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>

🎄🎄🎄🎄

Veey good to see you as always Trumpton!

Lovely plans (as always) and loving the felt decorations. I saw the set was on half price offer a couple of months ago, but it's still rather expensive.

I don't do paperwites or much else in the way of growing indoors, but I have a pantry heaving with goodies already.

Very intrigued by the twiggy lamp thing in your photos!

Edited to add: Sorry I see its a willow lantern. Ooh. I have plenty of willow and lanterns. Wish I could get to your workshop!

Sooooo ... I am now most of the way through the sewing of my first non-Xmas, Xmas decoration, and am going to share it here. Please bear in mind that I am (a) a beginner; and (b) have no natural aptitude for this sort of thing!

@MichaelmasDaisiesAndAutumSunset I'm not entirely sure what it's supposed to be but it looks impressive 👍

@RainbowZebraWarriorthe patterns are great but I only buy the occasional one as can't really justify spending so much all in one go on crafting stuff. I have found the ones I bought have helped me to imagine my own designs though.
We visited Chatsworth House last year and they had some beautiful felt decorations which I thought I might try making at some point.

Nor am I 🤣 sort of a Grampus type character

It sort of reminds me of those things in the 5th Element, can't remember what they're called.

One of these guys

I am basically trying to get inspiration (basucally, copy) some of the pretty designs I see. I have so much felt it's just silly. Most of it just cheap stuff as every time I'm in hobbycraft, I'll grab 4 for £2.

Trying to keep things as simple as I can, I am thinking of a Partridge in a Pear Tree theme, whereby I just make lots of pears and partridges for a small tree or twig arrangement. I also have quite a lot of gold thread, so I just need to get my felt stash out and work out a colour scheme!

Sostrene Green have some nice looking, fairly inexpensive, felt decoration kits...I haven't started my kit yet but have been eyeing theirs up & some templates keep popping up on my fb so I've saved them to my phone. Pretty sure they're AI generated though.

I've started some candied quince, not exactly @TheSandgroper s recipe but inspired by and mixed with one i found online. Only another six days until I find out if it worked!

It is a bit early for quinces but they look and smell ripe and softened quickly, and we need to get some weight off the branches, so let's see what happens!

These were the ones I really liked, especially the bee. Not that I've got round to trying to make one though 😅

Oh, gosh. Please post some photos next weekend. I’m dying to see how they turn out. Good luck!

Can I join the pear club? I have two trees, an early fruiting one and a later one. I missed most of the early ones, I kept going out to check them and finding none ready, and then I’d look out the window later and see them on the ground.

I went and picked a load from the late fruiting one yesterday, and made mulled pears for the first time.

I started some homemade vanilla extract yesterday - it will hopefully be ready in time for some Christmas baking.

I also made a batch of lemon simple syrup for our Christmas Eve cocktail night.

I had some puff pastry left over after I made a pie for midweek dinner. It had previously been frozen so I couldn't re freeze it - so I experimented and made a few mini puff pastry cinnamon pinwheels. They were a success and I had to put them in the freezer after they were cooked as I tried two "just to check how they turned out". I could have eaten the lot!

Those look lovely! Where are they from? Are they kits or patterns? Sorry I’ve scanned back through the thread and can’t figure it out.

They were for sale at Chatsworth House last year, no patterns sadly, but certainly doable if you have done that sort of thing before.

Ah, I see, thank you. I haven’t, but I can probably find instructions and materials. I was hoping someone else would have put it all together into a convenient kit for me!

Can I join? Everyone is so talented 🎄.
I will probably just read and admire because I have no skills!
But I have lots of crafts because I just love buying but then find I can’t complete!
But I have seen the little glass candle sticks tied with a ribbon so I’m on a mission to find similar in charity shops because I’m sure I can tie a bow!🎀

Hello and welcome!

I am not awfully talented in the sewing dept, so most of my exploits are in the kitchen. I do make candles though. Oohh, now glass candle sticks tied with ribbon sounds like an easy win, though!

I have finished my first two! They are very beginner-y (which I am) but I am super pleased with them!