Witch Hat Pinata

 I've been wanting to making these for several years now.  I love mini pinatas.  I made these for a few friends kiddos.  Unfortunately, I have no idea where the 'beginning' pictures are, but below you can see I took a regular old dollar store party hat and cut a 'fringe' about 1/2 the way up all the way around.

 I then used glue and covered the whole hat with black fringed crepe paper.  I bought a bunch of little toys and blinking jewelry from Party City and filled the inside.

I then just took a black round circle and glued the 'fringed' part to the circle to hold it in place.  The idea is that the kiddos get to rip these bad boys open to get to a few Halloween goodies.  So simple, and really cheap.  One roll of crepe paper (50 cents) covered 8 party hats and then some.

Mini Unicorn Pinata

 I made my own mini donkey pinata a few years ago to fill with a gift card to a local Mexican restaurant.  Here are those instructions.  Recently I saw a unicorn pinata online, and it was my intention to make another pinata....the unicorn version, but then I ran across some mini donkey shapes already put together at Hobby Lobby.

 I used a coupon and picked up a three pack.  They also sold the fringe (this is not an ad-seriously, I just hate trying to search down products), but I just bought some tissue at the dollar store.

 I cut the tissue into strips.

 I glued strips down the main, overlapping them a little bit.

 I just used regular old glue stick.

 I did the same thing with the tail, but instead of having it go to the side like the main, I had it go towards the back.

 Here's a look at the finished main.  It doesn't have to be perfect b/c you are going to go over it with the white.

 The tail is also where the opening was.

I slipped the gift inside.  

I then took white tissue and I covered the body with fringe.

I took a gold piece of scrapbook paper and glued it into the shape of a cone.

I glued a little strip in the cone, and used that surface to glue it onto the head of the unicorn.

I have two more of these guys....I think I'm going pastel with the next one, and then....who knows, the sky is the limit.

Chocolate Bunny Pinata

 I made this pinata last year for my secret sister at work.  Here is a free pattern for the bunny shape.

 I cut two chocolate bunny shapes out of poster board, and the an inch and a half strip to go around the edge.  You can make it wider if you want to fill it with more candy.   I took the edging and taped it to one side of the bunny, then filled the innards with candies and confetti.

 I then took the lid and taped it on top.

 I folded over strips of tissue paper and created fringe.

 I glued it all around my bunny.

 Added a ribbon and a tag and then it hopped on it's way.

Color Your Own Pinata

 I've used little mini pinatas for awhile now at various parties.  In this particular case, I wanted to go with a different color scheme than....everything...for a baby shower.  Gold and pink.  I still wanted the baby pinatas...hello, mini everything is where all the fun is at.  Instead of making my own....I ordered some online (they also sell these at Hobby Lobby....which I knew that before), and I sprayed them down.
It did take two coats of paint with the gold, and more than that with the pink b/c it's ruffled tissue, it's hard to get all sides on the first spritz, but they were fun when all was said in done.  I'll show the rest of their friends soon.

Pinata Packaging

 This past spring we threw a baby shower for a friend at work.  More on that subject in a few days.  When we were brainstorming, I suggested putting the hostess gifts (we decided to get 'party dresses' to outfit baby Isabella for her first year) inside a pinata.  Instead of purchasing one at the store, I made one.  It served as a focal point at the guest sign in....and later....to complete the fiesta theme-a fiesta isn't complete until someone cracks open the pinata!
Here is a basic tutorial on how to make these cardboard shaped pinatas.  I cut out two large I shapes, and then made a four inch border I taped onto one I.  I filled the pinata with all the outfits...

 I placed the second I over the top and taped it shut.

 I covered it with ruffled tissue to match the shower colors, and then....breaking the pinata for all the goodies....

I've gone full circle on Good Morning, Texas today.  My very first segment was a pinata.  I'm bringing them back on today's show in honor of Cinco de Mayo.  I've pulled out a few new techniques over the last few years to share.  

I used the same steps to make the letter shapes that I used to make this donkey shape last year.  Here is that tutorial.  See what I did there?  GMT....get it?  I've also used this same technique for two parties I'm hosting-I wanted the initials....just you wait...they have some pretty fun innards!!!  I'll blog those very soon.

I'm also making these mini pull tab pinatas (the shell is a toilet paper tube).  Here is that easy tutorial.

Last up, I'm doing a little demo on spray painting pinatas.  Simple enough-pinata+spray paint=new little creature without all the tissue/glue work.

I'll be doing a step by step for making tissue flowers to decorate these little guys, and in a few weeks/months I'll show you what all these little guys were used for)-two fiestas in the work-a baby shower and a birthday party with a very specific color theme. They have quite a party coming along for the scene in which they will be used :O)  I'll post a link to the segment on facebook later, and I have a few WEEK's worth of details to post about on my blog soon....just as soon as these party props make their debut at some upcoming parties-they will get their own post as well.

Heart Pinatas

 I'm always trying to come up with fun ways to deliver 'junk' to my friend's kiddos.  I figure if I got 'stuff' with actual value they'd feel obligated to keep it-junk they can play with and displace without guilt...but...I still want it to be fun.  I saw the idea for using heart boxes and turning them into conversation heart pinatas last year at studio and I added it to my to do list for this year.  If the store Valentine's supplies are out at the store...I'm crafting....so....here is what I did with the 'rest' of my Christmas break.
I found the heart boxes at JoAnne's, but I've since seen various sizes at Michael's and Hobby Lobby.  You could make your own template and shape, but this saved me a bit of time.
Next stop was finding fillers.  I like raiding the bins at Party City for this....

 I taped some string inside to 'hang these.'

 I filled up my container with my goodies, and placed the lid on top.  I'm mailing a few, so those I taped, the ones I'm handing out I just glued the crepe paper on so it is easier to hope.  You can use strips of tissue, but I decided to go with the streamers so it had a little texture.  I folded mine in half, and then cut on the fold to create a ruffle.

 I glued it around the sides, and then on top and bottom.

 I used some stickers to create my 'conversation.'

Firecracker Party Favors

I made these little firecracker table favors this year for July 4th.  

For the pull, I attached a little piece of wrapped candy to a string with tape.  

I taped it inside as well.  

 I covered the bottom of a toilet paper tube with tissue paper, making a small hole to pull the string through with scissors.

I cut little pieces of folded strips of tissue paper so there was a fringe...

...and I glued these to the body of the tube.  

I filled the open end with candy.  

 I punched a little hole on both sides and added a string so they can hang, and then added a little cap.