Whether you’re throwing a birthday party for your child or you plan on celebrating Cinco de Mayo in style, you can’t go wrong with a colorful piñata. After all, what party guest doesn’t want to take home some yummy treats from the online candy shop? But if you want to make your occasion even more special, you’ll want to put a bit of extra thought into this experience. In the store-bought versus handmade debate, there’s not an inherently superior option. What really matters is how it looks — and what you fill it with. In today’s post, we’ll talk about some fun tips and tricks that will help make your next party piñata a real crowd-pleaser.
Pinata Ideas
When choosing a piñata for your next party, let your creativity run wild! For kids’ parties a classic shape like animals, princesses or superheroes is always a hit. But don’t be afraid to think outside the box! For older kids or even adults, funny or quirky piñatas — maybe shaped like tacos or donuts — bring extra laughter. You can even customize piñatas to match a specific theme like a graduation cap or a pumpkin for Halloween. The key is to choose a piñata that reflects the interests and style of your guest of honor. If you choose to make your own pinata you should try to find a design that isn’t overly complicated for a beginner.
For adult parties you can consider piñatas with a more humorous touch. Taco piñatas fit a fiesta-themed event while champagne bottle shapes are great for wedding rehearsals or bachelorette parties are sure to be memorable. Also remember that piñatas don’t have to be filled with candy—small trinkets like lottery tickets or party favors like keychains, mini bottles of hot sauce or even small cosmetics make for delightful and unexpected surprises.
Pick Your Theme
First, you need to decide what your piñata will look like. If your party has a specific theme, like a princess motif or a favorite cartoon character, you’ll likely have some luck finding a ready-made product that reflects that. There are also customizable piñatas that allow you to print out a specific photo and attach it to a colorful shape. Alternatively, you could actually DIY your piñata with help from a step-by-step guide to reflect your own unique event. Keep in mind that your piñata will likely stay up throughout the first part of the event and act as a decorative piece — so it needs to be attractive, fun, and thematic.
Bash or Pull
You’ll also need to decide how your party guests will interact with your piñata. There are two basic options here: you can either choose one that participants can hit to break open, or you can opt for a piñata with pull-strings. Pull-string options are usually best for younger children, but they can also allow you to keep the piñata up as part of the decor and avoid making a big mess. The traditional version, however, can be much more of an event. It’s important that if you choose this kind that you’ll have some kind of supervision to prevent injuries or accidents (especially if you’re using a baseball bat). You’ll also need more supplies on-hand, like blindfolds. You can’t really go wrong either way, but it’s a good idea to know your audience and let that inform your decision.
Materials List
Ready to take the plunge and make your own piñata? Here’s what you’ll need:
- Balloons or cardboard for structure
- Newspaper strips to form the outside layer
- Flour and water to make the papier-mâché paste
- Tissue paper or colored paper for the outer layer and decoration
- Candy or small toys for filling the pinata
- String or rope for hanging up the finished product
- Glue, tape and scissors to help you assemble it
Other optional materials you can use include paints and stickers or glitter for a more personalized touch like writing the special person’s name. You can also use a piñata kit to make the process easier if you’re pressed for time.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Create a Pinata
- Create the Underlying Structure: Inflate a balloon for a round piñata or cut and shape cardboard pieces together for other designs like stars or animals.
- Mix the Glue Paste: Combine one part flour with two parts water to create a smooth and glue-like paste.
- Apply the Papier-Mâché: Dip strips of newspaper into the paste and layer them over your balloon or cardboard shape. Let each layer dry before adding another. Aim for 3-4 layers for the right amount of sturdiness.
- Pop the Balloon: Once the piñata is fully dry pop the balloon (if using) and remove it. If you used cardboard for the structure it will remain as part of the finished product.
- Decorate: Use tissue paper or colored paper to cover the piñata. Glue thin long pieces around the shape and layer them for a fringed look.
- Cut an Opening: Carefully cut a small flap near the top or back of the piñata that you can use to fill it up.
- Attach a String: Securely attach a string or rope to hang it up.
Once your piñata is ready you’ll have a festive party activity everyone will enjoy!
Fill it Up
Here comes the fun part: filling up your piñata! Most people will opt to place a large online candy shop order, prioritizing the different types of old fashioned candy
- Tootsie Roll candies
- Taffy
- Caramels
- Peppermints
- Wafer candies
- Candy necklaces
- Bubble gum
Be sure to include a good variety, as kids eat an average of four hard and chewy candies for every one eaten by adults. In general, you should steer clear of candy that might melt, like certain kinds of chocolates. Although you’ll get a lot from your online candy shop, you can also supplement the sweet stuff with small toys, art supplies, and other fillers that fit your main theme. Just make sure to keep everything to a relatively miniature size so that nothing gets stuck inside the piñata!
No matter what you’re celebrating, candy will make your memories a whole lot sweeter. To learn more about our product selection, check out our online candy shop or contact us today!
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.