Bloody Christmas Crackers

[GlamorousHeifer]

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.

All we're bothered about are the paper hats and corny jokes and it's just a bonus if the present inside is actually decent

I'm all for fill yourself ones. Scratch cards or chocolate

Previous post notwithstanding, @GlamorousHeifer, I think the RSPB ones are pretty good, they have fillings such as chocolate or pin badges, which are pretty good for anyone, and are a nice novelty. Plus charity, and eco friendly. And they’re on sale:

https://shopping.rspb.org.uk/christmas-shop/christmas-crackers

OP are these crackers REALLY for the teens, I personally can't see any teen getting excited over a felt tree ornament 🤔

I realise it goes against the visually appealing requirement. But how about a fun cracker? You can get musical ones from robin reed with hand bells or tin whistles and the idea is that the whole table learns a song. I've also seen guess who crackers which looked fun.

Crackers are always crap. I hate the look of them on my lovely table and they go straight in the bin once pulled. We no longer buy them.

I do a box on each place setting now. I’ll put in a scratch card, a ‘Neo’ cocktail, a few Lindor chocs and small cosmetics.

Best ones ever had contained bells. The 8 of them combined to tunes which gave good laughs and are reusable year after year... the bells not the crackers obv.

I know this will add to all you have to do but what about making your own and putting your own gifts in. At least you know people will get something they like.

These kits seem quite reasonable.

https://www.thecrackercompany.co.uk/products/christmas-willow-robin-cracker-making-craft-kit-make-fill-your-own?variant=42717113843956&country=GB&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA9vS6BhA9EiwAJpnXw70HCuoS8ZtWi724teEqPS3jT7tIQUg8UO8MSS0F8wI0--K_VllVnhoCk_0QAvD_BwE

Thanks everyone, I bought the RSPB crackers with chocolate in them instead of a gift.

Thanks OP, this has inspired me for next year. I will make my own and put in a lip balm and mini choc bar in for everyone!

Someone on the posh stocking thread posted this option from happy socks:

https://www.sockshop.co.uk/products/mens-and-ladies-6-pair-sockshop-christmas-cracker-gift-boxed-bamboo-socks

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

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) .

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

yeah......sorry

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? These have good gifts in https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B016AASJE2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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.

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.

Has anyone mentioned these? Great on the day for all ages and could be a keepsake https://www.thecrackercompany.co.uk/collections/robin-reed/products/8-large-premium-christmas-music-crackers-with-bells-music-sheets-ready-made

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.

We got these from T K Maxx ( I know the link isn't TK Maxx) for £12.
https://www.notonthehighstreet.com/postboxparty/product/colourful-musical-christmas-crackers?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=21898727721&cq_term=&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&cq_plt=gp&DGMKT=FID__TID__PID_1442304_CRI_&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA9vS6BhA9EiwAJpnXw0H0segDNphcBnpNNhFsb7RohgGJCAPkWA6T3sGT6CkcVlfRU5PHHRoCdYkQAvD_BwE
We had the whistles two years ago . Everyone from 17 to 91 really enjoyed them. We laughed so much and kept the whistles and have had a few rounds since.

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!

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.

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

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

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