“Some days your the kid with the stick, some days your the piñata.” ~Alec Baldwin
What's a party these days without the good 'ol traditional fun of......a Pinata!!!! If you are anything like the rest of us, you've had one at most, if not all, of your little ones (or big ones) parties. And if you are anywhere near as crazy and over the top as I am, you've spent darn close to a Benjamin Franklin size bill to have one that is customized to fit the theme or occasion!
Now, I DIY just about everything for every party I touch, but the pinata? Well, that was just too intimidating (and too crucial) of a party item for me to entrust in the hands of anyone but a professional.
Until my Twins 8th Birthday Party this past July that is! What if I told you that you could make your own Pinata for under $5 with absolutely no skill, supplies you most likely have laying around your house, a dash of patience, and a glass of wine (not required but helps with the previous listed requirement of patience 😉).
I have already tested and proved the following DIY Pinata steps to be not only super quick and easy to complete, but a sure way to shave $50 plus dollars off your next party as well!
Supplies:
1. Cardboard box (size dependent on the size of Pinata you want). I literally used boxes I got from work and found by my dumpster. Although you want to use cardboard that is of medium strength. Think cereal box- too thin. Moving boxes- too thick. Right in between there somewhere.
2. Masking Tape.
3. Glue. I used Elmer's although any similiar glue would work- I'd probably use a glue stick next time
4. Scissors and/or box cutter.
5. Tissue and/or Crepe Paper. (Anything else you choose to "decorate" with).
6. Fishing line/rope/zip tie for hanging.
Cut the cardboard
Obviously we are not making a delux, multi-compartament piece of artwork here. If that’s what your looking for you’re in the wrong place. First, trace the shape of just the front of your pinata onto the cardboard with pencil as your outline. So, for my YouTube play button piñata, I simply traced a rectangle onto the cardboard. Next, cut out the shape you drew using your box cutters. You can use scissors here as well, but I find it much quicker and much easier with the box cutters. Use this cut out as a tracer to draw the back of the piñata, this ensures both sides are even.
Your probably thinking, “yea sure a rectangle is easy”. Well it is, but I’ll use this example of a Cactus Piñata to show how it applies to other shapes.
You would simply trace the shape that the cactus looks like from the front (sort of like a dead chalk man on the sidewalk). Use the front to trace the back, cut and viola!
Some other fun and easy piñata ideas are a popsicle, pineapple, star, donut, watermelon slice, or the number of the birthday your celebrating.
So you’ve got the front and the back, it’s time to cut the in-between. You are going to cut long thinner (6-10 inches ish) strips of cardboard to act as the “top”, “bottom”, and “sides”. The wider you’re strips, the larger and deeper your Piñata will be. You don’t have to measure these exactly, but basically you want enough cardboard to go around the perimeter of your piñata. You can always adjust the length longer or shorter if need be. Once these are cut, use the box cutters to score the cardboard by gently slicing horizontally in 1/2 inch increments. You’re basically distressing the cardboard in this step. You will then want to roll it up and make it as malleable as possible. I’m assuming you don’t have corrugated cardboard. And if you do? Awesome you can skip the distressing because corrugated is best! Ok, cutting is done!
2. Tape together
Pre-cut a BUNCH of pieces of masking tape so they are ready and easy to grab. Now just take those long strips and start taping away as you work the strips around the shape of your “front” or “back”. Use as much tape as you need to hold things together and don’t worry about how ugly it looks, no one will see once we cover it with tissue and crepe paper.
3. Cut a trap door for candy
Don't forget to cut a small trap door to fill with candy!
4. Decorate
Take your crepe paper in the color of your theme and cut into several long strips . Place the strips on top of one another and cut short slits about 2/3 the way up to make fringe. Use glue to adhere the fringe pieces onto the cardboard while layering as you go. You can get as simple or fancy as you like in this step.
Now, it’s time to undo all that hard work and break that bad boy open!!
I’d love to see pics of your past Piñatas and let me know if you have any DIY piñata tips or tricks of your own! Tag me on Instagram @mandapandaparties or find me on Facebook.
~Manda