Whiff of Joy Tips and Techniques Thursday #5

[JBCK]

Happy Thursday! Today I wanted to share this amazing tutorial that Lori made. She shows you how to make a spectacular Christmas Cracker! This is one of my favorite holiday traditions and how fun to be able to create your own customized version!

For her Christmas cracker she has used the mini Praying Angel stamp.

Supplies Needed : 2 Toilet paper rolls, Piece of wrapping paper, ribbon, embellishments, small toy, paper hat, cracker stick.

Cut one toilet paper roll in half so you have three sections. Fill the middle part with the tissue paper hat, small toy (deck of cards,etc) and the cracker part.

Apply double stick tape to the top edge and attached the roll leaving a little bit more space between the sections than shown.

Continue to roll it up and close it shut with double stick tape and trim off any excess on ends.

Tie the ends up with ribbon and decorate the cracker.

Here is the finished product. I added a paper doily, one of the Whiff of Joy banners and a gold snowflake and pearl brad.

Love, love this! Hope this inspires you to try making your own!

[Understandblue]

This is stunning.

[Susan Long]

Where did you find "cracker sticks"?

[Mrs Noofy]

Thanks for the great tutorial. I think I will make some of these for my stamp girls (I usually have a small gift for them) and I just happened to pick-up some snappers at Mikes the other day. Whooo hooo

[heyjudet]

These have always been a special treat in our house. They are looked forward to with great excitement (almost as much as the Christmas stockings). It is not unusual for me to be carrying a flattened toilet paper/paper towel tube around in my purse throughout the year as I tend to shop all year long for items that will fit inside. You may laugh at this, however, when you've been making these every year for around 20 years, it's difficult to come up with new items to fill the crackers with - believe me! I hope the people new to making these find them as much fun as I do and will want to carry on the tradition of making these and delighting their family and friends for many years to come.

[smithr66]

I've never heard of a cracker stick. Where do you find them?

[joy4utoo]

Hi! I made some for christmas this year. I tried taping the cracker sticks and they didn't pull apart therefore didn't pop then I tried stapling each end and only half worked! I was so disappointed. Any ideas or tips to ensure that it makes the pop sound? Merry Christmas.

[justsoducky]

Here in Canada and the U.S. you can buy them at Michael's crafts. I usually just tape them to the inside and make sure both people squeeze each end tight, I've never had a problem. Hope this helps a bit, thanks so much for the questions?
Lori

[erika348]

So cute! I will have to try this! TFS

[demahi]

Olde English Crackers offers cracker supplies including (but not limited to) snaps, paper hats and tubes (for those that who prefer not to use toilet paper rolls). Here is a link to their website: Olde English Crackers | Christmas Crackers | Party Favors | English Crackers

[Chris Beyersdorf]

I was just at their site and they are sold out on snaps (.

Originally Posted by demahi

Olde English Crackers offers cracker supplies including (but not limited to) snaps, paper hats and tubes (for those that who prefer not to use toilet paper rolls). Here is a link to their website: Olde English Crackers | Christmas Crackers | Party Favors | English Crackers

[Darlene Kinnear]

I would like to know what a tissue hat is. and also the cracker stick

[JBCK]

Originally Posted by Darlene Kinnear

I would like to know what a tissue hat is. and also the cracker stick

Hi Darlene!

My parents were both from the UK and we have always had Christmas crackers. My husband on the other hand, had never heard of them before he met me! They are basically tubes (people make them with toilet tissue rolls as they are the perfect size) that are wrapped in pretty paper, filled with little trinkets, that you pull apart with a partner at Christmas dinner.

The cracker stick what is attached to the inside of the cracker so that when you pull it, it breaks making a popping or cracking sound. You can buy these at craft supply stores. I know that I have bought them at Michaels in the past.

The tissue hat is a crown made out of tissue paper that is often found in crackers. You are supposed to wear the crown during dinner! My hubbie wasn't too keen on this but I have converted him!

Hope this helps. Since my kids get such a kick out of these, we pull them at New Years as well!

[KateFerg]

Originally Posted by justsoducky

Here in Canada and the U.S. you can buy them at Michael's crafts.
Lori

I am aware that snaps are available at Michael's in Canada (crackers are British after all) but has anyone actually seen them at Michael's in the US? I have never seen any in the stores in the south. The Internet is your best bet. Although most instructions say to tape both ends I only tape down one end of the snap so the other side is free to be pulled and easily snapped.

No one has mentioned the most important addition to your cracker - the joke! We always do our crackers as a social activity between dinner and dessert. The jokes are generally corny riddles and each person reads theirs and everyone trys to guess the answer. These days an Internet search for "cracker jokes" produces plenty of results. Print them out, cut them in strips and add to your cracker.

[justsoducky]

Oh yes, I forgot to mention the joke, that is the best part. I have seen the cracker snaps at Michael's in Grand Forks, North Dakota as well. They were in a basket at the front of the store during Christmas.
Lori

[Kayz]

I learn something new everyday I din't know that crackers are not part of US Christmas traditions!! It is not Christmas here without crackers but they are getting so expensive that I might try making my own for this year!! I will save tutorial, thanks