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Original poster

Bloody Christmas Crackers

259 replies

GlamorousHeifer · 14/12/2024 07:21

I am driving myself mad (admittedly a short drive!) over Christmas crackers of all things!
I must have been looking online researching my options for about 8+ hours (in total, not 8 straight hours, I'm not that crazy!) but none of them are quite right.
Must be:
*Plastic free
*Beautiful
*8 pack
*Pre made, not make yourself
*Decent gift (no toe nail clippers or tiny screwdrivers!) Ideally a keepsake.
*Suitable for teen boys and girls
*Not more than £25.
Aibu to believe the crackers of my dreams exist despite an extensive search coming up with nothing?
For those that need to hear it, this is lighthearted, yes I do have plenty of other things to worry about, yes I know the COL has gone up and some people won't be able to celebrate at all etc etc.

OP posts:
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16
Bignanna · 14/12/2024 18:38

GlamorousHeifer · 14/12/2024 17:57

Except I already posted earlier this afternoon to say I had bought the RSPB crackers so no need to make my own!
I won't know until Christmas day though if I'm satisfied.

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Yes sorry, realised that! Your post made me spend time looking at all the crackers online. Some are so lovely- and expensive!

TwinklyMintHelper · 14/12/2024 18:26

The quality of Christmas crackers has really gone downhill in recent years. I was at a Christmas lunch the other day, and the only thing in the crackers was a sad, old joke! And decent crackers are very expensive too. I doubt that you will find anything with an original gift in them for £25 - cheap and tawdry seems to be the order of the day!
Have a go at making your own. It’s not difficult!

pestowithwalnuts · 14/12/2024 18:08

ElfAndSafetyBored · 14/12/2024 16:52

I saw some today with a miniature cheese grater. I came close to buying because I really want one but it probably cheaper to just buy a miniature cheese grater.

Isn't for grating nutmeg ?

nonevernotever · 14/12/2024 18:05

I really like the ones from the little green cracker company, www.littlegreencrackercompany.co.uk/but they come in 6s and are more than £25...They are beautiful though, and the gifts all seem to go down well.

Original poster
GlamorousHeifer · 14/12/2024 17:57

Bignanna · 14/12/2024 16:56

I’ve still got an emery board, tweezers, and a tape measure from crackers years ago. OP will never be satisfied - Make your own!

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Except I already posted earlier this afternoon to say I had bought the RSPB crackers so no need to make my own!
I won't know until Christmas day though if I'm satisfied.

OP posts:
daisychain01 · 14/12/2024 17:35

GlamorousHeifer · 14/12/2024 07:55

I don't know, I think I've got a mental block with regards to crackers of all things!
I'm sure I had some years ago that came with a felt Christmas tree decoration?
I just want something nice and not too gaudy with a gift that won't be instantly heading for landfill.
I think I will have to give up and make my own!
Thanks for all of the suggestions though.

these ones meet your criteria of: less than £25, eco-friendly non-plastic, nice looking. And you make them yourself so you can add a small gift if you want to, or go with their paper content of a hat, joke and puzzle.

https://www.thecrackercompany.co.uk/collections/view-all-cracker-kits/products/watercolour-berries-christmas-cracker-making-craft-kit-make-fill-your-own

there are some other designs but some of them are a bit childish for teens.

Watercolour Berries | Christmas Cracker Making Craft Kit | Make & Fill Your Own

Watercolour Berries design cracker making kits, perfect for your festive celebrations. Available as two options, kits of 6 without ribbons and kits of 12 with ribbons, and also in two different sizes. The kits to make 6 crackers contain cracker boards,...

https://www.thecrackercompany.co.uk/collections/view-all-cracker-kits/products/watercolour-berries-christmas-cracker-making-craft-kit-make-fill-your-own

RomeoRivers · 14/12/2024 17:18

Not a keepsake, but we buy Hotel Chocolat crackers.

They each have 3 different chocolates: milk, white + caramel - much better than plastic tat!

purser25 · 14/12/2024 17:01

Buy cheaper ones and put another individual gift in.

