CRACKERS

The Bayonet Brunette's Guide to 

Homemade Christmas Crackers
(In Seven Easy Steps)

 ...

First things first, here are the materials you will need:

 For the Crackers

Thick card

A4 size image, magazine page or wrapping paper etc.
(I got this beautiful vintage bird illustration from the Graphics Fairy)

Ribbon

Scissors

Pencil

Cracker snaps

Ruler

Double-sided tape

Scotch tape

Hole punch (for the handmade envelopes)

For the Cracker Gifts

Paper hats

Jokes

Mini coloured pencils

Small gifts

Stickers
etc...

(Click here to download the 'My Doodles' and 'My Masterpiece' gift tags I created)

STEP ONE
Cut a thick piece of card, this will be used to thicken the middle of your cracker. Make sure it is wide enough to go around your gifts. Next, draw pencil lines around it, and two lines on either side of the card (about 4cm away). Stick the card down with some double sided tape along the edges.

STEP TWO
Fold the paper in around the card.

STEP THREE
Fold the paper in half like this, between the card and your pencil line (as if you are making a paper fan).

Next, fold the paper one more time along the pencil line, to make this pyramid shape.

STEP FOUR

 Cut small triangles into the folds, making sure they are even.

 

When you've done both sides, it should look like this.  

STEP FIVE

Attach some double-sided tape along the inside edge of the cracker, roll it up & stick the ends together. You can reinforce it with some invisible tape to make sure it doesn't come unstuck.

 

STEP SIX

Tie a ribbon around one end of the cracker, but leave the other end untied so that you can add your gifts.

Make sure the opening is large enough to fit everything in.  

QUICK TIP : To keep the contents of my cracker from falling out everywhere (and just because it looks a bit classier) I made little envelopes to put everything in (you can use my previous tutorial to make them), added a cute tag (which doubles up as a drawing game), and secured it with a simple ribbon. I think it will be a nice surprise for my guests to have one of these parcels to open!

STEP SEVEN
Finally, just add your gifts, tie the open end with another ribbon, and that's it! 
 I got a bit carried away and made quite a few of these, so I will be including them in my Christmas hampers and giving them away as gifts to friends and family. I had a lot of fun putting together items and gifts with a similar colour scheme!

 I hope you enjoy making these as much as I did! If you do use my tutorial, I would LOVE to see your creations, please send me an email with some pictures to info@thebayonetbrunette.com so I can share them on my blog!