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".

@StormyCornishSeas thank you! 🙂

A semi fail today, found an absolutely huge vine while walking the dogs a few days ago. Returned with my secateurs today and produced 2 wreaths with the cuttings. No idea if they will dry or rot but thought it was worth a try. Have since realised said huge vine is a poisonous one so I'm now just waiting to see if my skin falls off. If it doesn't I'm definitely going back for more

Apologies for the rouge toe in the corner didn't spot that until now. But hey its at least a Christmas coloured nail

@Ponceyponce the wreath and toe look good. Hope you have no rashes.
Wisteria makes good wreaths if anyone is cutting back.

I fell off the thread, things have been really difficult here lately and not much poncing has been happening. Now caught up on the thread, the cushion covers and Christmas tree quilt look amazing.

I’ve managed to pretty much finish the Christmas shopping online today, just have a few stocking bits for the DC’s and dogs from Santa left to buy and something for my parents which may just end up being a John Lewis voucher and some homemade shortbread.

My paperwhites bulbs arrived last week, I’m waiting on an order of Christmas wax melts and I’m hoping to pick up the Good Housekeeping Christmas issue tomorrow.

@SiulaGrande

Thank you all, I have just read the whole thread in a binge of fuzzy poncetasticness. Have ordered Christmas Chronicles

I only have moments of ponce myself, last year made drawstring bags from Xmas fabric as reusable wrapping.

This year started a scrappy Xmas tree quilt with leftovers and any suitable bits I have but that won't be finished til next year.

love the quilt!

I've been unponcelike too, but having just (finally) ordered my paperwhites, white hyacinths and crocus bulbs I feel better. They'll arrive tomorrow or Saturday so will get them potted up straightaway.

Am in awe of all of the sewing. I can ponce with the best of you, but only for cooking, wrapping, decorating and gardening.

Placed an eye-wateringly massive British Corner Shop order today to have all my store cupboard ingredients ready (channelling Delia and her lists) Took all morning as kept flicking over to Amazon to see what I could get cheaper.

Have just put a chicken in the oven and was going to put my orange slices in too, but dp came home so I shall do them tomorrow. He thinks Christmas begins around the middle of December. Humph.

Reasonably poncetastic here this week. My Christmas cakes have had their first feed and I finally got round to turning the leftover soaked fruit into mincemeat. Only one jar and it will probably sit maturing in the cupboard until next year as only DH eats mince pies and I've got a dozen in the freezer already.

My veg box arrived today so I've made a dauphinois for over the festive period and half a dozen portions of pasta sauce for the freezer.

Before the pandemic I bought an advent calendar panel to make for DD1 as she was house hunting. It got shelved last year but she finally bought her house this spring and I need to make it. I think once I've cut the first piece out I will get some oomph but it's currently sitting in my work basket taunting me 😂 I've watched the make-along YouTube videos so I know that once I get going it's two or three days work but meh. At this point I'm seriously considering getting her a malteaser one from Tesco!

I've also got three pairs of socks to knit before Christmas Eve but they'll take me about a week each.

I spent this afternoon trying out my nee stamps and thinking the best way to them off as gift tags

@Geamhradh I need to do a British Cornershop order too. I see they have a range of M&S bits now, so I will have to control myself. 😂

[quote DanceWithYourBalloon]@Geamhradh I need to do a British Cornershop order too. I see they have a range of M&S bits now, so I will have to control myself. 😂[/quote]
I started over with £500 and almost 60kg in my basket then gave myself a talking to and got it down to £200. Lots of M&S goodies, to make up for the fact that Harrods, Betty's and Fortnums won't deliver their hampers to the EU this year.

I mean, I don't even like Heinz beans so why do I feel the need to chuck 8 tins in my trolley just because it's British food!
I'd do it soon if I were you, though they do seem to be restocking more quickly at the mo'.
This time next week....that crunching you'll hear will be me eating my own weight in Salt & Vinegar crisps.

@Geamhradh ha ha! They've just started doing salt & vinegar Lays here in France. The only bag I buy these days!

I'm being strict and am only buying what I absolutely can't get here. So basically all the tubs of chocolates and a tonne of M&S biccies! 😂

Hello all, please can I join?

In an effort to be more eco friendly this year I have decided to ditch wrapping paper and instead make some Christmassy drawstring bags for presents.

I am the least crafty person on the planet but I’ve got access to a sewing machine and am determined to have a go!

I may or may not post pictures of the results of my efforts 😂 😂

I’ve also just bought from Etsy some really cute wooden initials to use instead of gift tags.

My eco friendly sellotape has arrived and I brought a non Christmas one for birthdays. Excited to use it already

Welcome @SpicedGin!

Well I have started buying candles, so we may end up as a fore hazard in this house for christmas, but at least we'll be warm!
I am struggling to find a container that I like for my paperwhites. I was googling and found this picture of some in a silver bowl and I was wondering if that would damage this silver? Would it be ok with a liner in the bottom to protect the metal maybe?

We bought some window decorations and dh didnt look at me sideways when I said I was garland shopping today, which is an improvement! I didnt quite find the one I had seen online, I wanted to see it in real life before committing, but dh also suggested another shop to try - virtually unheard of so I shall make use of his early xmas cheer while it lasts!

Maybe there's something in the air Row1n as my DH (who usually doesn't acknowledge Christmas at all until December) talked to me about Christmas tree placement yesterday

No idea about the paper whites I'm afraid - closest I've got are daffodil bulbs to be planted in the garden.

I finished my last cross stitch Christmas card this week. I'm taking a craft break today to do some online shopping I think, but at some point this week I'm planning to get the sewing machine out and turn my snowflake patterned tartan fat quarters into napkins....

Thats a lovely cross stitch @CrazyBaubles! How do they get made into cards then? I think Id like to try and do some if I can find a kit!

I think in general more people seem to be excited about christmas this year after the last 18 months so maybe that explains the sudden dh willingness!

Very jealous of all the british corner shop orders. They advertise to me all the time but can't actually deliver to me which just seems like unfair teasing.
Love the cross stitch @CrazyBaubles
My plan for this week is to finally get to the craft shop and get some more embroidery floss to continue my stars. Might also pick up some wool to make a pompom Garland

I finished stitching the last of my mouse gift tags last night. Half have already been made and attached to the present, as I was with my family this weekend, so dropped off the presents I've already sorted.

Thank you both, I'm quite pleased with it!

Row1n the kit comes with a pre-cut aperture card so I've just trimmed it to size and will glue it in (🤞🏼anyway as I've never done it before)!

Love the gift tags Fluffy!

I got distracted with my shopping yesterday. I found some presents but wandered into Christmas dresses for me....

I'm waiting for British corner shop to have Christmas crackers in sock before I place an order. I emailed them to find out when they'd have them, apparently they're having trouble getting them into the EU. I've started making stockings, I've only done one so far but I'm quite happy with it, I can't post a photo on the app though.

I make these veggie sausage rolls, they really good but a faff to make, so perfect for Christmas! www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/vegetarian-sausage-rolls/amp
I'm going to try making some mulled wine jam, it sounds delicious. I'm also going to make some lime and clementine marmalade.
Chilli jam has already been done, we've had a ridiculous amount of chilis this year, and they've been hotter than Satan's butt something very hot!

Hello, I'm here. Can I ponce in with my shiny Christmas tea towels I bought in tk maxx?

That should have said, "I'm new here"

@LaChatte if you're in France then The Trading Post have them in stock.
I also managed to get some in SuperU last year.