Piñatas have been around for hundreds of years and have been found in numerous cultures. They have been known to represent good luck and symbolize spirituality. Traditionally, they are filled with small toys and candy, however anything can be put in a piñata. Today, piñatas are found at all types of events and can be a fun addition to any party!

So… where to begin when getting a piñata for a party? They can be found at most big box store, (and believe me, I have bought my fair share of piñatas from my local big box store) however, making your own can be quite satisfying. Since I have learned to create my own, I have enjoyed adding a custom and fun touch to my parties!

A party piñata can be inexpensive to make, however they can take a lot of time to create. Also, differing skill levels may be required, depending on the complexity of the desired design. Read below for instructions on making your own piñata.

1. Choose a design

A piñata design can be as simple or as crazy as one can imagine…just remember you will be building it. Start with a sketch. I’ve found a general rule of thumb when designing piñatas : the harder it is to sketch, the harder it is to build. Plus, having a sketch to refer to when your feeling off track can help to re-motivate you.

A simple design can be as easy as turning a box into a square or rectangular piñata. On the other hand, the more irregular and curvy the shape, the more difficult it can be to create.

2. Gather supplies

The supplies for a piñata can be fairly inexpensive, however you can add fancier finishes, which may result in higher cost.

The basic supplies needed for any piñata are: cardboard, newspaper, paper tape, glue, water, streamers/tissue paper, card stock, marker, a small-to-medium sized container, fishing line/rope/twine. You will need some cutting tools, too (think box knife, scissors, Exacto knife, etc).

3. Create your “foundation”

For this step, you will create your overall shape or foundation. Start with the biggest part of your frame, usually a square or rectangular box. This will also act as the body of the piñata, which is where all the goodies go. So, it is important that you leave a point of access where you can add the treats later. Cut a hole big enough for all your treats to fit.

Also, you will want a way to hang the piñata. Generally, a piñata should hang straight and not tip to one side or the their. Sometimes finding this point is easy, other times, it takes some experimenting to get a feel for the center point.

For the hanging mechanism, reinforcement the cardboard, using 4 additional pieces of cardboard, approximately 4″x6″. Make matching holes or slits in each cardboard piece, that can fit the fishing line, twine, or rope through. Also, make these same holes in the body of the piñata. Then, placing two of these cardboard pieces on the inside and 2 on the outside, line up the holes, with the matching holes in the piñata body. Glue the cardboard in place and allow to dry. Next, feed about a foot of length of your fishing line, twine, or rope through the holes, make a loop, and tie a knot. You will layer attach a longer length to this loop for hanging your piñata.

Next, add more shape to the overall piñata. This is where you will add legs, heads, arms, etc, also any large accessories like backpacks and purses. Using paper tape, securely attach smaller boxes or pieces of cardboard to build up your overall form. I like to using paper towel rolls,strips of thin cardboard, corners cut from boxes, and even wadded up paper to add smaller shapes to the pinata body. Let your imagination lead you.

4. Make your final shape

Once the piñata foundation is made, it’s time to add small shapes to create form. You will use the same method as before: securely attach small pieces of cardboard, using paper tape. However, this time, the shapes will be even smaller (think ears and noses, fingers and toes, and other accessory items). Don’t worry about getting lots of detail, though, just basic shapes. Once the piñata gets covered, you won’t be able to see tiny details.

Once you are happy with your overall tough form, you will layer on newspaper to the outside of the piñata. The newspaper will need to be cut into small strips, approximately 1″ wide by 12″ long. Also, in your small-to-medium sized container, mix white glue with water, what works best for me is a 1:2 ratio of glue to water, however there are many combinations that work. Different ratios can change the strength of the piñata and affect drying time.

Next, place those newspaper strips on the piñata by dipping the newspaper strips, one at a time, into the glue solution. Using your fingers, wipe off the excess, drippy glue from the paper. Lay the glue covered strip onto the base layer of your piñata, keeping it smooth so the entire strip can adhere to the layer below. Evenly cover the base layer on all sides,while overlapping the newspaper strips. Once one layer is complete, add another layer. Repeat this for 3-4 layers; I’ve found that alternating the direction of the strips from layer to layer creates a stronger piñata. Also, more layers means a stronger piñata. The stronger the piñata, the harder it will be to break…so stronger is not always necessarily better. Make sure to test the thickness and hardness if your piñata as you add each layer.

