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".

My toadstool willow lantern. The DGC all helped and we enjoyed peeling the dry glue off our fingers afterwards.
They made a Christmas pudding, a tree, and a Deathly Hallows triangle ( very festive!)
A good sticky time was had by all.

@Trumpton I love that lantern!! That sounds like a lovely family activity too
I just went to plant up my narcissus and some of the bulbs have smaller bulbs growing off them - does that mean they wont flower, or I should take off the smaller bulb? Completely clueless!

@Pippi1970

Does anyone know where I could find some lovely stick on Christmas labels? Probably not very poncetastic, but I have a problem with one of my wrists so wrapping has to be as simple as possible this year and I have a lot of presents to wrap! I remember buying some lovely retro style sticky labels from my local bookshop a couple of years ago but can't remember the brand and nor can they!

Not "naice", but I bought a book of labels from the Range.

@Row1n
I had a quick google and the general consensus is to leave them and you might get bonus blooms.

Oh thank you, your googling was a lot more successful than mine!

@Row1n
The trick is knowing what to look for!

Googling 'my bulbs have had babies' probably didn't help!

@Trumpton is it too late to do the bulbs? I forgot all about it!! Also do I just wash the slate chippings in hot soapy water?

@Row1n

Googling 'my bulbs have had babies' probably didn't help!

I've got an awful cold at the moment so spent yesterday crocheting my wreath cushion (gift for my auntie).

It's a bit of an odd size so I need to make the insert the crochet the side closed. I'm debating a border - what do you think?

@HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule
Well I don’t wash my stones but it wouldn’t do any harm. Set them going now. It will be fine !

@CrazyBaubles; A border might be a bit much-what about a small motif in each corner?

I always think a simple crochet picot edge improves almost everything,

Ah I've found my spiritual home. This year I'm making flavoured syrups in little glass bottles to go with Prosecco or in cocktails: cardamom, cinnamon, star anise...you get the idea. What a massive twat I am.

I've ordered a Christmas sloth from Ocado.
Plus three lovely avacado faces for the tree.

Christmas tree is just about alive from last year as I refused to put it in the bin and it's got roots.

We have a Tony Chocolonely countdown calender.

That's it.

I may have gone a little overboard - I attempted classy in the seriously tarnished silver bowl, and then a good bit of Christmas spirit in the others. I have a vase with some in too. I'm not entirely sure where I'm going to put them all!

@CrazyBaubles that wreath is beautiful!

This might be my kind of thread.

I've made my mincemeat and found a few jars left from last year. With lockdown we didn't shop as much so baking didn't happen as much. I have enough Christmas cards so won't need to make any more but I may make some gift tags. The kids aren't fussed about paper chains but I might make some. I love tinsel, lights and foil decorations that hang from the ceiling but dh says we have enough and the foil ones all went in the bin as were poundshop rubbish. I'll buy more if I see them in a different shop.

Heart not in it for Christmas this year but hoping it will come. Tomorrow dh and I are going shopping to get all the gifts in one go.

I completely failed in my poncing efforts yesterday as I was making mince pies for the freezer then got totally distracted and the mincemeat ended up bubbling over and burning on the pan which meant they stuck fast. So I've had to dig them out with a spoon and they're all crushed up.....the plan is to eat them with custard or smash them up and mix into ice cream.

Does anyone have any bright ideas for getting burned mincemeat off a muffin tray? Soaking in hot water has not done the trick so far!

@FireworkParrot

I completely failed in my poncing efforts yesterday as I was making mince pies for the freezer then got totally distracted and the mincemeat ended up bubbling over and burning on the pan which meant they stuck fast. So I've had to dig them out with a spoon and they're all crushed up.....the plan is to eat them with custard or smash them up and mix into ice cream.

Does anyone have any bright ideas for getting burned mincemeat off a muffin tray? Soaking in hot water has not done the trick so far!

With saucepans you can put water and washing up liquid in, then bring to the boil on the hob. Can you manage something similar to that?

If it's not non-stick (or as a last attempt before throwing it away) you could try the Pink Stuff paste

Great poncing everyone! I love the wreath and the little house! I am feeling a bit behind. I Meant to get the bulbs started but didn't realise I needed pebbles so have had to leave that for now. I've amazoned some so though hopefully I can get them started tomorrow. I don't have a shed or a grave or anything. Will they be too hot in the flat? I could maybe hide them in a box on the balcony for a bit?

I am going to stick a film on and crack on with some Christmas card stamping tonight I think. Hopefully I can get a production line going and get them all done.

I can't believe November is almost over. Really not feeling as prepared as last year!

@SleighQueen
Nothing says Christmas like a shallow grave !
In a box on the balcony should be fine, the bulbs don’t need dark just not full sunlight.

Haha! Not sure where that came from. Still at least I've got a back up plan if OH gets too annoying!

@Trumpton does this look ok? I randomly managed to find white pebbles today! 😊😊

Forgot photo...

@FireworkParrot

I completely failed in my poncing efforts yesterday as I was making mince pies for the freezer then got totally distracted and the mincemeat ended up bubbling over and burning on the pan which meant they stuck fast. So I've had to dig them out with a spoon and they're all crushed up.....the plan is to eat them with custard or smash them up and mix into ice cream.

Does anyone have any bright ideas for getting burned mincemeat off a muffin tray? Soaking in hot water has not done the trick so far!

Too late for you, but I always freeze my mince pies raw and bake them from frozen when needed. Add a dishwasher tablet to the soaking water.