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".

I subscribe to Readly app and there are lots of Christmas magazines on it. Worth it for December alone

@SleighQueen I got the holly and berries stamps and red and green ink pads. I liked that they were separate stamps and I don't need to try and get 2 colours on 1 stamp. I'm going to stamp the corners of envelopes
And I'm so happy!

@HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule I was doing so well stopping myself from buying the personalised envelope embosser and then crumbled when I saw the pretty stamps! 🎄

@Trumpton I'm so glad you reminded me about this. I just downloaded my library's one (they use PressReader) and not only can I get UK ones but there is the American Good Housekeeping which I love (brings back lovely holiday memories)

@VivaJen yeah that is a really good idea isn't it. Saved much faffing around with Dabbers.

@DanceWithYourBalloon all the stamps are from noolibird.com. (Also has an Etsy and not on the highstreet shop). I take no responsibility for any subsequent spending

Omg I love this thread! Ordered some patterns to knit decorations this year, Christmas cake needs done next couple of weeks and this thread has reminded me to do some mincemeat too. Better get cracking 😂

I'm debating getting a glue gun, can I ask on your recommendations and what I should be looking for TIA

@vivajen yes I can already tell I’m going to crumble on those too..........

If you can't get Christmas Chronicles cheaply, you can probably get a copy through the library. Our library service loans for a month, and you can renew it if no one else wants it, so that should be long enough unless it is very much in demand. It also has online and paper magazines - Christmas ones due in fairly soon, I think.

@StormyCornishSeas
I had a cheap one but when it went MIA ( missing in action) I treated myself to a Bosch one. It is miles better. ( my original turned up in DD’s house . She tried saying it was hers but my writing on the box confirmed it was mine! So I said she could keep it! She then came round to borrow mine “ because it’s better”
The cheek of it!

This one

[quote Trumpton]@StormyCornishSeas
I had a cheap one but when it went MIA ( missing in action) I treated myself to a Bosch one. It is miles better. ( my original turned up in DD’s house . She tried saying it was hers but my writing on the box confirmed it was mine! So I said she could keep it! She then came round to borrow mine “ because it’s better”
The cheek of it!

This one[/quote]
Thank you for the suggestion.
sounds like something I would do with my DM's belongings

@LadyPeterWimsey that's a very good idea. I will try and find it cheaply first though, it sounds like the kind of book that's good for just browsing through the season as well as actually reading properly.

On the subject of books, does anyone from last year remember an Advent-ish book that was recommended, it had activities as well as bits to read (but I might be mis-remembering maybe!)

Has anyone made their own preferably reusable crackers? Id love some direction on how to go about doing them or pictures of a tried and tested method please. Ive sourced the snaps already

@lucysmam I have a copy of the Christmas chronicles which I don't want. I could post it to you? I tend to collect cookery books but I don't really feel the love for this one. I'd love for it to go to a better home as long as not loving it doesn't mean I have to leave this thread
If you want it pm me your address and I could post it today.

Wow how lovely @WisestIsShe

@Row1n I can't sew to save myself but I bought a set of these a few years ago. They are basically a clear plastic loo roll type tube, the fabric that rolls over it and a ribbon to tie at each end. They are tres poncey and I love them. I do think that if you can even sew a little they should be ok to make.

www.notonthehighstreet.com/katesprostonembroideredtextiles/product/woodland-reusable-christmas-crackers?referredBy=search

Going to Tesco today to buy
Fruit for Christmas cake ( might get marzipan and icing sugar just in case )
Gin , for sloe gin and to stunt the paper whites
Christmas magazines ( thanks for the critique @MarisPiper92)

And then to the cinema to pick up the James Bond tickets for tomorrow
First trip to the cinema since February 2020 when watched Little Women
Normal life returns ✅

I've just had an email from Amazon saying that they have copies of Christmas Chronicles for £9.99. Not sure if it's because i looked at them there or if it's an offer for everyone

WOO-HOO! Thanks to whoever mentioned libraries and magazines, I've just signed up for my library's free magazine service and am about to do a search for Christmas! See you all in a few weeks...

Am de-lurking to tell you I’m loving all these ideas so far and that I did this with brown paper last year.

@WisestIsShe Christmas Spirit alive and well🎄🎄🎄 I hope @lucysmam sees it!

I’ve had a look at Amazon and I think it’s the Kindle version of CC that’s 9.99.

In case anyone else is still looking for it and hasn’t seen my earlier clarification, apparently there are a few reduced copies of CC in WHS stores - it’s listed at full price on the website but people have hunted in store and got it for £9.

Oh @VivaJen they're beautiful, thank you!

@Micawbs I love that wrapping idea!! Did you use a stamp for the postal mark?

[quote HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule]**@WisestIsShe* Christmas Spirit alive and well🎄🎄🎄 I hope @lucysmam* sees it!

I’ve had a look at Amazon and I think it’s the Kindle version of CC that’s 9.99.

In case anyone else is still looking for it and hasn’t seen my earlier clarification, apparently there are a few reduced copies of CC in WHS stores - it’s listed at full price on the website but people have hunted in store and got it for £9.[/quote]
Ahhhh ok! I must admit I just glanced at it

Very glad I live in a country without a fully functioning postal system or I would be spending a months wages on stamps right now they are so beautiful. Can also relate to unappreciated efforts i've never really recovered from the year I spend had embroidering fabric panels for cards and nobody mentioned them apart from my mum who bless her decided it was so beautiful she carefully extracted the panel and framed it. I comfort myself by pretending they where so great nobody else must've realized they where home made

Is the CC still worthwhile even if you likely won't use any of the recipes?
Apologies for so many posts, I have an unexpected day off and christmas excitement has just bubbled up inside me!