Give your guests an elegant table spread this year with these super-luxe Christmas crackers. These beautiful DIY Christmas crackers are not only eco-friendly and customisable but they'll also teach you a new skill.
The art of Suminagashi, a centuries-old type of marbling, originated in Japan and is a technique practiced to this day. It creates a wonderful, marbled look that oozes class and creativity. Plus, it takes no time at all – these beauties can easily be made over a couple of evenings.
Finish your Christmas Day tablescape with foraged greenery and fancy gold details for a next-level look, and fill the crackers with your choice of goodies – cheesy dad jokes optional.
You will need
- Six sheets of A3 green paper
- Large tray
- Two paint brushes
- Black ink
- Jar
- Washing up liquid
- Cracker snaps
- Glue
- Double-sided sticky tape
- Six toilet roll tubes
- Gold ribbon
Click here to download the template.
How to make your Christmas crackers
Step 1
Fill the tray or a shallow container with 2-3cm (¾-1¼") of water – the tray should be big enough to comfortably lay a sheet of A3 paper flat inside.
Put 2-3 pea-sized blobs of washing up liquid into the jar and fill with 100ml (3½floz) water, then stir well.
Step 2
Put one of the paint brushes into the bottle of ink and stir so it’s well-saturated.
Carefully touch the brush to the surface of the water in the centre of the tray – a circle of ink should quickly spread out from it. The ink will be very light in colour at this stage.
Step 3
Put the second brush into the washing up liquid solution.
Touch this brush lightly to the surface of the water, in the same area as Step 2.
A clear circle should now spread out onto the surface from the brush.
Step 4
Repeat Steps 3-4 to fill the tray with concentric black and transparent circular bands. The colour should become darker as more circles are made.
Keep adding paint and washing up liquid solution to the surface of the water until you’re happy with the look and depth of colour.
Step 5
Blow lightly onto the surface of the water to create interesting movements within the pattern. You could also drag a skewer through the water to disrupt the ink and make shapes.
Play around with the different patterns to get one you’re happy to use.
Treat yourself to luxury Christmas crackers!
Check out our pick of the best luxury Christmas crackers for an extra-special and lavish table setting.
Step 6
Gently lay the paper down on the surface of the water.
Try to do this in one fluid motion, rolling the paper onto the water from the bottom left-hand corner to the top right-hand corner.
Let it sit in the tray for approximately 10 seconds to absorb the colour.
Step 7
Pick the paper up carefully by the bottom two corners. The ink should have transferred onto the paper by now. If there’s a lot of ink run-off, give the paper a light rinse to remove this.
Hang it to dry on a clothesline or airer, making sure to protect the floor underneath if working inside.
Step 8
If there’s still plenty of ink left on the surface of the water, repeat Steps 6-7 with a second sheet of paper.
If not, repeat Steps 2-6 to add more ink and marble a second sheet.
Continue until all six sheets of papers have been marbled.
Step 9
Once the sheets of paper are completely dry, flatten them under a pile of heavy books to make them easier to work with.
It may be best to do this whole process over a few evenings. Marbling the paper on the first day, pressing it flat on the second, then making the crackers on the third.
Step 10
Using the template, draw the cracker outline onto the wrong side (WS) of one sheet of paper – the non-marbled side.
Carefully cut out the shape using a pair of scissors or a craft knife and cutting mat.
The best way to cut out the diamond-shaped areas is to fold along the area indicated on the template with a dotted line, then make two cuts along the solid lines with scissors or a craft knife, cutting triangle-shaped pieces out of the folded paper.
Looking for more festive dinner table décor?
Learn how to craft your own mini Christmas wreaths with our free tutorial.
Step 11
Lay the cracker out WS up, then place the cracker snap along the length of the paper, roughly 2.5cm (1") down from the top long edge.
Secure the cracker snap in place with strong glue or double-sided sticky tape at either end.
Step 12
Stick a length of double-sided tape to one long edge of the cracker along the right side of the paper – the marbled side.
Next, place the toilet roll tube on the WS of the cracker so it sits in the middle section, with the cut-out diamonds on either side.
Roll the cracker around the tube, then peel off the strip from the double-sided tape to secure the overlapping edge in place.
Step 13
Place a length of ribbon around the diamond-shaped cut-outs at one end of the cracker and pull it tight – it should gather the paper together in a fluted shape. Secure in place with a neat bow.
Step 14
Fill the cracker with your choice of goodies through the open end, then close this end of the cracker with ribbon as per Step 13.
Step 15
Repeat Steps 10-14 with the remaining five sheets of paper to make the rest of the crackers.
Finally, pop them on your Christmas table for the perfect finishing touch to your festive spread!
Have a handmade Christmas this year
Add these gorgeous marbled Christmas crackers to your dinner table for a tasteful, handmade touch.
Unwind this Christmas period with our fantastic selection of craft tutorials that will make your home shine. You could even invite loved ones over and enjoy this mindful activity together.
Try our traditional Christmas pudding recipe
Now you've got your Christmas table setting sorted, time to get started on the food. Whip up an old-fashioned Christmas pudding with our free recipe and enjoy tucking into this yuletide classic with your loved ones.
