Non plastic tat crackers

[MegBusset]

Looking for Christmas cracker inspiration!

Want some that have a hat, joke, and maybe a little game or activity - no plastic tat / bottle openers / nail clippers etc. Suitable for teens and adults (no young DC)

M&S have some nice looking ones but ££££ - ideally I’m looking for a box of 10 or 12 for not more than £10/15.

Anyone seen some nice ones?

Get some nice looking cheaper ones that only have paper hat, joke etc. Open up one end by cutting the ribbon. Fill with item of your choice (Christmas socks, scratch card, head torch, pen knife …). Re-seal with fresh ribbon.

I bought some surprisingly nice plastic free crackers in Asda a couple of years ago, 12 for about £5 I think. They had hats, jokes and a cardboard "gift" like a tree decoration.
They don't seem to have them this year but they do have these bingo crackers which look fun
https://groceries.asda.com/product/christmas-crackers/george-home-christmas-bingo-crackers-6-pk/1000378037209

Or you could make your own. I bought a kit a few years ago and then put a miniature bottle of booze in the adults' ones and a nice small toy in the children's.

You can buy kits to make your own , they come with the snap , hat , and joke uou just add your own gift. Last year I put sweets in mine

I’ve been making my own for the last few years. I buy the snaps and the Hats, the rest I make myself. They are always all shapes and sizes because I personalise the gifts inside.

https://shopping.rspb.org.uk/christmas-shop/christmas-crackers/woodland-recycled-crackers-decorations-box-of-six.html?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgK2qBhCHARIsAGACuzkgk9kRjfHvS8jffg94_YhFiDYqnGwWjee_7lzViU3R--DUe1JK0O4aAhRkEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
Ive bought these last year, have wooden tree decorations in them. The year before they were sold out so i bought so empty ones and put these in

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08JYN7894/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

These perhaps https://www.theworks.co.uk/p/activity-toys/santas-who-am-i-christmas-game-crackers-pack-of-6/5015302164539.html

Another one saying make your own. Last year I bought a couple of inexpensive cracker kits and added our own better jokes, a fancy chocolate and decorated them with some lovely ribbon. Guests thought I had spent a fortune! This year I am adding some samples I picked up at a wedding show. Little lovely hand creams etc.

We made some for our friends last year. It was fun and they all loved their individual presents (dice for our DnD game).

Making your own crackers! This is the best idea I’ve seen in ages, thanks everyone! I don’t want to give the usual bits & bobs this year (just one good gift is better) but I love buying such things. So, I’ll do the socks in a cracker instead!

I agree with someone upthread. My mum used to 'pimp up' regular crackers. She'd open 1 end and add in better gifts and personalise them. I recall a packet of seeds, a nice bottle stopper, earrings and decorative hairclip being my favourites.

We've done make your own crackers for years and it's great. The kits come with a joke and hat, and many of them are plastic free with raffia paper ribbons etc, then you can add alcohol miniatures, scratch cards, little chocolates or sweets, costume jewellery, lipstick, socks, Christmas tree decoration etc. Works really well for kids and adults. We've done ours as secret Santa so each person is responsible for getting someone else's cracker present and then just make them up on Christmas Eve.

I just buy basic ones and add stuff now... got sick of the utterly useless stuff in them (who need an annual tiny jotting pad or metal 'puzzle' that no one knows how to use).

This year I'm putting in bracelets, past years have included finger puppets and ink stamps (I have kids).

We’ve had great ones from Aldi the last few years, completely recyclable , hat , joke and a card with charades, hum that tune etc. We stick a lottery ticket in.

More expensive than you're looking for but I'm tempted by Taskmaster crackers. You can force your relatives to do Christmasy tasks and judge them! https://taskmasterstore.com/products/taskmaster-christmas-crackers-set-of-6

Dunelm do a nice range with no plastic. Link

We got the Aldi ones last year. I have a pile of cracker tat and party bag tat that I have recycled year on year. I add a lottery ticket and some sweets. And confetti (from the paper punch) one particularly masochistic year.

Lots of ideas here, thank you!

Though I like the idea of making my own in theory, in practice I don’t see how it wouldn’t end up more expensive after I bought all the bits to go in them.

i like the look of the Dunelm ones. My Aldi doesn’t seem to have them in stock yet so will keep an eye on those too.

I've got the Taskmaster ones. Will keep us occupied after lunch.