Create your own eco-friendly crackers with brown paper or recycled wrapping paper
If you liked the colourful Christmas Crackers make in our December issue, but would like something a little greener, or just a little more understated in design, you might like to make these eco-friendly versions.
You will need:
Cracker template (click to download and print out)
Brown paper
Cutting board
Craft knife
Toilet roll or cardboard tube
Cracker snaps
Double-sided tape
Ruler
String
How to make:
1. Cut out your template and draw around it on the card. Cut out the main cracker shape and then cut out all the triangles using your craft knife and ruler.
2. Place your toilet roll in the middle of the brown paper between the cut out diamonds. Take your cracker snap and put it through the cracker then place in the cracker any presents or jokes you wish to fill it with.
3. Place sticky tape along the bottom edge of the cracker, leaving a space where the triangles are, then roll and stick the cracker together. (If you don’t want to use tape you could little tabs in one side and slits in the other for them to go through to hold the paper together, although this won’t be as sturdy.)
4. Place your string underneath the triangles, pull tight and tie into a bow.
5. Cut off any of the cracker snap that may be showing, then personalise as you wish.
