Christmas cracker season - 2008

It's cracker-making time again. I so look forward to making these every season. I guess it brings back a lot of memories from my childhood of Christmas past.

Every year I add something a little new. This year I have expanded the activity sheets. Along with the puzzles, I though folks might enjoy some Christmas trivia and famous seasonal quotes. On the back I included 4 carols or holiday songs. It takes a couple of weeks to get the season's sheets all printed, folded and packaged along with the little hand-made paper hats, the jokes and the puzzle pencil but it is a job I really enjoy doing. I think to myself about all the families that will open these and share some fun with the puzzles and songs.

Yesterday I found some new decorations which I will be most pleased to pack into the crackers. They are quite old-fashioned looking and perfect for the victorian-style. Well that's it for now. If there is a little time in a week or two, I will add some more pictures and news of this year's Christmas and Thanksgiving cracker edition.
www.crackers.gilliancards.com/Christmas.htm and

www.gilliancards.com/crackers.htm

I made some new old-fashioned style Christmas cards and invitations this year to go along with the crackers. Do you like them?

www.gilliancards.com/Christmas.htm

Christmas Cracker History at the 10 Generations Project.

For a real visual treat and to lean more about the history of the Christmas Cracker visit:
the 10 Generations Project

Press Release (PRWeb) Oct. 16, 2006

(PRWeb) News Release:

No Room in These Christmas Crackers for Plastic Gizmos or Empty Sentiment

GillianCards introduces its first edition of 'turn-back-the-clock', Old Fashioned Christmas Crackers. The 2006 hand-wrapped line announces Gillian's intention to draw further upon the Victorian roots of this beloved Christmas tradition. Her newest limited edition is filled with quality treats, candy, turn of the century puzzles and surprises.

(PRWEB) October 16, 2006 -- GillianCards introduces its first edition of 'turn-back-the-clock', Old Fashioned Christmas Crackers. The 2006 hand-wrapped line reveals Gillian's intention to continue each year to draw further upon the Victorian roots of this beloved Christmas tradition. Her newest limited edition is filled with quality treats, candy, turn of the century puzzles and surprises.Several years ago Gillian McCrostie, owner of GillianCards, went shopping for Christmas crackers at a better known, quality retail store. Looking over the selection, she found a box with pretty papers and a festive look. However, after reading the contents of the box, she was horrified to see they included a pen knife! "For Christmas, can you believe it?" asks Gillian who still remembers her shock. Looking more closely at other boxes she began to see that for the most part they were filled with plastic gizmos and un-festive junk, not at all in keeping with the original idea of treats, mottoes, puzzles and little gifts. Cont'd >>>>

For the rest of this press release click this link:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/10/prweb438966.htm

Christmas Crackers - Traditions: Christmas Crackers - Traditions

Christmas Crackers - Traditions: I just read tonight that Harrods sold Christmas Crackers in 2005 for approximately $160 per box of six crackers. I don't see crackers listed on their website this year. Hmm.

Well, GillianCard crackers DO cost a little more than MANY of the crackers on the market, they also DO have more fun and treats than MOST crackers on the market! But, really, I don't think they will every sell for $25.00 per cracker!!!

This week I begin preparing the puzzles for the crackers. In keeping with my overall plan to try each year to draw closer to the original idea of fun gifts, treats and games, I will be using many puzzles available from a turn of the century puzzle collection. Some of them are SO hard! People must have spent whole evenings back then figuring out these conundrums.

I also read tonight (the www is SUCH a source of information!) that people often open their crackers at table AFTER Christmas dinner. This is the FIRST I have heard of THAT tradition. We always opened ours when there was no food on the table except perhaps the chilled tomato juice Mom served in tall cornflower cut glasses.

Wintery Blue and Silver Christmas Crackers

Christmas Crackers - Traditions

Hi folks! Tell GillianCards customers about YOUR Christmas Cracker traditions!

Look for the COMMENTS link below and send us your memories.

Cheers,
Gillian

NOTE: The 2006 Old Fashioned, Hand-wrapped Crackers at: www.gilliancards.com/crackers.htm (for customers in the USA and Europe) and
www.canada.gilliancards.com/crackers.htm (for customers in Canada)
are even more fun this year with an old fashioned Christmas decoration, turn-of-the-century puzzles and conundrums and more candy! Check them out and REMEMBER TO ORDER EARLY! Supplies run out well before Christmas. Crackers ordered by September 25th will be mailed October 26th. Don't forget to order Holiday Crackers for your kitties and your friends' and neighbours' cats too! They are filled with toy mice, feathers, catnip and fun! Great hostess presents!