Super easy DIY pinata for your child's birthday for only $5

I don’t know what it is about pinatas but they are an absolute blast. Every kid loves them for their birthday, but they can be really pricey. So, here’s how to make your own DIY pinata for only $5 for your next birthday party. Yep, that’s right. Check it out!

*Completed pinata that I made for my son’s Mario birthday party*

So, if you’re lucky, you might be able to find a pinata that costs less than $25. Instead, why not grab some cardboard and crepe paper and make your own for only $5? It’s super easy and you can customize it based on the age of the person’s birthday that you are celebrating. The best part is that it’s cheap. Check these simple steps to get started.

Gather your pinata supplies

In order to make your own pinata, you can probably find most of your supplies around your house. The only thing I ended up spending money on was the crepe paper. Here’s what you’ll need:

Large regular cardboard box (old diaper boxes work great)
Scissors
Duct tape
Crepe paper (tissue paper works too)
Glue sticks (hot glue might work in a pinch)
Pipe cleaner
Bulk candy

Step #1: Cut out your pinata shape

This DIY pinata can be made in any shape that you want. I decided to make a number eight for my son’s eighth birthday. However, if you want to do a race car, unicorn, ice cream or a fish, the sky’s the limit. To start this step-by-step tutorial, you’ll want to draw your shape onto a large piece of cardboard. The number eight that I drew was about 17 inches tall and 11 inches wide. Then, cut it out. Repeat this same process so that you have two identical shapes.

Step #2: Tape everything together

Once you have the main shape of your pinata cut out, you’ll want to tape together the sides. This will be what makes your pinata three dimensional. I cut out the flaps on the diaper box that I used but you can use whatever you want. Just make sure you have long strips of cardboard that are all the same length. Some people recommend using a cereal box because it’s thin cardboard, but I felt like the cardboard was sturdier. Start taping the cardboard flaps along the edge of one of the two shapes that you cut out earlier. I used small pieces of duct tape. It holds really went. You can bend the cardboard before you tape it if your shape curves like mine did. Then repeat with the other shape.

Step #3: Glue on your crepe paper

This step is definitely the most time-consuming part. But if you really focus, you can probably finish it in about an hour. Grab the color crepe paper of your choice and cut one large length (about three feet) and then fold it a few times. Cut little strips on one side about an inch and a half up but don’t cut all the way through. Once complete, unfold the paper. It should look like a fringe garland. Then, using a glue stick, add glue your piece of crepe paper directly onto the pinata where you want it. It’s easier to glue from the bottom up instead of the top down. Repeat this process until the entire pinata is covered.

*Adding fringed crepe paper to the pinata*

Step #4: Cover any holes and add pipe cleaner

If you have a number pinata like mine that has holes in it, you’ll need to cover those so candy doesn’t fall out. Just color a circular piece of cardboard black and tape it from the inside. Then, in order to hang your pinata, you’ll need to add a pipe cleaner to the top of the piñata. Just cut to holes on the top to make a small opening, thread the pipe cleaner though and tie in a knot. Then, you can hang it from a tree branch.

That’s it’s! Overall, it only took me about three hours to complete this homemade piñata. Once you’re finished, buy a big bag of candy or small toys and fill it up. You can also add some cute decorations to the front. My son was having a Super Mario Brothers birthday party so I printed off some cute pictures and taped them on. He loved it.

Mario Brothers cut out to decorate the pinata — *Mario Brothers cutouts to decorate the DIY pinata*

Pinata making tips and tricks

Diapers box: A big Huggies diaper box was the perfect size to make a pinata out of
Duct tape: This is much stronger than masking tape. I would recommend it.
Decorations: Make it your own by decorating the outside with cute cutouts or paper flowers based on your party theme. If you print them at home, there’s no additional cost.
Not just for kids: Try making a party pinata for an adult, they are just as much fun.
Buy online: If you’re still not convinced and you want to just buy a pinata online, Amazon has some cute number pinatas, tacos and even poop emojis.
No more paper mache: There are different ways to make a pinata, but this carboard pinata is a much better option than the traditional method of adding layers of paper mache with sticky paper mache paste and newspaper strips.