in different shops today 🤦‍♀️

@TheWoollybacksWife I quite like the sound of gingerbread punks but it’s not quite the aesthetic I’m aiming for this year 😂

They do dry slightly raised, I've used them for 3d pictures for the girls in the past & we've used them with our Guides too. Poundland's the cheapest I've seen them on sale.

*I'm a novice crocheter and I found it ok. I had to watch the video and stop it for each step, but soon picked up speed. smile

This is the one I found on last years thread:*

blog.expressionfiberarts.com/2016/01/02/how-to-crochet-a-snowflake/

Thankyou SO MUCH @DanceWithYourBalloon

Two years ago I made loads of snowflakes with this pattern and then couldn't fot the life of me fine it again. Thank you thank you!

My poncetastic plans for the weekend were ruined by bloody DS. The family thought me saying Christmas was now in jeopardy a tad dramatic but am hoping to get back on track this weekend coming.

I did manage to get the fruit soaking and a quick trip to Ikea for some extra jars and bottles and picked up Good Housekeeping Christmas issue. It was in a pack with Country Living which had some interesting ideas for the more green fingered among you.

I've been thinking about the table-scaping and am wondering if a winter scene under a glass cloche would be charming or sinister? Has anyone done this?

I’m in awe of all of you crafty people. Again. I’ve tried being crafty in the past but am pretty rubbish really.

So far my Poncetastic preparations amount to having bought marmalade for the marmalade gin. And some ingredients for the cake.

I need to hunt out our Kilner jars and bottles and buy some gin and get that underway.

Then I need to get everything for the cake and get that going.

Been spending a lot of time on Pinterest looking at ideas for the kitchen window and the table on Xmas day.

Love the idea of your tablescape @RubyFakeLips. I’m struggling with our table as we always put the food in the centre so don’t have much room really.

@DanceWithYourBalloon these are my DK snowflakes from the Bella Coco video, this one is plain white because I done it after I found the glitz yarn leftover from a stocking I knitted last year.

@WorriedMillie I really love your penguin paper ☺️

@Peridot1 I’m ok with being crafty but rubbish at everything else.

@Peridot1 We did used to have the food on the table ( I hate a set portion) and I would snake a garland and some candles down the middle with some baubles dotted around.

But as we host a large group, purely for logistical reasons we started setting up a sideboard with the food on. Now luckily have a large kitchen Island/bench so I like to go OTT with the table but I did think it looked very effective with the garland and the food together.

I should say I'm thinking more animals, or gingerbread houses and fir trees than Mary & Joseph. As I'm Jewish, a nativity scene would be a little odd!

@RubyFakeLips - I think that’s what I’ll do. I’ve got a couple of lit ivy garlands in my Amazon basket and was thinking those with some tea lights in holders might work.

Re your cloche ideas I just looked at Christmas tablescapes cloche on Pinterest and there are some nice ideas.

Had a little play with my new stamps today. Am really happy with them although I think I need a bit more work on my angles/designs!

I think a snow scene under a cloche will look lovely. Definitely give that a try

SleighQueen your stamping looks amazing can't believe it's just you having a bit of a play, I could only dream of my best efforts looking anything like that

@WorriedMillie

I love those fused glass Christmas trees My problem is that I want to try and make things myself, I get all inspired, then get frazzled/run out of time I’m definitely starting earlier this year!

That's exactly how I feel, and the more frazzled I get the less pleasure I get out of it all, which defeats the point somehow.

I love being poncey at Christmas but I don't have much of an artistic side. However, I am loving all the creative pictures and the baking & cooking recipes as I do love to cook and bake things especially at Christmas