How to Make a Christmas Cracker

Christmas crackers are an important part of holiday celebrations throughout Europe. The cracker is a cardboard tube wrapped in decorative paper, with twists on the ends, so that it resembles a candy wrapper. It is pulled by two people and there is a small bang when it breaks. There are small gifts inside the cracker that the people opening it can share.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• tissue paper or wrapping paper
• scissors
• toilet paper rolls
• sticky tape
• small gifts to put in the cracker
• cracker snaps
• glue
• glitter
• ribbon

1. Before making the cracker you will need to make a tissue paper crowns to include as presents. Use your own head as a measure of the size (make it smaller if the hat is going to be for children). Cut a zigzag shape along the side and glue the two edges together. When the glue is dry, neatly fold the hats so that they will fit inside the cracker tubes.

2. Insert a cracker snap (if you're using one) and a small gift into the toilet paper roll. Roll the toilet paper roll inside of a piece of colorful tissue or wrapping paper and secure the edges with a few dots of craft glue.
   
   There is a company that sells crackers snappers online (listed in the resources section below). Aside from this, snappers may also be purchased on Ebay and on Amazon.uk.

3. Trim the end of the roll so that your cracker is about 10-12 inches long. Twist the ends of the cracker gently, being careful not to tear the paper. Tie a piece of ribbon around each end so that the cracker resembles its characteristic candy wrapper form.

4. Lastly, the cracker is ready to decorate. Use glue and glitter or ribbon to make your Christmas crackers beautiful.

Resources

• Old English Crackers

[mrsmac]

on 11/15/2009 i loved these when I was a kid

[mamisofly1986]

on 11/2/2009 great article! 5* and a recommend! check out my articles also=)