How to make Christmas crackers with pretty paper

How to make Christmas crackers with pretty paper; festive DIY craft project

I love these fully recyclable Christmas crackers made with Liberty Flowers paper (it’s from the Bloom & Wild and Liberty London collaboration and is a reimagined version of Liberty’s 1969 ‘Blossom Affair’ print. Gifts ordered from the Bloom & Wild X Liberty London collection with be wrapped in the paper, but any recyclable pretty paper that takes your fancy will work fine.

When you consider that 40 million crackers end up in the bin on the 25^th Dec, contributing to the millions of tonnes of waste thrown away each year over the festive period, using up pretty paper, loo roll holders and making your own, much prettier, zero waste alternatives feels like a good idea. A fun one too.

The step by steps to making your own

What you’ll need

Your favourite wrapping paper
A cardboard tube(an empty loo roll works perfectly)
Scissors
Ruler
Cracker snaps
Double-sided tape
Pen
Ribbon

DIY step by steps

Step 1: Start by cutting a 30 by 20cm piece from your chosen paper.

Step 2: Time to make some folds! On each short end, draw three lines: one 5cm in, then two more 2cm apart. Fold along these lines.

Step 3: Now for the fun bit–pinch 2cm sections to create little peaks, then tuck the 5cm sections underneath. It’s starting to look cracker-shaped.

Step 4: Let’s add some flair. Snip triangles along the bottom edge, leaving small gaps between. Do the same on the other side.

Step 5: Pop some double-sided tape on either end of your middle section.

add the double side sticky tape to the two ends of the paper

Step 6: Grab your cardboard tube and add in a prize to the tube (ideas: handwritten jokes, Christmas hats, or small gift). Attach the tube to one side.

add the cardboard tube to the centre of the christmas cracker

Step 7: Roll the tube with the paper to the other side.

roll the cardboard tube up inside the paper of the diy christmas cracker

Step 8: Pop a cracker snap inside (this is what makes the ‘pop’!) and secure with tape. Make sure to tape down either end of the paper too.

add the snap to the inside of the cracker

Step 9: For the finishing touch, pinch the cut-out sections and wrap a ribbon around them. If you’re re-using the Liberty paper from a Bloom & Wild gift, the gift ribbon will work perfectly for this.