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Christmas Crackers – Guest Post by Living in Color Mom

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Hey everyone! I’m Tearsa from Living In Color Mom. I live in Utah where there are very few mixed race families and we are asked a lot of questions. This is my opportunity to give a little glimpse of our wonderfully unique family. Every week I also have the pleasure of featuring another adorable mixed-race family which has been so much fun. In addition to talking about my family, I love sharing DIY projects, recipes and stories from my world travels living as an Ex-Pat for 15 years. I have grown up with so much culture and I have so much to be grateful for. Come join me, as I’m living in color!
 
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  I spent most of my childhood living in the beautiful village of Tanworth-In-Arden just outside of Birmingham, England. Minus the lack of snow, Christmas was such a magical time of the year in England. We picked up a handful of traditions in the six years we lived there. One of my favorite traditions is pulling Christmas Crackers during our Christmas Eve dinner. One year we didn’t have Christmas Crackers, so my sister and I decided to make them just hours before. We scraped together any random items we could find around the house: paperclip necklaces, pennies, fingernail clippers, crayons, rubber bands, happy meal toys. We were so proud of ourselves! Now that I’m older, I don’t scavenge through couches and cabinets for random ‘junk’ to fill the Crackers with. Not only are these a fun dinner activity, but you can add a gift tag and use them as place cards! (I love a good ‘two-fer’!)

DIY Christmas Crackers Living In Color Mom
ITEMS NEEDED:Wrapping paper Toilet paper roll Cracker snaps (I used some I had on hand, but you can buy them on Ebay or HEREString or ribbon Small toys/jokes/treats (anything you want to stuff in!) Tissue paper Tags image image44-1012x1024

DIRECTIONS:
1. Measure head circumference and cut a strip of tissue paper. Glue ends together and fold in half multiple times. Cut the top however you like, to create a crown. 
2. Gather items to stuff (I added the crown, jokes, confetti from the crown clippings, and homemade elastic hair ties). 
3. Slide the Cracker snap through the toilet paper roll and tape or glue to wrapping paper. 4. Roll toilet paper roll up in wrapping paper like and tie the ends with ribbon or string just like you’re wrapping taffy. 

Now for the fun part: Decorate it however you want! Wanna see the crowns in action? This pic is from 2011, so way before Tony & Terrin, but look at us killin’ it in those crowns! P1010609 

What a fun idea!  My kids would love this!  Thanks Tearsa for such a great post!  Now readers, what are some of your favorite crafts to make during the holiday season?
  

Comments

  2. I like finding a new ornament each year to make with my little ones. This year is plastic ball ornaments with paint swirls on the inside. My girls got to pick out the paint colors they liked and make it very individual.