The 2023 Poncetastic Christmas Thread

[VivaJen]

Welcome to the 2023 Poncetastic thread. With a nod to Fellatio (wherever she may be) 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".

Whippet chains? Whippet chains? PAPER chains. I love that nobody queried whippet chains! You all just nodded and thought “Oh yes, of course, whippet chains” 🤣

@MoltenLasagne I have had success with microwave strawberry jam but only make a jar at a time.

You could, and indeed should, make paper chains with a whippet motif.

Also I found you the wallpaper you need

That wallpaper is astonishing! Window stickers are available as well. Maybe Christmas 2024?
Main problem is that it would fuel the demands by the DGC for a dog and DD would not be happy nor would the cats!

I think as a theme it’s got legs.

I’ve been down quite the internet rabbit hole.

(sorry…)

@BeastOfBODMAS 4 legs! <<snurk>>

Of course! You could serve rabbit by lamplight <gets coat>

I actually quite like the plates and cake 🤣

Whippet chains just sounded like something that needed to be googled when remembered, in case they were something we all needed to join in with @Trumpton

@Neekoh ooh, I remember someone using those stamps last year (maybe year before). I only need the one card though so wouldn't be very cost effective for me.

@BeastOfBODMAS your stocking's beautiful 🥰 I hope someone's going to fill it for you!

aw thanks @lucysmam DH is usually pretty good but no doubt I will add a few bits as I see them!

Which magazine were you underwhelmed by? I have country living and good housekeeping 2023 lined up in my library app for the weekend. I don’t mind squinting a bit when they are free

It was the Country Living one. Second try might be different though - dd1 was talking an awful lot while I was sat with it & I didn't stop to read any of the articles because I couldn't concentrate properly.

Not enough crafty stuff or food in it for me, really.

I love my Noolibird stamps. Just considering what new ones I'm allowed to buy this year!

I used them on plain paper to make my own wrapping paper as well if that helps anyone justify the costs.

@Trumpton I had a brief moment of 'eh??' and then thought, well a hounds theme for Christmas works just fine! 😁😁

@lucysmam you could use the stamps for decorating/crafts/wrapping paper and tags too, I think. But they're not cheap, so I suppose it's whether or not you think you'd get enough use out of them over the years.

Hello everyone,
can anyone tell me how to remove the posca pens afterwards ? Does it wash off with warm soapy water ?

I have coveted a massive wreath for over the fireplace ( idea for anyone without enough doors to hand them on )
but they are £££ !

so I’m attempting to make one ! I think , or could have dreamed it , that you can start with a hula hoop , wrap garland round ( thick one ) and ponsify as you wish

so far I have the hula hoop !
watch this space
it will either be like something from blue Peter or fabulous darling

@lucysmam I just skimmed the contents and found the vegan menu plan, I will gladly make and eat the lot and probably need to buy that magazine now! Mmm filo mushroom bourguignon pie. So nice to find recipes that are not trying to be meat.

@lucysmam do you like doing cross stitch, or want to learn? If so that would be a good idea for a card. You can get lovely little kits with everything included.

@KrazyboutKillian wreath over the fireplace is a great idea, thank you!
I think there’s a point when things can look Blue Peter-ish, but you just need to commit and keep adding to it and it will turn out great.

That's a great idea to use a hoola hoop as the base.

I would probably wrap it in twine or something to disguise it, before building the wreath.

I really want an autumn wreath made up of dried florals and foliage but I'm forgoing it this year - committed to spending very little. But next year I plan to hang one inside in the bay window (too blustery here - a dried wreath would be destroyed within a few days if I hung it on the door...).

Yes to hula hoops! It works. Sure it will be fab. Will try to find a photo of mine and post.

I love this thread!!

re window drawings - chalk pens of different thickness from Amazon or wherever, and the snowy spray. I stole an idea from a cafe in Paris which was a general hand drawn snowy/hilly scene with little ice skating figures dashing here and there. You can draw the little people in their skates and then do a little spray behind their heels but covering with a sheet of paper so it’s like a skating whoosh with a straight top edge if that makes sense? I do it on my garden door which is half glass and I love it. I have a small (battery powered) string of the chunky old fashioned bulb lights in a warm white, that I drape over and it’s so effective and takes a really pleasant little chunk of time to pull off. I do it earlier and earlier every year, and at this rate will do it this year straight after Halloween 😂

I actually would like a whippet chain.

@lucysmam
The Works do £1 cards to cross stitch. I did some last year and was very impressed with them
I can pop one in the post to you if you are nowhere near a shop

I've done some stuff on Windows before. I bought chalk pens in lockdown for rainbow drawing and have done various things ever since (daffodils at Easter and Bat outlines for Halloween) but this sounds fab. I'd love to see a picture of yours. In the meantime I shall Google and see what ideas I come up with.