A CRACKING CHRISTMAS

from Dales Life Winter 2022

'TIS THE SEASON

fireside A Cracking Christmas

Pulling Christmas crackers with family or friends is a traditional part of the festive fun, but the contents of shop-bought crackers can often be disappointing. The solution is simple: create your own. You can craft your own colourful designs, personalise each cracker, and choose the gifts inside to ensure each of your guests receives something they’ll truly treasure. The result will be smiling faces all round – and no more plastic tat going into the bin at the end of the day!

TIME: 1–2 hours MAKES: 8 crackers

YOU WILL NEED:

16 toilet roll tubes (two for each cracker) Piece of A4 (standard letter) paper, or fabric off-cuts 21cm x 30cm (for each cracker) Small gifts/treats to go inside cracker Reused tissue paper for wrapping gifts/treats Handwritten joke (optional) Brown string Ribbon Festive foliage or dried flowers

EQUIPMENT:

Ruler Scissors Brown tape Glue (only necessary if using fabric)

FOR GIFTING:

Brown kraft box 1. Cut one of the toilet roll tubes lengthways and overlap one edge on top of the other, securing with brown tape.

2. Roll both the modified and an intact toilet roll tubes in your chosen paper or fabric. You should have approximately 1–1.5cm overlap at one end to fold into the toilet roll. If you’re using fabric you will need to glue the fabric in place.

3. Bunch the paper together at the other end of the toilet roll. If you’re using fabric or a less rigid paper, you will need to secure the gathered end with string or ribbon.

4. Wrap a treat in recycled paper or put it in a handmade pouch. Then place it inside the modified toilet roll, along with a handwritten joke, if you wish to include one. Then slide the toilet roll inside the intact one.

5. Tie a ribbon or some brown string at the centre of the cracker and add a sprig of festive foliage or a dried flower. Put in a box to gift or place on your beautifully decorated table.