How We Made 3 Birthday Pinatas in One Month

A "Starrific" Number 7 Pinata

As is the custom, I asked my soon-to-be 7-year-old what kind of birthday pinata she wanted this year. Unlike last year's unicorn pinata, her request was blessedly simple.   She wanted a number seven pinata. So in typical last-minute form, the morning before her afternoon party, we made it. We cut a cereal box to serve as the frame. It took around two hours to decorate and was gone in three smacks.

Our Easiest "Pinata" Ever!

Next, we had a mini-party for my son at a park where a weekly playgroup meets.  To help keep things simple, I let him make his own pinata.  I used Emma Salk's idea for an inside-out pinata. All that was required was:

• tape
• fruit snacks with his favorite characters.
• a latex balloon
• string for hanging
• random stick for smacking

This Year's Tank Engine Pinata

And finally, I had promised to make a proper pinata for my son.  We made it for our family party at home.  He chose a Thomas-themed pinata for the second year in a row.  To attempt a tank engine required a few more materials however.


We used:

• an empty oat canister with lid
• a cardboard toilet paper roll
• an empty cereal box
• an empty ice cream cone box
• glue
• blue tissue paper
• red crepe paper
• black construction paper
• paper plate (for the face)
• black and blue markers/crayons
• white or blue paper
• string for hanging
• tape for securing face to lid

Since I had made a similar pinata the previous year, it didn't take as long to make it the second time--less than two hours I think.  (I have a complete tutorial for a star pinata here. ) Again, speed, not perfection was my goal.  My son also had a wonderful time working with me to make it.

Thus, despite a busy summer of preparing to move, I concluded that keeping our birthday pinata tradition was worth doing.  My children seemed to agree.