BONBON BONANZA!

Your Christmas will go off with a bang with these simple-to-make, colourful and stylish crackers

It’s easy to make your own Christmas bonbons, and fun to personalise them for each family member or friend. They can also be the visual stars of your tablesetting scheme, thanks to beautiful wrappings and ties. Use colours that work with your tableware, and fill your bonbons with thoughtful gifts your guests will love – a nice change from the typical plastic things in store-bought crackers! It’s also a good opportunity to get the kids involved.

Bonbon tips

1 In the time leading up to Christmas, collect the cardboard tubes from rolls of kitchen paper. Cut them to the size you want your crackers to be. Toilet roll tubes are another option, but they are only about 10cm long. Alternatively, you can buy rolls from somewhere like Spotlight. Cracker snaps are also available at Spotlight ( Jolly & Joy Snaps Bon Bon Pack Natural, $3.99 for 12), and other craft stores. 2 Place a cracker snap inside a cardboard tube and secure well with glue. 3 Cut the wrapping paper of your choice into lengths to wrap snugly around the cardboard tube, leaving a 3cm overhang on each end to disguise the ends of the snap. 4 Roll the bonbon in wrapping paper and secure with double-sided sticky tape. 5 Pinch one end and tie with ribbon or string. Insert trinkets through the other end and secure with matching ribbon or string.