These homemade mini pinatas are an easy craft to make with your kids that are just as much fun to break open as the bigger ones. Made using a few simple materials that are easy to find, these DIY pinatas are perfect for any celebration!
My kids love to make fun, new projects any time there’s an opportunity to do so. Some of their favorite things they have made are the easy Slime Recipe, Homemade Playdough, and these adorable Ribbon Wands.
Small DIY Pinatas
What kid doesn’t love a pinata? There’s no feeling in the world that’s better for a kid than breaking open a pinata and seeing all of the candy spills out onto the floor.
These mini pinatas are not only a fun party activity, but they are also a super easy craft for kids! These are perfect for a Cinco de Mayo celebration, a birthday party, and everything in between. No long sticks are needed to bust these open, no ropes are used to hang them up high. Moms and dads will love them too since there’s no risk of getting hit with a bat!:) Here is a simple tutorial on how to make your own!
Mini Pinata Supplies
What I love about this easy craft idea is that the supplies needed to make these mini pinatas are simple and easy to find. If you don’t have them already in your house, you can find them at almost any large retail store.
- Paper Cups
- Colorful Napkins or Tissue Paper
- Tape (double-sided is the most convenient)
- Ribbon
- Candy and small toys to fill the pinatas with
- Rubber band
How To Make Mini Pinatas
- Begin by poking a small hole in the bottom of each cup and threading a ribbon through. Then tie a knot in the ribbon to prevent it from slipping out.
- Take your paper cup and trace it on a piece of tissue paper, then cut about an inch further out.
- Fill cups with candy or small toys and cover with a piece of tissue paper, using a rubber band to hold it in place.
- Measure how long your strips of tissue paper need to be to fit all the way around the cup. Then cut a rectangle of each color the length you’ll need, by 3″. Fold your rectangles in half, then cut slits in each strip.
- Wrap strips around the cup, using tape to keep them in place. The trick to keeping them straight is to make sure the middles of the strips are taped to the cup, and not the tops. You can then “squish” the tissue paper and flatten it to the cup. (This part will be covered by the next color, so it doesn’t have to be pretty.
- Attach strips all the way up and around the cup.
- To cover the top “squished” tissue paper part, grab some ribbon, and using a tiny piece of tape, attach it all around the top.
- Carefully attach a piece of ribbon to the bottom of the pinata onto the tissue paper.
- When it’s time to break open the piñata, allow the recipient to pull the taped ribbon, causing the tissue paper to rip and the goodies to come spilling out!
Now that your pinatas are finished, it’s time to celebrate! (Aren’t these so fun?!) I just love how versatile these homemade mini pinatas can be! Chose any colors or theme you want and put anything inside – who wouldn’t LOVE these at their next party? Have fun!!!
This post originally published on Somewhat Simple in November 2011 but was updated in August 2014
Such a great idea. You could do one for each kid and everyone could break their own.
What a fun idea! I bet my little cousins would have a ball making these! Thanks for sharing!
Such a cute idea! My sister’s son recently made a pinata using a shoe box. He made it a football field and it was really hard to break, which was perfect since adults were playing too!
OMGosh! so cute..I bet my son will want to make his a spider man pinata!
I made these with my scouts a few years ago- they are so fun! Thanks for this fun post Tasha!
What a great idea! My daughter just told me that she wants a pinata at her next birthday. The only problem is that her birthday is in March, and around VA it is still winter. These could be done inside, if necessary. I’m definitely going to see if I can make it work! Thanks!!!