Make table favors with empty toilet paper rolls!
Take a small serrated steak knife and cut through the middle of the cardboard roll, but do NOT cut the back. Seal ends of cardboard roll and fill each side from the middle with candy or wrapped mints.
Now, carefully restore cardboard roll horizontally, and wrap the entire roll with colored foil wrap or regular wrapping paper, or even colored tissue paper if you use several layers works ok. The important finishing touch is the ribbon tied on each end- that's what distinguishes it as an English "cracker".
The favor is snapped in half after the meal is completed. Traditionally, mints are preferred, but any type of wrapped candy is ok, as long as they're small enough to fit in the roll.
I've recycled old wrapping paper for this purpose, so the only cost is the candy and a bit of ribbon for the ends- for approx. $2.00, you could easily make 8 of these favors for parties, holiday celebrations or even weddings depending on the wrapping paper and ribbons used.
Festive, fun and frugal!
By Cindy Merrill
