Pages

xx Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog - your comments are all greatly appreciated xx

Tuesday 11 December 2012

What a cracker (plus tutorial)...


14 more sleeps to go, 14 more sleep 'til Santa.....


Have you made any Christmas decorations this year or have you just been concentrating on your cards?  Well here's an idea to either brighten up your Christmas table or your mantel piece.  I've even included a tutorial of how to make them so all of the hard work has been done for you, you've just got the fun bit of making and decorating them in your own style.  Why not email me a picture of your finished cracker (email in the side bar) and I'll add the photo to the bottom of this post?

Here's my cracker using a design which is less traditional, but still as much fun to make  You could always put a little gift inside before you tie the ribbons at each end or insert the cracker strips to create the band when you pull it open too!


Materials used:
Digi - robin set
Coloured with promarkers
Glossy accents
Digi papers - coconut ice
Printed onto card
Sentiment - vintage Christmas sentiments
Distress Ink - victorian velvet
Ribbon - carnival collection
Pearls from my stash

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

I Love Promarkers - anything goes
Whimsy Stamps - anything festive
Joanna Sheen - with love at Christmas
Emerald Faeries - Christmas
Cupcake Craft - merry Christmas
Fashionista Challenge - winter
Hooked on Craft - Christmas
Love To Create - anything goes
Cutie Pies - cutie Christmas
Dream Valley - Christmas
One Stitch at a Time - more than one fold
Ribbon Girls - ho, ho, ho


If you'd like to make your own crackers I've included a tutorial below! As I said above I thought it would be nice to share a gallery of them, so if you'd like to show your finished cracker along with this tutorial please send me an email (email in the side bar) and I'll add it to the bottom of this post.

Right here we go...

********

Materials needed:

1 x piece of A4 card (plain or decorated)
Hougie board (or similar with cm measurements)
Ruler & pencil
Craft knife (or scissors)
Cutting mat
Double sided tape (or glue)

1)  Take your A4 piece of card and place it right side down onto your Hougie board in a landscape orientation.  Working from the left hand side score down the narrow edge at 2cm, 5cm and 8cm.  Turn the card around and repeat at the other end (see diagram 1 below).  Alternatively measure the intervals with your ruler, mark lightly with a pencil and use a scoring tool

DIAGRAM 1 (click to enlarge)
2)  Do not fold your card at this time as it makes it easier to complete your other measurements (believe me it's tried and tested!)

3)  Leaving your card right side face down but this time in a portrait orientation on the Hougie board, you now need to work from the left hand side and score along the long edge at 6cm, 12cm and 18cm (see diagram 2 and 3 below)

DIAGRAM 2 (click to enlarge)

DIAGRAM 3 (click to enlarge)

4)  Do not fold your card at this time as it makes it easier to complete your other measurements (believe me it's tried and tested!)

5)  That's the work done with the Hougie board, now you need your pencil and ruler

6)  With your card in a landscape orientation, starting at the left hand side and working on the previously scored 5cm line along the narrow edge, you need to measure and mark intervals at 2.5cm, 3.5cm, 8.5cm, 9.5cm, 14.5cm, 15.5cm and 20.5cm starting your measurements from the top of your card.  Turn the card around and repeat at the opposite end (see diagram 4 below)

DIAGRAM 4 (click to enlarge)
7)  As per diagram 5 below, match up the intervals on the 5cm line with the sections where the horizontal and vertical 2cm and 8cm lines cross.  This is easier to understand by looking at the diagram than it is trying to explain to you.
8)  You should now have diamond shapes on your card which need to be cut out and discarded (see diagram 5 above)
DIAGRAM 5 (click to enlarge)
9)  You now need to fold your card to form the cracker shape (see diagram 6 below).
DIAGRAM 6 (click to enlarge)
10)  Place either double sided tape (if you're feeling confident) or wet glue ( if you want to be able to adjust it) along the narrow edge (see diagram 6 above).  Where the folds overlap to form the join the cut out pieces should match it you have followed the instructions carefully.

