Monday 19 December 2011

Crackers for Christmas 2011, only 6 days to go...

It's the real Countdown to Christmas now with only 6 days to go. I have been so busy that I am only just finishing making my Christmas Crackers. Those of my oldest blogging friends will remember last year that in collaboration  with my dear Finnish friend Mia  I posted a demo on making Christmas crackers here. I have always made my own crackers as I like to have something personal and special inside for the receiver.

So I am sure you would like to see this year's offering...............

I chose quite a bright green as they are to match the Christmas serviettes my daughter bought me back from France this summer.





They feature really sweet little Christmas elves with trees and snowflakes. Just my kind of characters.

















I bought white and red crepe paper and a packet of light green, red and white tying string and bows to match.












I downloaded the backing paper which I printed out on my own home printer. It features cute reindeer......















and sweet robins. I tied the ends off with the green ribbon and put a bow on each finished cracker.














Here are 5 of the 8 I have made. I am just finishing off the last ones and mine has got to wait for my Hb to put a secret surprise in for me!!








So they are all ready for putting on the table on Christmas day. Now how could I end this post without some of the jokes I found on my search for the corniest I could find?

I hope these make you chuckle! It's been such a miserable day here today. Wet, cold and dark, not my favourite combination at all.  These should bring a smile whatever weather you are having/suffering ;0)

What do you sing at a snowman 

Freeze a jolly good fellow!



Why does Santa have three gardens?

So he can ho ho ho! 


What goes “oh, oh, oh”?

Santa walking backwards



What do you get if you eat Christmas decorations?


Tinselitus


How does Good King Wenceslas like his pizzas?


Deep and crisp and even!

Groan.....tee hee!

I shall be back soon, in the meantime I hope all your lists are being ticked off and you are nearly set for the Big Day......if not just take a leaf out of Billy's book..............


Isn't life tough when you're a cat?

Bye for now,

Jane x

22 comments:

  1. Wonderful start for countdown, my dear friend! I loved to see your crackers (and I didn't manage to get any for us this year either!), they're so preciously handmade!!! And those little elves (elf->elves?), reindeer and robins, just so cute! What a lovely Christmas table you'll have, Jane!

    It's only a few days to go - let's enjoy! I'll see you here tomorrow again!

    Yours,
    Mia

    P.S. And Billy... What a cutie!

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  2. Hi Mia yes they are indeed elves (plural of elf)..I am always amazed by your English...I am just hopeless at more than school girl French!We are nearly there. I am off to buy the last of the party food etc tomorrow.
    See you really soon! Billy is still taking it easy ;0)
    Jane x

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  3. Oh Billy, you are a creature after my own heart!! I still have the crackers in a box, ready to make, I think I bought them in 2009!! You are far too organized Jane, I only took the tree out of the loft today, and its still not up!! Have a fantastic Christmas and I look forward to more of your blogs in the New Year.

    Laney x

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  4. He is so laid back Laney...or perhaps no one has whispered the word "Christmas" to him! Glad your tree is out the loft .. it's now time to get it up-LOL! Enjoy your preparations and take it easy.
    Jane x

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  5. I found it hard to figure out which way up Billy was there! :)
    Love your crackers Jane and how lovely that you don't know what's in yours, I never thought about that before.
    Great jokes especially the ho,ho, ho! :)
    Vivienne x

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  6. Jane, I absolutly love your crackers. You made yours, that's amazing. You are so talented and such a great idea. BUT it takes a lot of time. I wonder what will be yours? Enjoy these last few days.

    Here's a joke for you

    What do sheep say to each other at Christmastime?

    Merry Christmas to ewe!

    xoRobin❤

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  7. Billy loves sleeping upside down Vivienne, he is such a sweet lad. I shall have a good shake of my cracker once my Hb has filled it...but I will have to wait til Christmas dinner to find out what is hiding inside for me ;0)
    Jane x

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  8. They do take some time Robin but it's worth it..they are quite a feature of my Christmas dinner...we love the jokes. Yours made me laugh...Merry Christmas to Ewe too.....baaaaa!
    Jane x

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  9. Dear Jane.. I have seen crackers but I'm curious about them. I do know they have little gifts in them, but do they make noise when you open them? Why do they call them "crackers"? They are very pretty!
    :¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:
    *M*E*R*R*Y* *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
    :¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:
    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  10. Hi Teresa crackers have a thin strip inside running out to the two ends. As you pull one- each person takes an end - it rips and causes a little bang like a cap gun going off. They are on everyone's tables for Christmas and contain a paper hat, joke and a gift. Such fun.
    Jane x

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  11. Hello Jane....Your crackers look fabulous....It is such a lovely idea to make your own and add personal gifts...being a bit of a crafting junky I am a bit puzzled why I have never got round to trying this....it looks so much fun..maybe next year!...Of course I may need to come to you for some jolly cracker jokes!..
    Hope you have a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones...I am intending to do a little of what Billy is doing there...well, that's the plan!
    Susan x

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  12. They are worth the effort Susan and always cause a giggle at the table with the jokes and hats plus a personal gift just makes it! Have a go next year they are easy to make just need some extra planning. I hope you have a very merry Christmas too.
    Jane x

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  13. Hi Jane! I think Billy is right - better just enjoy day dreaming and not to rush too much! You made really beautiful crackers and how cute napkins!
    Have a lovely time! x Teje

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  14. It's such a lovely idea to make your own crackers and then you can choose what goes in them, and how sweet that your hb is doing yours so you get a surprise too! The colours of these are lovely and festive, and go perfectly with the Christmas napkins your daughter bought. And you even have a collection of suitable cracker jokes too! (I like the ho ho ho one too!) Have a happy rest of the week....not long now!
    Helen x

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  15. The thing is though Teje all that sleeping Billy does is not really helping with the preparations is it ;0)
    Happy Tuesday,
    Jane x

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  16. My cracker has been secretly filled Helen....it's quite light but quite rattly..I wonder what is in there?
    Not long now to find out!
    Jane x

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  17. These look fantastic sweetie, love the pic of the kittie too hugs pops x

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  18. Thanks Pops, I can't wait for them to be on the table on Sunday ;0)
    Jane x

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  19. It's great to see your homemade crackers again. My favorites are the ones with the robins.

    I'm impressed that your daughter found Chrismtas napkins in the summertime when she was travelling.

    (I may be in Europe next summer; I'll have to look for something Christmasy.)

    Time is flying.....

    Happy Wednesday!
    Anne
    PlumCreek22

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  20. My daughter knows how much her Mum loves special Christmas serviettes Anne. How exciting that you may be visiting Europe next year!
    Jane x

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  21. Just one more silly joke for the crackers~~~~~

    Why is it always cold at Christmas?

    Because it is in Decemberrrrrrr.

    Merry Christmas, dear Jane!!
    Thank you for sharing a bit of English Christmastime with your readers.

    Anne x

    PlumCreek22

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  22. A perfect cracker joke there Anne ;-)
    Jane x

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