Why not make your own Christmas crackers this year? It’s much easier than you think! By using leftover wrapping paper, some toilet rolls and twine, we will show you how easy and fun it is to create your very own crackers this Christmas as part of your handmade Christmas decorations projects. Then you can add whatever contents you like, from silly jokes to little handmade gifts.
By adding a personalised tag to each cracker, you can use them as table settings for your Christmas guests. It’s a great one to get the kids involved with too, as you can encourage them to make the little gifts inside.
We all love Christmas crackers but not only are they expensive to buy, they often contain trinkets you could add yourself for a fraction of the cost. That's why our craft team always make their own homemade Christmas crackers.
Happy crafting!
How do you make your own crackers?
Make your own Christmas crackers step-by-step with pictures
What you need
- Wrapping paper
- Toilet rolls
- Pencil
- Long ruler
- Scissors
- Double sided tape or glue
- Ribbon or twine
- Tags
- Cracker snaps and contents (hat, joke, wrapped chocolates…anything you like!)
Step 1
Place three toilet rolls side by side in one corner of a piece of wrapping paper, make a mark with a pencil where they end. Roll up the paper so the toilet rolls are completely covered, adding a bit extra to make an overlap, and mark with a pencil.
Step 2
With a long ruler, draw a line from the two marks so they join up. Then cut out this piece.
Step 3
Apply a little glue to the central toilet roll and a long strip of double-sided tape along the far edge of wrapping paper. Place the toilet rolls back on the paper and roll them up completely, in the paper.
Step 4
Pull one of the toilet rolls out slightly, then twist it so the paper creases. Take a piece of ribbon or twine, then tie it in a bow where the paper is creased. Pull out the toilet roll.
Step 5
Apply a bit of glue on the centre of the snap, then feed it inside the tubes. Use something long, like a pencil, to push it down so it adheres to the central tube.
Step 6
Add the contents into the cracker - party hat, little quote, joke or affirmation, a peg doll or some chocolate coins, anything you like!
Step 7
Repeat Step 4 on the opposite end of the cracker. Before you tie the bow, write your guest’s name on a little luggage tag, then feed it onto the twine.
Step 8
Tie a neat bow and trim the ends of the twine if needed. Then repeat to make up crackers for all of your guests.
TIP: If your gift won't fit in a toilet roll tube, try a kitchen roll tube, which is usually fatter, and just trim to size.
There are so many possibilities if you want to make your own Christmas crackers. Here's some more inspiration for Christmas crackers, along with step-by-step instructions.
Make your own Christmas crackers with contrasting paper
What you need
- Cardboard toilet roll tubes, plus one spare
- White A4 paper
- Patterned paper
- 1m narrow ribbon for each cracker
- White card
- Double-sided tape
1. Roll a sheet of white paper around the tube. Trim away excess paper but leave an overlap. Fix with double-sided tape.
2. Cut a rectangle of patterned paper to fit the tube, plus an overlap. Wrap around the cracker and hold in place with double-sided tape.
3. Cut a small rectangle of card, trim the top corners diagonally and write on the name. Punch a hole and thread onto 50cm of ribbon.
4. Insert the spare tube inside one end of the cracker to hold its shape and tie the ribbon tightly around between the cardboard rolls. Remove spare tube.
5. Fill open end of cracker with gift, then tie with remaining ribbon as before.
How to make colourful Christmas crackers
What you need
- Wrapping paper
- Cardboard roll (plus two more to help with constructing)
- Hats, snap and jokes (we used a kit)
- Mini gift or a wrapped sweet
- Ruler and pencil
- Scissors
- PVA glue
- Ribbon
- Place a toilet roll along the bottom left edge of a piece of wrapping paper,and roll the paper round until the toilet roll is covered by approximately 2cm, then make a mark with a pencil. Open out the paper again.
- From the pencil mark you just made, use a ruler to draw a horizontal line parallel to the bottom edge. Measure 20cm in from the left edge of the paper, then draw a vertical line from the bottomto the horizontal line you just drew.
- Cut out this rectangle with scissors. Put a line of glue along the toilet roll and position it centred along the bottom edge of the wrong side of the paper. Pop a hat, motto, snap and small gift (optional) into the toilet roll.
- Place another toilet roll either side of the middle toilet roll; roll the paper round them, then apply some glue along the long edge and hold in place until secure.
- Once the glue has completely dried, pull out one of toilet rolls slightly. Then, holding the cracker with both hands, twist one hand one way, and the other the other way, to create a crease. Do the same on the other side.
- Finally, pull out the two spare toilet rolls and add lengths of twine or ribbon, tying them in a bow.
If you want the fun of making your own crackers but would rather you get everything you need in one pack, give these cracker making kits a go!
Christmas cracker kits
What to put inside make your own crackers?
There are lots of things you can use to fill your homemade Christmas crackers, why not try:
- Homemade sweet treats such as chocolate truffles
- Handwritten notes sharing funny memories for each guest
- A small personalised gift
- Miniature wind up toys
What can you use instead of a cracker?
If Christmas crackers are 'off the table' this year and you want an interesting alternative, why not replace them with a homemade biscuit decorated with your guest's names – they can even double up as place cards.
Instead of a cracker, you could make festively decorated matchboxes that include a handwritten joke or note and a small token gift suited to each guest.
We've got heaps more Christmassy craft projects to try. From dainty handmade tree decorations to personalised Christmas crackers, we've got all the craft inspiration you need to make this year's handmade Christmas one to remember.