At this point, you may desire to cover your base layer with a quick coat of paint. I often choose to do a layer of white or black before moving forward. You can also leave the base layer without paint, since most of your piñata will be covered in fringe, anyway. If there are areas you have planned to not cover with fringe, then definitely put a layer of paint onto those areas to cover the cardboard.

5. Cover with tissue paper

Next, it is time to cover your piñata with fringe. My favorite material for this is colored party streamers. They make a great fringe effect and come in almost every color to match any party theme. Tissue paper can also be used to create other, more unique finishes. For example: circular pieces of tissue paper can translate to a scalloped pattern and ruffled piece of tissue paper can be turned into flowers. Again, use your imagination to create unending looks with different sizes, shapes, and layers of fringe details.

For streamer fringe: Roll out a strip of streamer around 6 feet long, then fold it in half lengthwise, to make a double layered strip. On the unfolded side, cut fringes with your scissor. To speed up this process, you can the streamers into smaller length and cut multiple layers at once.

You will need quite a bit of fringe, therefore, this is one of the most time consuming parts of a piñata project. For me, it is easier to cut the fringe pieces as I go. This keeps me from making too much or too little, plus, it breaks up the long process.

Each piece of fringe will now need to be attached to your piñata. For this, you can use white glue or any remaining white glue solution you had from previous steps. Dab glue along the entire folded edge of the streamer fringe. Starting at the bottom of your piñata, attach the first row of fringe. Continue upward and for each new layer of fringe, overlap the previous row slightly. Keep adding rows until you have completely covered your piñata.

6. Add final details

Your piñata is almost complete, except, all you need now is the final details. This is the part where you add eyes, jewelry, logos… you get the idea. As far as materials go, you can use whatever your heart desires for this step: glitter and jewels, paper and markers, fabric, really any and everything! Affix the detail pieces to your piñata using the appropriate glue, usually craft glue or hot glue will suffice for most materials.

Now, fill your piñata with all your goodies and hang it up. Since a filled piñata can get heavy, find a strong and secure place to hang it from (a tree limb, a beam, etc). Destroy and enjoy!

Last two things, I promise: don’t forget the stick to break the piñata. Often times a broomstick will be decorated in fringe matching the piñata to complete the set. Plus, have small favor bags or boxes that guest can use to put their piñata goodies into.

Kristina

Well, we all know that fall has officially begun. That also means that Halloween is not far…(yay!!This is one of my favorite holidays). Halloween is the perfect time for DIY projects. You can make your own decorations, activities, and even costumes and masks.

Today, I am going to show you how to make a simple mask out of cardboard. This project is easy enough for all levels of DIYers. It is a perfect project to do with kids and costs nearly nothing.

1. First, you have to decide what your mask will be. You can base your design off a character, an object, or something you have imagined yourself. For me, my son has been really into the Fortnite game, lately. One of the characters in that game wears this fox-like mask. It looks like this:

2. The second step is to separate the design into flat sections. By this, I make a basic line sketch of each “layer” of the mask. For example, one layer is the full outline of the face (minus eye holes), another layer is from the cheekbones and up, the third layer is the nose and forehead section. Each layer adds another dimension of depth to your mask.

3. Next, you take all those layers and stack them up. Once you decide on the final location of each layer, glue the layers together. This part reminds me a little bit of a putting together a puzzle. The cool part is, as you stack the layers, your design starts to show its shape…really cool!

4. Now, you get to decorate your mask. I always like to start by painting the entire thing in a solid color. When painting on cardboard, I like to use tempura paint. It soaks in well and covers the surface evenly. For this mask, it is mainly white, so I used that as my base coat. On this step, it is best to use your dominant color to start with, then add the details, afterward.

5. After your base layer of paint has dried, then you can add other details. (By the way, you can also use markers, crayons, colored pencils, pens, etc….whatever your heart desires, really). On my son’s mask, I used colored pencils to sketch in the design details. Since my background color is white, this worked rather well. If you have a darker base color, paint may work better for visual contrast.

