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    Home » Holiday Decorating and Entertaining

    How to Make Christmas Crackers - 2 Ways

    Published: Oct 30, 2024 · Author: Tiffany Aasted · This post may contain affiliate links

    Who doesn’t enjoy opening Christmas crackers during the holidays, at a party or just for fun? It’s even better to make your own to go along with your holiday theme! Follow this easy step-by-step guide for how to make Christmas crackers 2 ways that will complement your holiday decorations.

    Making your own DIY Christmas crackers is a fun holiday craft project for family and friends to join in! This project requires only a few supplies, many of which you may already have on-hand, and one that you have to order ahead of time.

    Get creative with cracker fillings to surprise your guests this holiday season! With many methods to create your own, read on for two ways on how to make your own Christmas crackers.

    diy christmas crackers

    Last Christmas, I bought two luxurious looking sets of Morris & Co Christmas crackers at HomeGoods. Styled to the nines in a quintessential Morris & Co paper complete with satin bows, it was the first time I had ever bought Christmas crackers.

    On Christmas Day, we opened each cracker one by one, laughing the whole time as they “popped” open with their namesake cracker sound. 

    Cracker fillings sprung like confetti onto the floor, finally revealing the secret goodies inside! While mostly tiny, inexpensive trinkets, it was the experience that we enjoyed.

    diy christmas crackers

    Why Make Your Own Christmas Crackers at Home

    Given how much fun we had last year, I decided to incorporate Christmas crackers into our holiday traditions. When I decorate for the holidays, I typically stay within the color palette that flows all throughout our Christmas decorations, gift wrapping paper and any theme I come up with.

    While the Morris & Co crackers were beautiful, I knew I would have to make my own to complement whatever decorations we had going on. This may be the case for you as well. To be honest, I could not wait to make my own!

    pretty pastel christmas crackers

    Our dreamy pastel Christmas decorations, combined with charming gift wrapped presents from last year is my favorite so far! For a previous Christmas, we had a more organic holiday decoration style. You can see how the colors and decorations all work together.

    Most people think you can only have crackers at Christmas, but that’s simply not true. Making your own crackers means you aren’t limited to just Christmas time.

    You can make your own crackers for any occasion, including

    • Birthdays
    • Valentines Day
    • Anniversaries
    • Fourth of July
    • Other holidays

    Think how fun it would be to give guests a party favor inside a cracker at a birthday celebration! Or, celebrate an anniversary with a piece of jewelry tucked secretly inside a cracker. How memorable would that be?

    pastel christmas crackers

    Supplies You Will Need

    You may already have most of the supplies on-hand to make DIY Christmas crackers. That said, you will have to plan ahead to ensure enough cardboard craft tubes as well snaps/poppers. You’ll find more details on those things below.

    supplies to make xmas crackers

    Tip:

    Plan ahead! For both the cardboard craft tubes as well as the snaps/poppers, plan about 3 months in advance. It may take you a while to gather enough tubes to make 6-12 crackers. Furthermore, if you live in the U.S., the snaps/poppers may take a few weeks to get to you, since they usually come from overseas.

    • Pretty wrapping paper - You can use whatever wrapping paper you choose. This is a great project to use up scraps. I recommend matching the cracker paper to the same wrapping papers you use for presents for a more cohesive look. Whatever paper you choose, select a paper that is easy to work with that is also on the thinner side, like gift wrapping paper.

      In other Christmas posts, I have talked about my love of Sugar Paper gift wrapping paper. The MANY pictures I’ve taken reinforce how much I love their beautiful papers. You can also shop Sugar Paper x Target for a slightly different but equally pretty gift wrapping paper line.
    diy christmas crackers
    • Paper towel rolls or cardboard craft tubes - You will need empty cardboard paper towel rolls or craft tubes for this project. Emptying paper towel rolls (some people use toilet paper rolls) can take a little while to gather enough to make 6-12 crackers. Plan ahead by collecting rolls throughout the year. Here, I used paper towel rolls.
    • Cracker snaps/poppers - If you want your crackers to actually make the signature “cracker” or “popper” sound, you will need to buy Christmas cracker snaps/poppers. If you follow the link, it takes you to the Etsy shop I bought mine from. They were very helpful in communicating when the shipment was delayed which is fairly common with this particular item.
    snaps for making xmas crackers at home

    You will need 1 snap/popper per Christmas cracker. They should be very inexpensive to the point where shipping may cost more than the snaps themselves. I gladly paid for shipping in order to get the traditional cracker sound.

    I also highly recommend ordering snaps/poppers at least 3 months in advance. Given snaps usually come from overseas if you order from the U.S, they can take a few weeks to arrive or may be delayed due to unforeseen circumstances like mine were. Also, the closer to the holidays you get, the higher the likelihood you will not be able to get them in time or at all.

