Required
Supplies and Equipment |
- Wrapping paper (cut to 7.5 x 12 inches) -- crackers made
with lighter weight papers will tear apart easier when
pulled.
- Stiffener ends (cut into 2.25 x 7 inches -- use 60-70
weight white card stock, such as 67# Exact Vellum Bristol.
- Fortunes, jokes or riddles.
- Cracker snaps.
- Paper hats.
- Small gifts or novelty items (at least one per cracker).
- Cracker rollers (1 pair).
- Cardboard tubes (2 x 4 inches).
- Low temperature glue gun.
- Scissors.
- Curling ribbon.
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| Step
by Step Directions |
1
-- Insert rollers into ends of cardboard tube (if fit
between tube and roller is not snug enough, add a little
masking tape to smaller (red) end of roller). |
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2
-- Lay roller-tube assembly on back of wrapping paper
making certain tube is centered across length of paper.
Apply a small drop of glue from glue gun to bottom
middle edge of paper and roll tube back over glue.
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3 --
Place snap under front (leading) edge of roller-tube
assembly, making certain snap is centered across length
of paper. |
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4
-- Roll paper onto roller-tube assembly to within a
half inch or so of paper's end. Make certain paper
rolls evenly (straight) onto tube. |
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5
-- With glue gun, run a narrow bead of glue along back
of paper about a quarter inch in from top edge. Roll
paper over glue keeping glued seam pressed against
work surface for several seconds to allow glue to harden
(placement of glue bead may have to be adjusted slightly
inward if glue flows out of seam onto outer surface
of wrapping paper). |
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6
-- While holding paper cylinder in middle (one hand
grasping cardboard tube), remove roller from each end
of cylinder. |
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7
-- Roll stiffener end into slightly smaller diameter
cylinder than cracker and insert into end of cracker
until even with outer edge. Do not cover snap during
this procedure -- it must remain free in end of cracker. |
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8
-- Spread stiffener out firmly against inside wall
of cracker end and glue into place with glue gun.
9
-- Repeat step 8 on other end of cracker.
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10
-- Using thumb and forefinger, crimp (gather) one
end of cracker between tube and reinforced (stiffened)
end.
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11
-- Securely tie a 10 - 12 inch length of curling ribbon
onto the gather of the cracker using a double knot.
Then clip off the loose ribbon ends. |
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12
-- Insert gifts/messages into open end of the cracker.
The fillable central part of the cracker measures 2
inches in diameter by 4 inches in length. Your items
must fit comfortably into this space in order for the
cracker to be closed and finished. When filling your
crackers, make certain you do not push the cracker
snap into the center of the cracker. |
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13
-- Repeat steps 11 and 12 for open end of cracker. |
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14
-- Check the finished end of the cracker to make certain
the snap is located near the outer rim of the cracker
and not too far down into the cylinder. Reposition
with fingers as necessary. |
Your
cracker is now finished and ready to be shared with
your party guests.
Some
practice is usually required to make a consistently
well-wrapped and formed cracker. Techniques such
as the one described above using solid core centers,
rollers, and stiffened ends have been found by many
people to be among the easiest methods for making
nice looking crackers. Other techniques and directions
for making your own party crackers can be found at
the following web addresses:
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