6. The next part to making a mask is finding a way to wear it. For this mask, I attached a ribbon to the mask. I glued a piece of ribbon directly to each side of the cardboard mask…one on the left and one on the right. Then I glued a third piece of ribbon to the top edge of the mask. This piece goes across the top of the head to hold it at the right height on the head and face.

When cutting the ribbon, measure it to fit around the head of who ever will be wearing it, plus a couple inches extra to use for gluing and for adjusting the size. For many masks, that is the final step; you can tie the ribbons together to hold it in place. I wanted this mask to fit a little more comfortably for my son, so I added small Velcro strips to the loose ends of the ribbon. Then, all three ribbons stick to one another and the mask can fit my son or my self!!

7. Finally, the last step is to try on the mask. Wear it and have fun!!

When planning a party, everyone has a budget. However, Pinterest has also really raised the bar for the party experience. So, I am going to give you some tips on how to balance your budget with your desire for a great party. Keep reading to learn how to plan an amazing party without emptying your savings account.

Guest list

#1 rule for throwing a budget friendly party: pare down that guest list! It is no secret: the more guests you have, the more you will tend to spend. Try limiting your guest list to just your closest friends and family. If you haven’t spoken to someone for years (unless this is a reunion party), don’t invite them. More guests will lead you to supply more food, drinks, and snacks. It also means that you need a larger venue, which generally means more money. Keep your guest list tight and keep your budget tight.

Venue

Renting a venue can be a huge cost, so this is great way to save you a lot of money.  Venues near me start out at $100, but generally are much more (up to $500 for only a few hours). So…how do you avoid this cost…? There are a few options: Find a local business that offers free or cheap meeting rooms (sometimes banks, hotels, and offices will rent out their space during slow time). Know somebody with a large home or yard that would let you crash their place? Take advantage of it and throw a party there. Or…opt for a beautiful outside party at the park.

Decorations

Parties are about having fun and celebrating with your friends and family. Therefore, decorations are not necessary. However, when most people think about planning a party, how to decorate is usually the first thing to come to mind. Table covers and streamers are my go to for creating a Big Bang for your buck. They come in all varieties of colors, so they can match any theme. Table covers can be used for other things too…like backdrops!

Activities

Just hanging out together, is usually enough activity for most party-goers. Although, if you are throwing a kid’s party, activities are a great idea to keep all the kids entertained (and somewhat contained).

For example, this inexpensive “mummy wrap-up” game from my last Halloween party. Only $2 for up to 8 pairs of kids! The game lasts 5-10 minutes, but is lots of fun. You can also create other activities for follow up (think races, relays, photo ops, etc…).

Food and Drinks

Food and drinks can add up fast. Food: if you must serve food on a budget, think of things that can be made in bulk…like tacos, hotdogs, or sandwiches. Drinks: kids love Kool-Aid!! Well, let’s face it, a lot of adults do too. It is inexpensive and easy to make a variety of flavors to keep everyone happy. Snacks: grab a couple bags of chips!!! Done!

Let’s be clear, you do not have to feed your guests a full meal… in fact, you don’t have to serve any food, if you don’t want to.

Party Favors

Party favors are another item you can omit completely. But, if you must have party favors, there are budget friendly ways to create some great options. I love shopping at the Dollar Tree for party favors! They have stickers, crayons, pencils, folders, and all kinds of other great favor items. For most of my budget-friendly parties, I can get favors for 12 kids for around $10 total. For the favor bags, I just get a package of brown paper lunch bags. Then, I decorate the bags according to the theme. Sometimes it’s a s simple as folding the bag over and putting a sticker on it. This cool Super Mario Brothers bag below was made with a brown paper lunch bag and construction paper!

Imagine walking into a party, looking around and seeing beautiful colors all around. As you look closer, you see lots of balloons, streamers, banners, and more. Now, think about designing your own party.  You hope to create an event that your friends and family will remember! You want to make a big impact for your guests. One way this can be achieved is by creating an effective focal point.

Many people think that the more you decorate, the more visual impact your party will have. This can be true…However, you can also and create a single focal point, which can attract just as much attention from your party guests. Let me tell you how!

