How to make a
Christmas cracker
Transform your festive stitching into
wonderful Christmas crackers and watch
your loved ones explode with excitement
when they get one on the big day!
Step 1
GET STARTED
You will need a piece of A4 cardstock, a
pencil, craft knife, ruler, ribbon, double-
sided tape and a pair of scissors. Go to
http://www.cross-stitching.com and print out
the free cracker stencil on A4 paper.
Step 2
MAKE THE STENCIL
Protect your work surface with a craft
mat, then cut out the diamond shapes in
the stencil using a craft knife. Use a ruler
to guide your knife and keep your lines
straight and neat. Leave the dotted lines,
as you will score these later.
Step 3
CUT OUT THE CRACKER
Place your stencil on top of the card and
cut out the diamond shapes using the
craft knife and ruler. Next, gently score
over the dotted lines to make folding the
cracker easier. Repeat at the opposite end.
Step 4
ASSEMBLE THE CRACKER
Place double-sided tape along the length
of the card (except where the diamond
shapes are). Roll it to meet the other side
and form a tube. Press firmly to secure.
Push the ends towards the centre to make
the cracker shape.
Step 5
ATTACH YOUR DESIGN
Trim your stitching to fit around the
cracker and back it with iron-on
interfacing. Attach it to the cracker using
double-sided tape. Now is a good time to
fill it with a cracker snap and a small gift.
Step 6
FINISHING TOUCH
Cut two lengths of ribbon measuring
30cm (12in) each and tie into bows at
each end of the cracker – this will help to
keep the cracker shape.
Christmas crackers