DIY Pinata at Evan's 2nd Birthday Party

Okay, in just a few months it will be my nephew Evan's birthday and I haven't even blogged about his birthday last year. I am way behind on blogging. Here are some cute pictures from his party, and then a very easy DIY birthday pinata! (Aren't you tired of paying almost $20 for something that your kids are SUPPOSED to break!? Craziness!)

So, I got the idea for the pinata from The Sweetest Occasion. Hers is MUCH more beautiful than mine, but mine definitely got the job done and that's all that matters. Here are the incredibly easy instructions for this party game:

Go through your recycling and grab some thick cardboard and some cereal boxes. Get some fun colors of tissue paper, some masking tape, scissors, a glue stick, and some pipe cleaners. And of course, candy!

Start by cutting out the shape of your pinata out of the thick cardboard. She did a number one but I did the letter E. Cut out strips of your cereal box to use for the sides of your pinata. I did mine like hers - the letter was about 18 inches tall, so the strips were about 3 inches wide. Put your cardboard shape together with the strips using plenty of masking tape. Leave a flap open and untaped at the top of the pinata.

Next, get the tissue paper ready: leave paper folded as it comes in a package, and cut off a two-inch-wide strip of folded tissue paper. Snip fringe about halfway up one side of the folded tissue paper. Unfold, and you should have a long strand of fringed tissue. You can use any colors you like.

Once all of your tissue is fringed, grab your glue stick and start applying the fringe to the pinata form, starting at the bottom and working your way up. Overlap the tissue so that the only portion that shows is the fringe, and the un-fringed part is what gets glued down.

Then, cut small holes on the open flap at the top, and corresponding holes on the top in a section that is taped down. String a pipe cleaner or twine through the holes to seal the top of the pinata. (If you’re filling the pinata with candy or treats, you can use the open flap to get your goodies inside!)

Of course, you don't have to fill it. You can just use it as decoration if you like. The kids had a blast with a bat to knock this thing silly, and it gave all the adults a good laugh! Also, they get exactly what they want - the opportunity to hit an object with a bat, and lots of candy!!