Poncetastic Christmas 2024

[StiffyByngsDogBartholomew]

@vivajen hasn't posted on MN for a year so I've taken the bull by the horns. I can't wait any longer !
Wherever you are, Fellatio, here's to you. I hope you're brining a turkey and had crafting authentic organic woven tinsel somewhere.
"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".

🎄🎄🎄🎄

@Whothefuckdoesthat

Sorry photo a bit blurred

GINGERBREAD By Lucy Parr Makes 12-15 | Prep 15 mins | Cook 10-12 mins
50g (scant ¥ cup) dairy-free margarine 20g (4 tsp) dairy-frco cream cheese

75g (1s cup) soft brown sugar
2 tbsp golden syrup

20ml (4 tsp) dairy-frce milk

170g (1¥s cups) plain (all-purpose) flour 1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp bicarbonate of (baking) soda

1 1bsp icing (confectioner's) sugar

250g pack of froll out fondant icing

Preheat the oven to 190C/Gas Mark 5. P Cream the margarine, cream cheese sugar, syrup and milk logether. 3 Sift in the flour, ground ginger and bicarbonate of soda. Knead the mixture into a soft dough. 4 On a floured surface, rollouthe dough to 5mm (Vin) thickness. Cut into shapes with shaped cookie cutters and place on a greased baking sheet. 5 Bake the gingerbread for 10-12 minutes 10 minutes for soft, 12 for crisp. 6 Cool on the sheet a lile before transterring lo a wire rack. Make alitle icing 'glue' by mxing the icing sugar with 1 itsp of water. 8 Roll out the fondant icing, dusting the surface with icing sugar, and cut out shapes with the same cookie cutler you used for the gingerbread. Spread a litle icing glue' on each cookie 9 to attach lhe fondant icing shapes. Alternatively, pipe decorations onto the gingerbread with a thick waler icing
33 VEGANFOODANDLIVING.COM

@HannahDefoesTrenchcoat Thank you so much!

You are welcome. I never bother with the icing as my teens eat them all anyway. Of I had small kids then we might do icing for fun.

Waitrose often have it on the deli cheese counter.

I got membrillo from M&S last year. We really enjoyed it.

I hope it all goes well for you Believing.

How old will the dc be?

Exciting!

Rather than a tinned mixed spirit why not make your own? The pre mixed are extremely sweet.

The tiny bottles, like the airplane ones, are all you need. A freshly squeezed madarine or clementine with sparking water and ice is basic but delicious. Added advanatge? The wonder scent of the skin of the citrus!

Thanks for the glue gun advice @Trumpton @LaChatte @since1986 ! I ended up getting this novice version from Amazon 🙈 Feel as this a tool rather than a present my Amazon embargo doesn't count here! Will let you know how it goes!

Whatever you do... @AdventNotAmazon have a sacrificial tray or big plate to rest it on, it will dribble 😂 🫠

My cross stitch christmas cards arrived today from Etsy. I have no idea when I think I'll have enough time to do them but I'll do my best in November!

Ah great tip! Thank you ❤️

Also, you will get burnt, probably only once or twice, so be prepared 😅

Ohhh that candied quince is right up my poncing street. I wonder if I can get my hands on any quince! Will probably end up just buying some membrillo tbh...

Today poncing prep continued with some more decluttering - I find I need everything to be organised otherwise I simply can't focus on anything at all!

I also picked up a pretty little pot in which to make a candle decoration.

@LaChatte haha, yep it's a definite! I remember building an intricate model house with one when I was at school but I feel my reaction time is much slower these days 😂

@yesmen dc is 3 so a fun age!

@AdventNotAmazon I agree with PP - it'll definitely drip so you need something to place it on that you don't mind ruining (and as you've been warned - do not attempt to pull stringy bits away mid craft as you will burn your fingers) 

@RudolphsDashing what cards did you go for?
I love Bothy Threads ones even though they're quite pricey most of the time.

I've just spent a merry half hour browsing Advent Calendar display boards for work - there's a board in breakfast club that myself and my colleague try to update seasonally. I'm thinking fireplace with candles either end, and a couple of cards, Merry Christmas from Breakfast Club above, and 1- 24 numbered envelopes beneath.

Ooh...oooor...maybe Santa's washing drying over a fire must sort out my own Christmas stuff

@lucysmam
Like this? Santa’s washing line.
I knitted this a few years ago.

Very dull but yoday’s poncing effort was writing out my shopping lists - I’m either brilliantly organised now or, far more likely, have forgotten something obvious and will be too reliant on my lists to notice.

Im dreadful for buying multiples of some things but then under buying an essential like eggs, and assuming that the same half dozen is somehow going to magically make brioche, custard, icing, pavlova and breakfast for everyone. Glad to have it all worked out now before my brain goes into hibernation.

@NowLightOneThousandChristmasLights my decluttering efforts have fallen behind this week so I’m going to tackle that over the weekend if I get a chance.

Hi please may I join? I posted a few times on the preamble thread then got a bit busy this week. I am making a pudding (delia) and cake (from an old St Michael's recipe book that is nearly as old as me). I have made some raspberry jam this week but not sure there will be any left for Christmas. Last year I made a table runner and napkins, I did have plans to make reusable crackers to go with them buy not sure I will get round to them.

I love the candied quince recipe and will hang on to it as I want to plant a quince tree at the allotment.

@Trumpton yes! That sort of thing.

I have one on my "to crochet" list, when I get to it 🙄

I'm a lurker here who loves to read about everyone's pontastic preparations.

@Trumpton - I love your Santa's washing line. Where did you find the pattern for it?

@Trumpton Your washing line looks like wonderful fun. You must smile every time you look at it.

@BelievingIsSeeing I got these ones as they're very cheap, I had a similar kit last year and it was fine. I had more time last year though!

I bought a Bothy one for DWs card though :)

Having an awful and stressful time in RL, so thought I would pop in here for something much nicer and cheerful. I've done various versions of festive wreaths over the years, I find it really satisfying making them. Sometimes I buy a plain fir base from a local florist, or recently I've re-used a wreath base (think it's hazel). I cut stuff from our garden and local graveyard (only take small amounts) plus I have some ribbons and bells that I reuse each year. Photo shows last year's wreath which I hung indoors as I hadn't got round to putting a hook on our new front door. I particularly liked the red twiggy bits (dogwood??)

@RhinestoneCowgirl Yours looks lovely but what is that white thing in the middle? You have me at the mercy of my imagination.