Bloody Christmas Crackers

I bought origami ones last year, they all have a simple small origami thing inside you make (birds and such). They looked surprisingly impressive once made, so even the people who didn't want to do them themselves had someone else make theirs for them. Something to do and not cheesy. And if they don't like them they're just paper so you can recycle them.

Apparently you can make/fill your own if you can be bothered

Can you not just have a little favour instead?

Last year I ordered some beautiful luxury xmas crackers from Amazon. They took ages to arrive. And in fact we never received them until well after Christmas. So, I haven't had to bother to buy them this year as I have the crackers I ordered for last year. Not at all helpful to you. And, on reflection, quite a boring post. Sorry.

You're asking a lot for £3 per cracker. What keepsake will be worth having at that price?

time, hands, too much

I use mine for nutmeg and it's really very good at grating lemon or lime zest

@DutifulLark I’ve just googled them - they look great fun.
How rude of your guests not to join in - I hope you haven’t got to have them this year.

We were given some fill your own ones last year and never used them, so I have bought some scratch cards (all adults here too) so we shall see if anyone is lucky 🤞

I do!

They're perfect for grating parmesan. I'm still slightly gutted my sister got it that year. Been on the lookout for crackers that have one in since. My glasses are a bit loose and need some tiny screwdrivers. I'm hoping the two crackers I have left over from last year has some.

I shall keep Kuckoo in mind for future years (kids are too young ATM). I'll probably settle for supermarket crackers for this year.

Like an escape room Puzzle Post. They were great (as are the escape rooms in an envelope) but my guests were miserable buggers which ruined it.

You're never going to get six keepsake gifts for less than £25!!

Why not doctor the crackers yourself? My mum always did this. Fill them with scratch card or miniature of gin or a lipstick or similar!!

I think this trend is due a bid to be more eco and have less plastic tat. Which I fully understand. I just wish there was less of a divide between the bog standard crackers and something of substance. Need to remember to buy in Jan sales for next year.

OMG! I bet you are right. Hilarious. I could still grate a tiny bit of cheese with it though couldn’t I? 🤣

@DutifulLark
I ended up splashing out on some (what me and DH thought were fabulous) locked room puzzle crackers

What are locked room puzzles?

Have you noticed how many have blooming honey dipper things in? How many can you want?! Love a tape measure or mini screwdriver set myself but have done personalised ones this year with everyone’s favourite musician as a peg doll. They’re awesome but it has cost me a fortune!

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1393520147/liam-gallagher-with-message-board?ref=yr_purchases

We're having a cracker lucky dip this year. I have so many odd crackers left over from previous years that I am not buying any, and everyone can choose one from the box. Good gift or bad gift - choose wisely!

Saw this at Costco today and thought about you OP

In all the years I tried to find nice cracker gifts, I forgot they were supposed to be fun. Last year we had reindeer races. This year I’ve got rubber ducks.

don’t overthink, don’t overspend.

Are you me OP? I go nuts over this every year. I just spring cleaned and found about 8 'cracker presents' that I spent a blinking fortune on last year (make your own) and no one took home. What a waste. I think they seem magical but actually they just need to be there and then gone. I have delegated cracker buying to DH from now on do I don't go crackers.
And I am extremely proud that I haven't twitched over the rspb ones!

The cheap ones at least have entertainment value as you all laugh at the crappiness of the gifts

I've made my own. A hot wheels car in my DS one, a mini bottle of baileys for DF etc.

I got into sewing and the first thing my mother asked me for were reusable crackers! I followed a tutorial online that used velcro and we add a personalised gift and a banger in each so you still get the bang! If you aren't inclined to male your own try etsy; someone else has surely made some and then you can choose what goes inside and reuse them year after year!

I buy cheap crackers, open 1 end and add Lindt chocolate, then tie up with new ribbon. If you can't find the gifts you want, add your own.

Last year we had M and S ones with screw drivers, bottle opener, grater, key ring and nail clippers. The clippers were baby sized and broke the second time they were used by DH and part went down the bathroom sink u bend 😡 The grater and bottle opener were dangerously sharp making them less easily recyclable than plastic tat possibly making them less sustainable or just differently non planet friendly. I would actually like crackers that just had mottos/jokes, hat and popped.