This is a fun craft I came up with a little over a year ago, but as you might guess, it takes me a while to document and publish things. I originally put this D.I.Y. together for LA CANVAS, but they dropped the ball on posting it, and now it’s not as seasonally relevant. But in LA, it always feels like a good time for a fiesta, so here’s a fast and easy way to make super cute and festive mini piñatas. Here’s the original D.I.Y., out-of-date as it is. Try different colors to match different themes, or try making them into owls, ewoks (yes we did!), or any other little thing shaped like a tube.

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Cinco de Mayo is almost here. By now, you should have a fiesta to attend. If you don’t, here’s a quick mini piñata for your party-for-one (or you could make a handful to bring to a party). I know it seems like a lot of steps, but they come together quickly, the materials are cheap/easy to come by, and they’re muy preciosa. Try out different color combinations, or try turning it into an owl (bring back 2008!) by using bigger googly eyes, a beak, and wings.

MATERIALS:
-toilet paper tubes
-scissors
-tape
-googly eyes
-marker
-crepe paper (it’s cheap, textured, and glues like a dream)
-glue
-candy/treats

STEPS:

1. Push down one end of your toilet paper tube to form the head of the cat.

2. Fill it!

3. Make little tails by twisting a couple inches of crepe paper, keeping one end flat to tape to what will be the “back” of your cat. The tail will go across the entire bottom opening so it can be used to tear open the piñata later.

4. Take another piece of crepe paper and tape it across the bottom to seal it.

5. Fold a strip (long enough to circle the tube) in half long ways and trim a fringe along the edge with two free ends of paper (not the folded side). This ensures the fringe won’t be too thin/sparse. Run a thin bead of glue along the top folded edge (a little goes a long way), and wrap the fringe strip around the tube. Make sure to line up the bottom of the fringe with the bottom of the tube to cover up where you sealed the bottom.

6. Before you work your way to the top with fringe, take two approximately 3-4 inch long strips of crepe paper and run glue along the perimeter. Then fold each strip over the top of the tube (the “head”) while making sure the crepe paper meets on the side.

7. Continue adding fringe strips all the way up to almost the top. Be sure to layer the strips slightly.

8. Your kitty is almost done! Glue on eyes (if you want/have them) and draw in the rest of the face.

9. Tear open. Enjoy!