    • Scissors, X-Acto/exacto knife or specialty paper cutter - To cut the wrapping paper, a sharp pair of scissors work best. I love these blush pink brass scissors that are pretty while also being functional. Any sharp scissors will work for this project. If you prefer, you can also use a specialty paper cutting tool, including the WrapMaster paper cutter or gift wrap cutter.
    Sharp blush pink scissors atop a stack of neutral gift wrapping paper
    • Tape or glue - Adhering the snaps/poppers to the cardboard craft tubes requires either tape or glue. I used tape because I find it much easier to work with for this project.
    • Ribbon or string - Quintessential Christmas crackers are tied at each end with a pretty ribbon, bow or string. Since I have an ever-growing collection of ribbons, it is my preference. In fact, I love layering different types of ribbon for an even more elevated effect. You can get ideas for layered ribbons in both my Gift Wrap Ideas and Christmas Present Wrapping Ideas posts.
    diy christmas crackers
    • Decorations - If you want to embellish your Christmas crackers even more, you can add decorative elements, such as stickers, stamps, paint, or tie charms with ribbon at each end.
    • Small treats or gifts - Tucked secretly inside each cracker is a special surprise. From candy to jewelry, be as creative as you want! Think outside the—dare I say—box as well as your audience. For instance, kids love candy or other small treats, whereas grandparents might like a single serving bag of their favorite tea, lovely ballpoint pen or gift certificate to a shop they frequent.

      Also, many parties have a theme, so keep that in mind as you shop for goodies to fill each cracker. Make sure you’re not just buying junk that will end up in the trash. Moreover, there are no rules that say the treat has to be cheap or small as long as it fits inside. World Market is a wonderful place to find a variety of treats, such as interesting travel size bath products, tiny condiments and jams, and a wide assortment of tea.

    Tip:

    Larger and heavier items may not “pop” out of the cracker. If you’re okay with that, fill the crackers with things you want. Otherwise, choose small, very lightweight items.

    treats for christmas cracker
    maple candy for christmas cracker
    mini chocolates for christmas cracker

    I used a variety of tiny European candies and other delicious treats!

    How to Make DIY Christmas Crackers Step-by-Step - 2 Ways

    As far as DIY holiday projects go, making your own Christmas crackers is fairly easy. You do have to plan a little in advance, as mentioned in the supplies section above. Crafting the crackers takes little effort and is a fun activity for the whole family on Christmas Eve.

    Tip:

    If you can make a sacrificial cracker for testing purposes, I highly recommend doing so. You want to make sure that the treats you fill the cracker with are not too heavy and that the snap/popper actually works the way it’s intended.

    pretty christmas crackers

    I probably read at least five different articles and watched two or three videos to see how others succeeded with this project before I decided on which method to use to DIY crackers. However, my crackers are more decoration than functional, since the paper I use is heavier. To actually pop our crackers was a challenge to fight against the thick paper.

    There are two ways I found worked best to craft homemade Christmas crackers:

    1. The first way/method uses three craft tubes as the structure to ensure the cracker shape is maintained throughout the assembly process. 
    2. The second way/method is to cut a diamond pattern into the wrapping paper to aid in making the snap/popper work without having to overcome the force of the paper when you open them. I find this method is easier and does not require the use of three craft tubes to complete.

    Below, I walk through the steps for each way/method, so you can decide which version will work best for you.

    The First Way to Make DIY Crackers

    Step 1: Prepare the Cracker Tubes

    If you are using paper towel rolls like I did, you need to cut each roll. Instead of thirds, I cut mine with the middle section slightly larger to make it look more like a bon-bon. At 11” in total length, I measured the craft tube about 2 ½ to inches from each end, leaving the middle section with the remainder.

    If you prefer, you can cut each roll in thirds. Doing so makes crackers that are about the same size as a toilet paper roll, which you can also use.

    measuring craft tube
    marking point to cut craft tube
    craft tube in sections

    Step 2: Add the Snap/Popper

    Skip to step 3 if you are not using snaps/poppers in your crackers. Remove the two tube ends and place one of the snaps/poppers inside at the center of the middle tube. Tape/glue it to the inside of the tube at each end to secure it. Do NOT tape or glue the middle of the snap since that is where the snap/pop comes from and you don’t want to interfere with it. Place the ends back on the tube with the snap inside.

    placing snap inside cracker
    taping snap inside cracker
    replacing ends with snap inside craft tube

    Step 3: Wrap the Cracker Tube in Pretty Paper

    Here is where you can use scrap paper if you have any. Measure your tube for length. Then, wrap the paper around the tube, overlapping ever so slightly. Cut the paper to size, about three times the size of the roll, and secure it with tape/glue at the center of the tube where the slightly overlapped paper meets.

    measure paper for cracker
    cutting paper for craft tube
    taping paper to cracker

    Step 4: Close One End with Beautiful Ribbon

    At one end, find where the end tube meets the middle tube. Lightly twist the paper back and forth where it meets enough times to loosen it up. The goal is to loosen it enough to secure it in place with a pretty ribbon, bow or string. I find it helpful to pull the end tube out slightly away from the middle tube, using it as leverage to push and pull the paper to loosen it. When it’s loose enough, scrunch it up a little and secure it with a ribbon or string. Remove and discard that tube end. Tape the snap to the paper to secure it in place. Leave the other end open.

    closing one end of cracker
    ribbon secures one end of cracker
    snap extends beyond tube
    trimming snap

    If the snap/popper goes beyond the paper, trim a little off so it doesn’t show. Don’t trim too much, because you need to be able to pull it with the paper to make the snap sound upon opening.