Gatecrashermum · 14/12/2024 16:59

ThatShyRoseViper · 14/12/2024 07:31

Do teen boys really want keepsakes?

I think the requirements for a keepsake x 6 for under £25 is your major stumbling block.

House of Games and Taskmaster crackers are £25 eschew plastic free and loads of fun. I still have my cardboard duck from last year so I suppose that’s a keepsake.

We have 12+ people coming for lunch. Would 2x sets of taskmaster crackers work?

Bignanna · 14/12/2024 16:56

usernother · 14/12/2024 08:33

No one cares about the crackers. Especially not teenagers. Honestly. No one is going to keep anything they get out of a cracker. Just buy some from Aldi.

I’ve still got an emery board, tweezers, and a tape measure from crackers years ago. OP will never be satisfied - Make your own!

ElfAndSafetyBored · 14/12/2024 16:52

I bought ones with magic tricks in last year. They were not as entertaining as I hoped but I stand by the idea.

Madlymumming · 14/12/2024 16:52

I've bought fill your own crackers from M&S. we need 7 so had to buy 2 packs so will be doing the same next year too.

They each have a key ring pertinent to them (car make/initial) and a £1 scratch card.

Think I need to get them to sign an agreement to share any large winnings lol

ElfAndSafetyBored · 14/12/2024 16:52

I saw some today with a miniature cheese grater. I came close to buying because I really want one but it probably cheaper to just buy a miniature cheese grater.

Anonym00se · 14/12/2024 16:38

All crackers are shite. Even when you buy the expensive ones the guests will leave their silver-plated bottle stopper or mirror compact on the table to be thrown away with the rest of the detritus. I just stick to the cheapo ones now. Give me a fortune telling fish, a tiny black moustache or a deformed plastic parachutist!

NecklessMumster · 14/12/2024 16:32

OP I'm glad you've found some crackers you're happy with. I share your obsession and have looked on the back of every cracker box in every shop in a 10 mike radius, and online. I've now gone for Kuckoo spinning bugs but also liked Lakeland wooden sleigh balance game thing. I've done magic trick ones in the past which were good but I was too tipsy tired to work mine out. I've also tried table presents but they're hard as well. I think I'll put a liqueur miniature on the place settings too.

Getonwitit · 14/12/2024 15:56

I was at a "posh" do last Christmas and the crackers were filled with lovely gifts that and decent hats. As the staff were clearing up i asked if i could have 3 of the left over crackers, they told me to help myself so i did.

DrZaraCarmichael · 14/12/2024 15:54

It must also depend on your colour scheme, so many crackers are horrible garish colours, does anyone really still do red and green for the Christmas table?

Personally, it amazes me that people have the headspace to have a colour scheme for their Christmas table, but there you are.

godmum56 · 14/12/2024 15:07

Talipesmum · 14/12/2024 15:04

I think I also want to be 7 years old and utterly thrilled and cherishing my exceedingly grown up yet super cute gift 😁

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yeah......sorry

Talipesmum · 14/12/2024 15:04

godmum56 · 14/12/2024 11:13

you can still get the vintage wade animals and they aren't expensive if you haunt ebay. Buy them over the year and use them to fill your own.

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I think I also want to be 7 years old and utterly thrilled and cherishing my exceedingly grown up yet super cute gift 😁

AndThereSheGoes · 14/12/2024 14:57

GlamorousHeifer · 14/12/2024 08:44

I do keep looking at those...they are the closest I have come to buying any!

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i think these are your best option. It's a charity ( although they spunk money so not as good as everyone imagines) and the bird pins are really nice.
You could also make them into any number of games ( guess the pin, pin the badge on the scene, name the creature from the call, 20 questions etc) .

dizzydizzydizzy · 14/12/2024 14:41

sweetpickle2 · 14/12/2024 08:54

Or these, which don’t seem to be bird themed but I think fit the bill (although now I just want ones that all have tiny pots of jam in) shopping.rspb.org.uk/christmas-shop/christmas-crackers/holly-luxury-christmas-crackers.html

Thank you. These will suit my family perfectly. I have just ordered them.