For A Great Homemade Christmas Decoration Try This Cracker

This page shows you how to create my favourite homemade Christmas decoration - a Christmas cracker - with your toddler.

It's cheap and easy to make, and is guaranteed to brighten up any dreary-looking yuletide tree!

If your toddler is willing, then make a few and they can give as gifts. I would recommend starting these early to avoid disappointment.

What You Will Need

Toilet roll tube
Piece of plain wrapping paper, 40 x 18 cm
PVA glue
Scissors
Ruler
Pencil or pen
Decorations: glitter, stars, cotton wool etc

How To Make This Homemade Christmas Decoration

First, you need to prepare the cracker so your toddler can decorate it.

Place the tube on the wrapping paper as shown, and measure the remaining length. Here it is 30cm.

Divide the length you just measured by 2 - here it is 15cm.

Next, mark 15cm from the left, then 15 cm from the right. Your tube should now be centered in the middle of the wrapping paper.

Glue (not too heavily) the middle section of the wrapping paper, which will cover the tube.

Now roll it up and twist the ends in opposite directions...

Glue (not too heavily) the middle section of the wrapping paper, which will cover the tube.

Now roll it up and twist the ends in opposite directions...

Now Decorate Your Christmas Cracker

Don't be afraid to squeeze the PVA glue on in liberal doses - it is virtually invisible when it dries.

This is one time when you really can let your little on get stuck in and really make a good creative mess!

Besides, if you have small items like stars and wispy cotton wool, they will stick far better in a sea of glue, like in the picture.

Don't give your kid anything too heavy to stick on - the whole thing is quite lightweight.

I have christened this decoration a tree cracker because it is best positioned up high.

If it is in arm's' reach, it will probably be mistaken for a real cracker, and someone might try to pull it!

A learning idea for the tree cracker, is to sticky tape the back of a number, and place it daily on the cracker. This can act as an inexpensive Advent calendar. You will need to carefully place maybe a small sweet, a few grapes, a few chocolate buttons inside daily. I found placing the goodies in something was an easier option. Such as a roll of foil. Adult supervision will be required, especially if you want your homemade Christmas decoration, tree cracker to last until the big day.

Enjoy More Christmas Activities, Crafts And Fun This Year With Your Children.

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