    Step 5: Fill the Cracker with Treats

    At the open end, fill the cracker with treats. Get creative with candy, little sweets, jewelry, or anything you can think of! As previously mentioned, try not to buy junk that will end up in the trash. Keep your audience, theme, holiday, or type of party in mind. Don’t make it too heavy.

    treats for christmas cracker

    Step 6: Close and Secure the Other End

    After you’ve filled the cracker, use the same process as step 4 to loosen the paper and secure it with ribbon, string or a bow as you did with the other end. Remove and discard the tube end and tape the snap to the paper.

    As with the first end you secured, if the snap/popper goes beyond the paper, trim a little off.

    securing both ends of cracker

    Step 7: Embellish and Decorate Your Crackers

    Add festive decorations, stickers, stamps, paint, or personalize each cracker for guests, as a final step before displaying your crackers. Be creative and have fun!

    pretty christmas crackers
    pretty pastel christmas crackers

    The Second Way to Make DIY Crackers

    Step 1: Prepare the Cracker Tubes

    Similar to the first method, at 11” in total length, I cut the craft tube about 5 ½ - 6 inches to make it look more like a bon-bon. If you prefer, you can cut each roll in thirds. Doing so makes crackers that are about the same size as a toilet paper roll, which you can also use.

    measure craft tube

    Step 2: Cut the Paper to Size

    Since you will be cutting a diamond pattern in the paper, measure your paper to about three times the size of the cracker tube. With a pencil, draw diamonds along each end of the paper, but leave about ¼ to ½ inch of paper between the diamonds and the craft tube. Use an exacto knife to cut out the diamond shapes. Discard the diamond-shaped paper scraps.

    measure paper for craft tube
    cut diamond pattern in paper
    cut diamond pattern in paper
    measure paper for craft tube

    Step 3: Add the Snap/Popper and Wrap the Cracker

    Skip to step 4 if you are not using snaps/poppers in your crackers. Place the snap inside at the center of the middle tube and tape/glue it inside the tube at each end. Do NOT tape or glue the middle of the snap since that is where the snap/pop comes from and you don’t want to interfere with it. Replace the tube ends. Then, wrap the paper around the tube, overlapping ever so slightly and secure it with tape/glue at the center of the tube where the slightly overlapped paper meets.

    snap inside craft tube
    taping paper to cracker

    Step 4: Close One End with Beautiful Ribbon

    At one end, pull the end tube out just beyond the diamond, scrunch the paper together at the diamond pattern and secure it with a ribbon, bow or string. Tape the snap to the paper to secure it in place. Leave the other end open.

    If the snap/popper goes beyond the paper, trim a little off so it doesn’t show. Don’t trim too much, because you need to be able to pull it with the paper to make the snap sound upon opening.

    closing one end with ribbon
    secure one end of cracker

    Step 5: Fill the Cracker with Treats

    At the open end, fill the cracker with treats. This is where you can get creative with candy, little sweets, jewelry, or anything you can think of! As previously mentioned earlier, try not to buy junk that will end up in the trash. Keep your audience, theme, holiday, or type of party in mind. Don’t make it too heavy.

    fill cracker with treats
    fill cracker with treats

    Step 6: Close and Secure the Other End

    After you’ve filled the cracker, use the same process as step 4 to secure the end with ribbon, string or a bow. Tape the snap to the paper to secure it in place. Remove and discard the tube end.

    As with the first end you secured, if the snap/popper goes beyond the paper, trim a little off.

    secure other end of cracker with ribbon

    Step 7: Embellish and Decorate Your Crackers

    Add festive decorations, stickers, stamps, paint, or personalize each cracker for guests, as a final step before displaying your crackers. Be creative and have fun!

    diy christmas crackers

    Now, display your crackers for all to see while they anticipate what’s to come!

    • Neatly stack them in a decorative basket or tray
    • Lay them under the Christmas tree with other presents
    • Hang them on the tree with pretty ribbon
    • Position one at each place setting on a table decorated for the festivities
    diy christmas crackers

    When you’re ready, gather round to pop them open!

    I hope your Christmas crackers are the hit of your holiday party this year! Leave a comment and let me know how it went!

    diy christmas crackers
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    Mornington Lane's author Tiffany Aasted

    Hello, I’m Tiffany, author, founder and photographer behind the blog. Here you’ll find home decorating tips, DIY projects, entertaining ideas, home organizing solutions, and recipes. I love timeless design and classic style, mixing high-end and budget-friendly decor, and sharing where to buy the most beautiful finds for your home. I’m so excited to share all things home with you! Read more


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