First, let’s talk about what a focal point is. A focal point is the area where you want to draw the attention of your guests. Normally, it will be the first thing that guests notice as they enter your party space. Also, the focal point tends to be the backdrop for your party activities and photos.

Throughout this article, I will use one of my drawings as an example to give some easy tips for creating your focal point. Here it is:

 

Right away, you can see how this pop of color, against the plain wall, really grabs your attention. Now, I will break this down into 5 smaller, easy-to-do tips for creating your own focal point.

 

1. Balloons

Balloons come in almost every color, therefore can easily be matched to your party’s theme. In this example, they are helium filled and act as a frame to the overall focal point. However, you can fill them with normal air (AKA your breath) and attach them to the corners of the table for a similar effect. This will still help to frame the area, but can save you the cost of purchasing a helium tank.

 

2. Backdrop

Backdrops can be made from nearly anything. I prefer to use disposable table cloths (which also come in a huge variety of colors). You can use a single color, like shown in the drawing, or choose 2 or 3 colors to match your party’s theme. Using a backdrop behind your main table draws your guests in. It creates an interesting visual effect by inexpensively covering a large space, in an otherwise plain room.

 

3. Table Decorations

The ways to decorate your table has unending options. First, start with a table cloth (or two, for the layered look). Then, I like to “fancy it up” by adding a few more decorating details. In the example drawing, I have shown streamers draped across the front. However as mentioned above, you could use balloons on the corners or a row across the top to create a sort of balloon table skirt. If you are having a themed party, you can decorate the table to match your theme…use banners, fringe, character cut-outs,…whatever you like, can be attached to the front and sides of the table to be used as decorations. See some more examples HERE.

 

4. Contrasting background

This item is one that you can do without, but it really brings the eye in…right where you want it! Creating a contrast to your background can be as simple as shown in the drawing: A plain white circle, square, oval, etc. This is a super easy way to create a strong focal point. Plus, it sets the background to make your centerpiece really stand out!

 

5. Centerpiece

In the drawing, you notice the centerpiece right away. All of the above components, drastically help to make the centerpiece a “true centerpiece”! Many people use a cake for their main attraction, but if you are not having cake at your party, there are tons of options. Another popular choice for centerpieces are flowers. Click HERE to see some other unique centerpiece ideas.

 

Also, one extra thing I want to add. If you are in a large party area, you can create multiple focal points. When I throw a party in a bigger space, I usually have at least three or four of these focal areas (ex: cake table, gift table, game and activity area, and food /snack table).  Now go get your party set up and be prepared for your guest to be wowed! The “oohs” and “aahs” that you hear (not to mention all the smiles that you see) will definitely make your day!

As you scroll through Pinterest and see all these amazing party ideas, you think to yourself “I can do that!” And a lot of the time, you can…..but, do you really want to (and, do you even have the time to do it yourself?) I will help you decide when to DIY your own party and when to hire someone to help.

When to DIY:

1. You have plenty of time

   Pinterest and “reality” DIY shows have made it look it really easy to do any project from start to finish in 30 minutes. Sure, some projects can be done in 30 minutes, but, in real life this is not normally the case. Even seemingly small projects can add up to hours, before you realize it. Let’s take DIY invitations for example: You have to get together all your supplies, plan your design, cut out and glue all the parts together. Then, you switch to the computer to print out your party information, then cut and glue that to the main invitation design.  Whew! Making invitations, alone can become a 3-4 hour project. Even after doing crafts for years and years, I still underestimate how long it will take me to complete a project.

2. You have plenty of patience

   This goes hand in hand with having plenty of time. When something doesn’t go as planned, not only is it going to add more time to your project, but it will also really test your patience. Creating any craft can have it’s hiccups and when you are on a time crunch (like being done before your party day), it can become very stressful and make you questions your DIY decision. However, if you really enjoy the process, it can help to keep some of your patience with the task at hand. But…sometimes, you just have to put your project down and come back to it later.

