Tuesday 29 November 2011

Christmas Crackers

Hi Everyone,

It's not long now til the big man arrives with gifts for all.  I love this time of year, thinking of what unique gifts or decorations I can come up with each year.  People seem to enjoy the handmade gift more I think because it shows  how much effort and thought you have really put into each gift.
Christmas crackers were on my design team list to make this month.  This turned into more of a chore than I intended.  I had originally intended to decorate an old tin I had and fill it  with a glass Christmas decoration I had found at Crabtree & Evelyn.  Unfortunately I forgot to leave 1/4 of an inch at the top so the lid would fit on again, so it didn't fit!!  What to do?  So I chopped off the bottom with a can opener and carried on, so my container turned into a Christmas Cracker.
The paper I have used is from last years Pink Paislee Christmas range - honestly I have so much Christmas themed paper that I have tried to be good this year.....................................................until I saw the new range from The Scrapcake, but thats a whole nother story :)

So heres the end result of my inital mistake :)


and heres a few close up shots.





I have used to Spellbinders Poinsettia and 2011 Christmas Ornaments to decorate the cracker.  The bauble ornament has been stamped with embossing ink and embossed with white powder.  The stamps are from Waltzing Mouse Stamps.  The triple bow is made with a bow maker.
To make the ends of the cracker.  I have pleated a strip of calico and used double sided tape to adhere it - hot glue did not work against the metal of the tin.  For the paper I would advise to have two strips of 12x12 cut in half and then pleated using an acordian fold method.  When I made mine I discovered when it was too late that I only had one sheet of the striped paper to go around each side, when I think it would've looked better with two strips joined together, so I had to make do.  So if you do use x2 pieces of paper you would have more of a pleated look that what I have.  The edges of the paper are punched with a Martha Stewart border punch.  Considering how things went Im pleased with how the cracker turned out .................mistakes and all! :)

So have a go, would love to see what you come up with!

Happy Scrapping
Megan

3 comments:

Fairtrade Xmas Hampers said...

What a fabulous mistake to make! I wish all my crafty mistakes turned out to be so beautiful!

Heidi said...

WOW Megan, it's gorgeous ....

Francine said...

awesome as always!

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