Whatever made me think this was a good idea!

To be honest I’ve never been a great fan of them either but it’s always felt as though they were something one ought to have.

Actually Tom Smith invented them as a way to sell more sweets so you could say that there just another example of manufacturers setting out to persuade us that we need something rather than actually filling a need.

Little bags sound a lovely idea to me! Much more fun than crackers, but then, I’m biased. I have always hated them!

I thought I might try that next year Nana8 but now I’m wondering about making little bags with a gift, joke etc. I shall give it some thought.

Sudden thought - you could buy cheap crackers and stuff your own trinkets in?

teabagwoman

I had a bright idea. I got a kit for making your own crackers, thinking that my gd can help me make them, it will keep her occupied. This afternoon I decided to make one up so I’d know what I’m doing. Several hours later I have one rather wonky cracker and a banging headache. Whatever made me think it was a good idea?? Does this resonate with anyone else?

I tried this a few years back and put nice little trinkets in them. Not particularly appreciated and it took ages but I did cheat a bit in that I used kits and just had to assemble them. They costalotta as well !

Mojack26

No, sorry not interested in craft things.

And the point of telling us that is…….?

Sorry have gone bold - I thought I was chatting on another thread!

I confess to having made personal crackers for my family on-and-off for many years. Mainly if we had guests for Christmas as they are a bit of a fiddle and shopping for them takes time and thought... A tiny Maglite, penknife, baby snowglobe, make up, wind up matchbox music box, jewellery items, and once a puzzle giving directions to something hiding somewhere else (as it didn't quite fit!

I always like the “idea” of doing homemade presents etc.

The reality? Money wasted, bit and bobs of paper etc everywhere and one very frustrated person!

GolferGrandma

I asked my DIL if we were to have crackers, usually I bought them in the NY sales ready for following year. She came up with the bright idea that we had a ‘Secret Santa Cracker’ (for 10 of us) max cost £10, and sent for pull snaps and hats. I’ve yet to do mine, my beloved other half has done his. I suppose it is vaguely similar to a cracker, not sure what our GD, his recipient, will make of it!!!!

I love this - and she will have done too
Perfect!
Once seen never forgotten

I made Christmas crackers one year as my family never did crackers and my then boyfriend, (later to be my husband - now ex!) was coming to stay and I knew he'd expect them. I bought appropriate small gift for each cracker chosen for the individual guests. They turned out OK but I wouldn't do it again. Unfortunately most bought crackers are poor value with pretty useless 'gift' inside and I hate wearing paper hats.

Oh yes Esmay, we think we can carry on.

In the end the crackers went down rather well but mainly, I think, because I’d found some really groan worthy jokes (thank you Google) to put in them.

teabagwoman -Thank you.
I think that I was sickening for this for days before it materialised.
Silly me for not resting !

I asked my DIL if we were to have crackers, usually I bought them in the NY sales ready for following year. She came up with the bright idea that we had a ‘Secret Santa Cracker’ (for 10 of us) max cost £10, and sent for pull snaps and hats. I’ve yet to do mine, my beloved other half has done his. I suppose it is vaguely similar to a cracker, not sure what our GD, his recipient, will make of it!!!!

Sorry to hear about the chest infection Esmay. I hope you can rest up and save your energy for Christmas Day.

Allsorts, I couldn’t think what to put in them either so resorted to sweets. My gd is very pleased about that.

I bought a nice looking box of crackers and put a lottery ticket in each. I never buy lottery tickets or gamble but could not think what else to put in for everyone.

Don't beat yourself up over it .
I'm the person , who always gets asked to make things and sometimes it doesn't go smoothly.
Making your own crackers isn't cheap unless you really are using old loo rolls and it's fiddly as well .
I'm not a happy bunny today.
I've got another lingering chest infection and the last thing that I feel like doing is crafts at church .

Resorted to sellotape, a glue gun and a stapler and, with the help of gd’s smaller, nimble fingers, I have a set of wonky looking crackers. Next year I shall take Chocolatelovinggran’s advice.

No, sorry not interested in craft things.

Many years ago, just after my oldest son was born, I got a job making crackers at home. I got quite good at it. I got paid £6 for making 12 boxes of crackers (144 crackers). Making the 12 boxes used to take about 2 hours a night over 2 weeks!

teabagwoman the kit making crackers went down like a lead balloon. I made one lol never mind maybe next year.

made 12 christmas crackers from a kit last year, and loved doing them. They were a bit fiddly but i put my own 'gifts' inside, with hats and jokes collected over the previous few years. The family loved them, mainly fornthe gifts inside!!

When my children were young many years ago, one year we made crackers. It took a long time! We got toilet roll centres and added paper hats the children made, and they also made decorations to go on the outside. I think they also wrote jokes. We got paper for the outsides and I sneaked in small gifts which the did not see, so they would be a surprise. It did not matter that it took a long time because they enjoyed it - and now they are parents, they still remember doing it.
I did not include the bit that goes snap because I have a friend who was blinded by one of these as a child. So I have never allowed children to take the snap out to pull separately.

Yes I saw one of those Christmas crafty programmes where they said buy cheap crackers and put your own gifts inside ( taking out the crappy plastic tat) , tie the ends with some nice ribbon and attach a name tag- put them as place markers on people’s place settings. I put things like lip balm, lottery scratch cards etc inside. Not doing it this year mind!

I’m with you chocolatelovinggran. We got so fed up with cracker tat that we decided to go down this route. I’ve previously got them from JL but used Amazon this year. Once you have bought the small gifts it doesn’t take long at all and they come with a name tag. If you can’t think of what to put in them there are plenty of websites with suggestions.