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".

@pippi1970 I got some nice personalised Christmas labels from tiny me here it is £2 for 24 and a few pound more to add more. You also have to pay postage (about £2.99 I think though I also managed to order some free name labels though another offer at the same time so I'm not totally sure).

All you need to write then is the recipient's name. They aren't huge though- maybe 4cm by 4cm. It says on the Web page that they are usually £10 but this offer is on until the 15th of November.

I have been on this thread for years (in different names) and was so excited this year, but my grandfather died and I lost my Christmas mojo. Now I feel panicked that it is the 12th of November and I haven't ponced even a little bit. Which is silly really when most of the world leave it until the last minute. Even the children are demanding we start crafting. So here I am catching up and making lists.

For those making vegetarian stuffing, I'll try and find a recipe, but the nicest veggie stuffing I have had was using American thanksgiving recipes because I don't think their stuffing is usually bases on pork. So it doesn't taste the same as the pork stuff but is lovely in its own right.

I'm going to soak fruit for Christmas cake this weekend. I've bought puff pastry to make palmiers and hopefully I'll get gingerbread dough done.

I've really enjoyed catching up on what you have all been doing.

Thanks @HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule I wasn't sure if it was just a bit "mum's wrapped up a notebook she's started already" iyswim? She should understand if she looks in the back though.

I wonder if anyone actually sells a personalised one - maybe something with a title on the front 🤔 I'll have a google and a think.

Thanks @Trumpton, I'll pay attention to your progress this year and might have a go next year. I think one plant I'm not sure what I'm doing with, is enough to be going on with 🤣

Here is a stuffing my sister in law made once. I presume she substituted vegetarian stock for the chicken stock. It was nice- different (I love meat stuffing)- but nice

apple and cranberry stuffing

Sorry for the thousands of posts tonight. @lucysmam someone on the Christmas bargains thread mentioned a website called papier this evening. They had loads of beautiful notebooks and you could personalise the cover- they looked lovely. They said they had put a £10 referral discount code on the referrals page. I was tempted but it was for me and the books are around £23 before discount. They would be great as a keepsake notebook to have forever though.

@Thisisbatshit thanks, I'll google for the website and have a look now

@trumpton I’ve not got any pebbles...was going to buy some but would really love not to buy too much this year unless I must. I’m guessing it doesn’t work to use soil, or do you use the pebbles mainly for aesthetic reasons? I’ve got lots of slate chippings, which I guess could work?

I had a lovely hurricane vase that would’ve been ideal for this but it broke a while back 😔 I had a look in the charity shops to see if I could find something suitable but there weren’t any on the day. I’ve picked up a large bowl instead so I’ll use that and I’ll have to tie wire/ribbon around if they don’t stay upright enough.

@lucysmam your crochet cottage is just adorable and looks so intricate.

@maisiedaisy64 love the velvet stocking, and such a nice way for her to be remembered each Christmas.

I made the Christmas cake and Mary Berry’s scarlet confit this week, was also supposed to make the stuffing but I forgot to buy the sausagemeat

I meant to post a photo of the finished lollipop decorations, I’ve also made the Gonks from the Your Home Christmas magazine.

Thanks @SevenSwansASwimming I'm really pleased with it. The thread took some getting used to but isn't as hard as I expected to work with.

The lollipops are a good idea...I think I have some sticks lurking somewhere, might have to make a few myself!

@HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule
You can certainly grow them in soil altho’ I guess that potting compost would be better.
Hmmmm ? Slate ? Why not ?
The thing is with bulbs is that they are little store houses so will grow under their own steam given water and light and warmth.

If you use pebbles/ slate and water then it’s easier to feed them alcohol which stunts the greenery but not the flowers. Leading to less droop (Ooer Matron!)

Thanks @Trumpton that was me being silly and using the wrong word - it’s compost I’ve got. But I think I’ll use the slate instead since I’d like to avoid droopage... 😁😉

Wish me luck and I’ll check back in tomorrow, no doubt panicking about one thing or another!

Tomorrow I am going to make a willow lantern with willow (!) and tissue paper and much glue . Watch this space !

I did finally do a little bit of poncing yesterday. Apricot brandy à la Nigel (although I adapted it as I forgot to buy the sweet wine again 🙄 so I substituted with some cream sherry), and also cranberry gin.

We made up the mix for our mince meat today and will leave it to sit overnight and cook it tomorrow. Can’t wait for the house to smell beautifully Christmassy!

So many gorgeous photos of clever and cosy creations. Stockings, tiny houses, lollipops, and more!😍😍

@azimuth299

That recipe looks lovely!

I will probably be making mine next weekend to give it plenty of time to mature.

I love the sound of the decorations! unfortunately my daughter is too little to really get involved in making things yet but I hope to get a few handmade ones up anyway.

I really love whole oranges studded with cloves - they look so pretty and smell fantastic when they dry out.

@BeastOfBODMAS thanks for the recipe it looks delicious!

Ooh @HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule I want to make that Nigel brandy. Thanks for the reminder.

@Trumpton

Tomorrow I am going to make a willow lantern with willow (!) and tissue paper and much glue . Watch this space !

Good luck!

Once I've finished marking the huge pile of papers sitting on my desk 😭 and prepping more tests for next week, I am going to spend all weekend poncing in my dreams . I'm going to make mincemeat and hopefully finish my first stocking (of 5...).

I've got a load of random bulbs in the garage which I might try planting to see if I get anything around Christmas, you never know. I'll try and get on the PC too so I can post some photos here (phone says no).

LaChatte, I plan to spend the weekend poncing too...I imagine the reality will be very different 🙄

The marking is taking forever, I usually have a few nice things to nibble to keep me going. This particular class are very weak, I'm already half way through a packet of chocolate digestives and I've only done 6 papers (out of 30 😰), at this rate not only am I losing out on precious poncing time but I am going to be huge by the time I finish 🤫🍪

My Hobbycraft order arrived today. The lanterns are lovely, as are the battery tea lights. I'm thinking I may put some green matt tinsel type stuff in there (if I can't find some holly or something) so you can't see the bottom of the candle.

Also very happy with my wreath stamp. I had ordered a tree one as well but it was out of stock.

My poncing plans for today are to finish my crochet cushion and possibly make a start on any of the following:
Fabric Drawstring bags
Turning a few pillows into cushion inserts ready for my festive cushion covers
Turning Christmas tartan fat quarters into napkins
Making some decorations I can hot glue onto the plain willow wreaths I bought
Starting a cross stitch picture I intended for MIL as a gift but probably won't be done in time.

I picked up some velvet napkins in a really cheap shop we have here (Action) for a couple of euros. Not sure what I'm going to do with them but they ooze christmas luxury.

I've been caught up with the large poncing of redecorating the dining room in time for Christmas.

But I have managed a transitional autumn to early December wreath before my proper Christmas wreath.

And a Turtle Dove from earlier in the year

We've been decorating too; just the front room though. It acts as the big clean for the room which I always do pre-Christmas, so two birds with one stone.

I'm busy stitching my Christmas train...it's coming on nicely!

Love your festive train @NoWordForFluffy!

Oh my, I've just found you all. Here is my Himalayan pink salt crusted soap curing in the spare bedroom.
And I'm building up to making some moisturising body bars. Every one is getting a home spa box this year and may they appreciate it more than last years hand felted wool hats they got last year.