Poncetastic Christmas Thread 2026

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Thought I would start this year's thread as there are plenty of folk starting to chat about Christmas makes, bakes and crafts on the Christmas boards.

Wherever you are, Fellatio, here's to you. I hope you're brining a turkey and had crafting authentic organic woven tinsel somewhere!

Here is Fellatio's traditional thread opening:

"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"

Welcome, all, and let the Poncing commence!

<cuts metaphorical christmas ribbon>

🎄🎄🎄🎄

Well, I forgot to look for mags. & Boyes had no wide red ribbon either in their festive offerings, or in their haberdashery section <sigh>. They did have the wooden pegs I wanted for classroom use though. So a small, non festive, win.

I'm away from home at the moment and trying to catch up on the thread.
Mincemeat - I make mincemeat shortbread. Last year I made Christmas Puddings with mincemeat but Christmas was cancelled because I was so ill, so they are all wrapped up for this year. So is my slow cooker Christmas Cake with Baileys.

Christmas fabric - I make a fabulous decoration using the tops off milk cartons and cotton wool pads, so start saving them.
I also have light up twig trees in my porch and sun room and add something hand made each year.

I completely bow to your Poncestastic-ness and am totally nicking some of these ideas. The milk bottle top tree is particularly impressive. Do you just cover the too with a cotton pad, then the fabric and glue gun it?

I hope this year makes up for last year, although I think iirc you are due for surgery soon.

@RainbowZebraWarrior cut a circle of fabric and run a gathering thread around. Use the cotton wool to pad and pull the the thread and fasten off.
I glued to a triangle of corrugated card then covered with felt. Add a few embellishments and a pot and bow.
I made a dozen one year!

You did remember correctly, I'm having surgery on 2nd October, so trying to be organised. You should have seen DH's face when I told him he was in charge of decorations this year!

Coming back to the pear chat, we stripped the tree and I made these with all the ones that had cuts or damage from falling to the ground, to see if we liked the recipe. They were delicious and enjoyed by all, not sickly sweet and definitely a bit Christmassy with the cloves. I have 4 trays full in the fridge so planning to do several jars full with this recipe for keeping, plus I saw a recipe for pear and ginger chutney I fancy trying.

What’s the state of your pears, @RainbowZebraWarrior?

https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/syrup-preserved-pears/

First round of chocolate frogs and chocolate bars. Son has gobbled half a pound of Belgian chocolate frogs already. They are ok... they are sort of half tempered. Came out of the moulds v easily and are yummy but don't have the 'snap' and shine.

I will just have to buy another kilo of Belgian chocolate to experiment...

Visited a National Trust site on our way back home from holiday so I stocked up on this curd which I use to make a chocolate and cherry pavlova with for Boxing Day dessert. It's often the thing I forget I need so I have to then make a December detour to a NT site to get some.

National Trust Sour Cherry Curd | National Trust Shop https://share.google/TAkJ8hnAYyJJVGVkk

Oh I bought a jar of this at an English Heritage site near me a few years ago. It was delicious!

Thank you so much for the instructions. I now have my christmas fabric at the ready, and everyone saving bottle tops.

Oooh that sounds nice. Our local NT house does an amazing Christmas display every year so I do try and go every December, I like a wander round it's walled garden too makes me depressed about the state of my allotment

edited to add last year it was so mild I was able to sit outside in the courtyard cafe and enjoy a cup of tea with a robin hopping around my table which was just lovely.

I just grabbed the last of my pears from my trees yesterday as the wind was starting to blow them off. I ate one, but tbh it was rock hard. I figure they will keep a few days before they can be pickled. My biggest issue is having the right jars (I have loads of bottles snd jam jars, but most of my squat kilner ones are in use for other things so I need to shuffle stuff around and sterilise today!)

You have just reminded me that I used to make my own Fuse bars (remember them?) so thats been added back to my list. I use a silicone soap mould, and because of all the additions - chopped nuts. fudge, raisins, biscuit and rice crispies - It's a bit more forgiving (as in, if it doesn't come out perfect it doesn't matter)

I've never had much luck with posh chocs. The tempering process can be a right PITA. I also stopped making truffles with cream due to the short shelf life.

I always lurk on this thread but only occasionally post. I definitely have aspirations to ponce though last year most of my efforts got diverted in to a crochet Nativity that sort of took over a bit. Photo of finished scene attached. Some of you might have seen the thread I started on AIBU when I had stability issues with my sheep.

Anyway as it happens I bought the first items for Christmas stockings today. DH and I are actually on holiday in France but I was in a gift shop and saw some lovely notebooks and pencils so here we go.

Oh my goodness this is amazing! I so wish I could crochet. We do a christmas craft fair every year and there's always a table of crochet ladies next to us. We always end up buying loads of their stuff as it's so fab!

How fabulous! Crochet is practically witchcraft as far as I am concerned. I just cannot do it, despite being a very proficient sewer. I've made ballgowns in the past but crochet and knitting are skills that evade me. I love your crochet nativity set!

I'm the other way round @petitpasta I can crochet all sorts of things but my sewing skills are limited to very simple things with straight edges and no buttons (eg curtains, tablecloths).

That set is fabulous @5foot5

Loving the crochet crowd @5foot5

I can knit but can’t get my head round crochet 🤣

I have started my embroidery decorations - I am very “beginner” at this - and so far I’m pleased with how it’s going. Will do a picture when I’ve finished the Turkish work.

Really enjoying this thread and can’t wait to see all your bakes and creations!

I was wondering if someone could help? I’ve been given some gorgeous gift bags that aren’t suitable to regift due to wear and tear. I’ve cut some star shapes from them and want to make a garland. I was looking for a wire that’s decorative in itself to use, almost like very fine, long metallic pipe cleaner material but I can’t find anything that meets that brief. Does anyone have any suggestions/ideas?

@XStitcher87what about using a string of tiny rice lights like the battery operated ones.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/nordic_seed_and_nut_loaf_55001

This was an easy gluten free seed loaf if you're ok with seeds. Waitrose used to sell something similar which was smushed up seeds but this was nicer.

I didn't have sesame seeds so just increased sunflowers and pumpkin. I also used half chia, half ground flax.

You do only need thin slices as it's very sustaining.

Great idea. One of the bags was holographic so that would reflect the light beautifully.

Let my poncing for Christmas begin!
I planned to start soaking fruit for the cake today but Tesco forgot my brandy! However I have started the room planning - the theme this year is The 12 Days of Christmas.
I treated myself to the Corinne La Pierre 12 Days of Christmas book and felts and am half way through. I will make a lamp tree to hang them off at a willow lantern workshop I am running in November.
I bought a duvet cover from Vinted and will do bunting and table runner and photocopy the fabric to paste onto the wall over last year’s Dala horses and paint frames in primary colours around them.
I need to make chilli jam and perhaps some blackberry brandy.
I am so happy to be here again, do I do Paperwhites this year? I was sorely disappointed last year although I did get a full refund.
Sorry about the bit of AI I used to show idea of room!

Love your plans @Trumpton
This thread wouldn't be the same without them

Lovely to see you too of course. 😉😁