11)  All that's left to do now is to decorate your cracker

Here is another example of a cracker where I've used pearlescent card and a small holly berry stamp to create the card base and then used a contrasting paper to highlight.


I'd love to see your projects, who's going to be first in the gallery?

CHRISTMAS CRACKER PHOTO GALLERY



Please feel free to reference this tutorial, along with your project on your blog and any craft sites but PLEASE spare a thought for the time and effort that has gone into producing this and a link to this tutorial would be very much appreciated.



xx Happy crafting and season glittery hugs xx

22 comments:

  1. The cracker looks fabulous love how you've decorated it and thank you for the tutorial will have a look later. Caroline xxx

    ReplyDelete
  2. These are wonderful Sazzle. I love the design and fabulous detailing.
    Thank you for such a great tutorial. This is the sort of thing my daughter will enjoy making, if she does I will show you what she makes!!

    I hope you have a good week
    hugs Sue

    ReplyDelete
  3. Fabulous cracker,thanks for the tutorial.xxx

    ReplyDelete
  4. fab project Sazzle! love the idea, thanks for the tutorial
    hugs
    céline

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh wow Sazzle, this is such a darling project!! I love those two birdies!! Thanks so much for sharing the details of your cracker design!! BIGGEST HUGS :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is just so sweet! Fab tutorial too. Thanks for joining us at Cutie Pie xx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Beautiful crackers Sazzle. Your tutorial is excellent. I love diagrams, they are great for reference. I will give it a go.
    Thanks so much for sharing your creation with us at Fashionista Challenge. Hope to see you soon.
    Hugs,
    Katie

    ReplyDelete
  8. A wonderful project, beautifully made. Thanks for joining us at OSAAT. Hazel x

    ReplyDelete
  9. A great festive creation! Thanks for playing at Joanna Sheen! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sazzle, Love your name, Love your project and your template..Just love it all ! Thank you so much for sharing with us over at Love to Create Challenges.
    Amanda LTCDT

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sazzie I am loving your handmade crackers and thank you so much for the templates.
    Hugs Desíre {Doing Life - my personal blog} {Doing Life 400 Follower Give Away}

    ReplyDelete
  12. Super cute cracker and thanks for the tut, will be sure to give this a go. thanks for joining us at the Emerald Faeries Challenge.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Fabulous cracker Sazzle...and a great tutorial. I will have to give it a go.
    Hugs Debbie x

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love your tutorial! such a great idea for gifts! Thanks for joining us this week at Love to Create!

    Come visit my blog at meiaudesigns.wordpress.com for a chance to win a $15 voucher giveaway to my online store :)

    Mei

    ReplyDelete
  15. Fab project and tutorial. Made any decorations? I haven't even started the cards yet!

    Thanks for joining us at Love to Create this week.

    Susan

    ReplyDelete
  16. What a fabulous project with great instructions!Love those birds! Thanks for playing with us at Whimsy Stamps!

    ReplyDelete
  17. absolutly gorgeous! Love the colors! Thanks for joining my challenge over at Cupcake Craft Challenge this week! Good luck! Hugs and sunshine!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Gorgeous creation Sazzle... Thank you so much for the fantastic tutorial... will have to try this out... Hugs May x x x

    ReplyDelete
  19. What a gorgeous cracker you've made, just as good for little ones as well as grown-ups. Thank you for joining us this week at OSAAT. Jennie DT

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love this, and I think it is great that you are sharing the template. It is wonderful to something a little different and I love the colours. Thank you for joining us at The Emerald Faeries. Good Luck xoxoxox

    ReplyDelete
  21. A nice tutorial, how kind of you to share. Thanks for joining us at Dream Valley for the challenge.

    ReplyDelete
  22. gorgeous cracker and love the tutorial! Thanks for joining us at Whimsy Inspirations challenge! Kim (Digital Designer)

    ReplyDelete

xx Thank you for all of your lovely comments xx