3. If you’re feeling crafty

   Everyone feels crafty sometime. But, for planning your own party, you must be feeling extremely crafty. Not because it takes any additional crafting skills…only because it takes a lot of crafting. Everything in your party doesn’t have to be hand-crafted, however a few custom decorations are what will really help your party stand out. Besides the DIY craft items, there is more craftiness involved: choosing a theme and color scheme, putting together the layout of the party, creating games and activities, even deciding on the type of food you will have at your party….this all takes your crafty side.

4. Your friends and family can help

   Now, this one is not a must, but it definitely helps to have the extra hands. Imagine creating multiple of anything (invitations, centerpieces, banner pieces, etc)…now imagine cutting out tens of the same shape, gluing those shapes together, drawing or writing on those shapes. This can add up to a very redundant task. Having friends or family members to assist with this will also help for point #1 and #2, time and patience. It’s also a great idea to enlist the help of your friends and families for set up and clean up of your party.

5. If you have a place to work and store items

   OK, now this one can also be very helpful. Creating party decorations can take up a lot of space. You need room to spread out. For me, I like to be able to lay out all items at once, so I can see what the overall impact will be. Also, for a DIY party, you may end up with a lot more supplies and decorations than you realize…you have to have tablecloths, plates, napkins, forks, cups, balloons, streamers, containers, and more, and more!

When to hire help:

1. You don’t have time or patience.

   If you have never planned a party, this is a major point to take into account. If you know ahead of time that your patience is easily tested, maybe forgo planning your own event. Also, if you know you will be unable to dedicate one or two hours each day, for up to 2 weeks…it may be a great idea to hire a party planner. As I mentioned above, throwing a DIY party can be surprisingly time consuming.

2. When you become overwhelmed.

   Becoming overwhelmed can happen. One minute, you are cruising along making your “happy birthday” banner. The next minute, you are totally freaking out, realizing how much you still have left to finish.  I tend to make a list at the beginning for two reason: so I can keep track of what needs done AND so I can be aware of how much work still needs done. Breaking big tasks down into smaller tasks can help reduce the chance of a major meltdown, but if you still find yourself overwhelmed, there is no shame in calling your party planner.

3. If you’ve never planned or hosted a party before.

   Everyone has to start somewhere, however, if you have never planned a party before, you may want to think about hiring a party planner. There are many, many things that can easily be overlooked if you haven’t planned a party, before. Take a look at Pinterest or just Google search “party planning checklist.” This will give you a brief view of how much can be involved in a DIY party.

4. You have lots of cool ideas, but you don’t know how to make them reality.

   Ideas are easy to come by. Figuring out how bring those ideas into fruition….that is a different story. Many party planners will give advice and be more than happy to take over when you are unsure what to do next. Share your ideas with your party planner and they can come up with a plan that works for you, rather that is taking over completely or just creating some items for you.

5. Is there a lot at stake?

   This one is the most important of all!!  How crucial is the outcome of your party…if it is a birthday party for a 4-year old, go for it. No one is going to be upset if the party doesn’t end up “perfect.” However, if the event will have a bearing on your next promotion or some other important outcome, enlist the help of your party planner.

 

Now, after reading all of this, do not hesitate to reach out to me for help. You can bounce ideas off me, hire me to create custom party decorations, and even more. However, also don’t be afraid to try a DIY party…now that you know some things to take into account!

 

I am finally going to start my first blog. Since I have been doing arts and crafts for so long (which translated well to my party planning) , I have many ideas I can share to help you plan your own DIY party. Also, because I am in the business of party planning, I know that parties can become stressful and overwhelming…so, I will help you decide when it is time to hire help.

You can expect to find articles and tips on planning, decorating, creating parties on a budget, DIY projects, and much much more!! I am so excited to be able to share my ideas with you. Once you read an article you like, please feel free to share with your friends.

My plan is to update by adding a new article each Monday afternoon.

Beyond the blog, I am always available for party (even arts and crafts) help. If you have an idea, but not sure how to bring it to fruition, I can give you some tips and tricks, or even direct you to additional help.

 

You can start following me now, on social media :

 

 

 

• Facebook: Kristina’s Creations (Columbus, IN)

• Instagram: Kristina’s Creations IN

• Pinterest: Krobertson2826: Kreations

 

where does this go after published?