No Christmas would be complete without the crackers, but rather than spend money on a box of garish examples with plastic toys inside, why not create something more elegant? Our beautiful design is easy to make and would add a special festive touch to any Christmas table setting, with the added advantage that you can put anything you like inside. We’ve also included a lovely matching card, and both are decorated with pretty pink and silvery snowflakes.

Cracker

For each cracker, cut pearlised paper; one central section, 30cm x 11cm, and two end pieces, 30cm x 8cm. Trim two strips of crepe paper, 30cm x 8cm for the neck sections. Take the central piece and attach a crepe paper strip to each long edge using double-sided tape and overlapping by 2cm at each join.

Add the end pieces, again overlapping by 2cm. Reinforce the central section with an 11cm length of 5cm diameter cardboard tube and roll the cracker around this, carefully positioning it so that the ends of the tube line up on each side with the crepe paper strips for the neck.

Neatly hold the long edge in place with double-sided tape and tie silver cord around each of the necks. Cut a snowflake in silver mirror card using the Sizzix machine and punch a smaller one from bright pink card. Layer the pink snowflake onto the silver one and decorate the centre with a self-adhesive crystal.

Snowflake Card

Fold white card, 28cm x 14cm, in half to form your blank. Trim silver mirror card, 11cm square, and lilac pearlised card, 10.5cm square. Layer together, attaching to the blank with 3-D foam pads.

Cut a snowflake in silver mirror card with the Sizzix machine, and punch a small snowflake from bright pink card. Cut the large snowflake silhouette to 6cm square, and layer onto white card, 7cm square.

Glue the small pink snowflake in the centre and decorate with a self-adhesive crystal. Attach to the card with 3-D foam pads. Finish your card with a length of silver cord tied in a bow around the spine.