From buntings to birthday candles, most party supplies are so easy to make that they practically make themselves, so that you can save up all your money for Brie and cake. And even if you have a ton of Brie and cake left over after your party…well, life has been hard, hasn’t it? One party supply that’s actually super-easy to make but has a big impact (ahem) is the piñata. For every party theme and every crafting style, there’s a piñata that you can make. Check out the following five piñata tutorials to see how easy it will be to make someone’s birthday party dream come true: You can probably make an upcycled newspaper paper mache piñata without even having to leave the house. If you have an old latex balloon in the junk drawer, and if you’ve saved your newspapers for a couple of days, and if you own white flour, then you’re all set! Be warned, however: especially with the many layers of glue-sodden newspaper that this piñata needs, it takes a really long time to completely dry. This is a project that should be started at least four days before your party and completely finished at least 24 hours before the party begins. Next » Let’s say that you read the newspaper online–do you have any paper bags? These brown paper bag piñatas from The Journals of Giddy Giddy come complete with their own hanging loops, and they’re so simple to make that you can spend all your time on decorating them. If you don’t have crepe paper, try cutting up glossy magazines and separating them into piles of different color ways to use in place of the dyed crepe paper. [The image on this page is the property of The Journals of Giddy Giddy.] Next » Much more time-consuming than a painted piñata, but much more intricate (and far less messy than a paper mache piñata!), is the cardboard piñata, tutorial courtesy of Alicia Policia. While you can absolutely score the right amount of cardboard from your Recycling Center, to do this piñata the authentic way, you likely will have to pony up for some crepe paper at the store. But if it’s in your budget and your party is for adults or children of discriminating tastes (or if your idea is just plain awesome), then this type of piñata is well worth the extra effort. [The image on this page is the property of Alicia Policia.] Next » Like a firing squad shooting with nine blanks and one real bullet, or a pleasant version of drawing straws, a pull string piñata has as many ribbons as there are party guests, but only one of these ribbons will release the trap door to the glorious candy. Everyone pulls their ribbon simultaneously, so not only is the whole piñata experience relatively non-violent, if you’re into that sort of thing, but it’s also over much sooner and nobody has to take turns. This pull string piñata, tutorial courtesy of Young House Love, is formed similarly to the conventional paper mache piñata, with a few structural changes to make the functioning trap door. [The image on this page is the property of Young House Love.] Next » A small piñata uses fewer materials, takes way less time to make, and if you’re only inviting a few kids to the party (smart you!), then it’s plenty roomy enough to fill everyone’s goodie bags. This mini piñata, tutorial courtesy of The Pumpkin Patch, uses one roll of crepe paper, one Spider-man napkin, and one cereal box. Heck, if your birthday kid is turning at least seven years old, she could probably make this herself. As for you…you go out and buy yourself more Brie and cake! [The image on this page is the property of The Pumpkin Patch.]
