Give new life to a pair of boring slippers with a fun and funky pinata makeover! Amy at Cozy Reverie used a pair of dollar store slippers and a little felt for a fun and funky touch for her Pinata Day outfit – but if you are a pinata lover, you don’t need a special occasion to wear them! They’re also great for wearing to pinata-themed parties, or even just around the house for fun! [how to make pinata slippers]

Project estimate:

• Slippers, on hand or $1 and up
• Felt, on hand or $1 and up
• Hot glue, on hand

Total: Free and up!

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Having a Halloween party?  It’s not really a party without a pinata!  And on such a candy-centric holiday, it’s even more appropriate.  Using a basic pinata-making technique, Jamie at Eighteen25 whipped up this adorable and super easy pumpkinheaded guy.  She even provides a free printable of Jack-o-lantern facial features, so all you have to do is glue!  [how to make a Jack-o-lantern pinata]

Project estimate:

• Balloon, on hand or $1
• Newspaper, on hand
• Papier mache paste, on hand or $1
• Crepe paper streamers, $1 and up
• Cupcake liner, on hand or $1
• Printable Jack-o-lantern faces, free
• Glue, on hand
• Candy for filling pinata, $1 and up

Total: $2 and up

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Here’s a costume idea that’s perfect for those of you who want to dress up for Halloween but not wear a full costume:  piñata shoes!  Pair these fun shoes with a shirt that says “candy”, or pin wrapped candy to your shirt and pants.  These costume shoes are easy to make, and everyone who sees them can’t help but smile!

Project Estimate:

• Shoes, on hand
• Fabric, on hand
• Hot glue gun, on hand
• Googly eyes, on hand
• Foam or styrofoam, on hand

Total:  Free

Note:  I used lace up shoes, but if you do so, use a pair that is slightly larger than your foot.  It is difficult to loosen and put on the shoe after the fabric has been glued on.  This would work best with slip on shoes.

Step one:  Cut the fabric into strips that are 2 inches wide.  I used Oly*Fun fabric, which is specially designed not to fray, and looks like tissue paper but is durable and weather proof.  Cut the strips into fringe.

Step two:  Use the hot glue gun to adhere the strips to the shoes.  Start at the front, and go to the top of the shoe tongue.  If your shoe has laces, just glue the sides down to leave the laces free.  Hot glue the fringe to the back of the shoe, as pictured.  Trim off any excess fringe.

Step three:  Cut two pieces of foam into triangles, and glue the fringe on.  Hot glue them to the sides of the shoes as ears for the donkey piñata.

Step four:  Hot glue the eyes on.

I used foam for the ears so they’d be lightweight and can bounce back from being rubbed together when you walk.  I’ll be wearing my piñata shoes as part of a bigger costume that is still a work in progress (stay tuned!), but as I mentioned earlier, you could cover yourself with wrappers or candy to complete the look.  For now, I’ve entered these shoes in a fun shoe decorating contest.  You can check out the entries and vote here if you’d like!

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We’ve loved Lia Griffith’s beautiful paper flowers – and with this phenomenal paper flower pinata, she’s taking it to a whole new level!  Would you believe that all of those gorgeous blossoms were made from a combination of crepe paper and tissue paper?  It makes a lovely contrast of textures!  This would be a beautiful and fun addition to a wedding reception or bridal shower – or any party, for that matter!  [how to make a paper flower pinata]

Project estimate:

• Paper lantern, $1 and up
• Cardboard, on hand
• Crepe paper streamers, on hand or $1
• Tissue paper, on hand or $1
• Glue, on hand

Total:  $1 and up!

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Does your family do an advent calendar? I am always on the lookout for really unique advent calendar ideas, like this piñata-style idea by Sara at Handmade Charlotte. Each day you pull the string on one of the hanging mini piñatas and out drops a treat! The tutorial uses a pre-made paper fringe, but you can also cut your own fringe from crepe paper steamers – a great way to use up any you may have left over from party decorating! [how to make a pinata advent calendar]

Project estimate:

• Paper cups, $1
• Tissue paper, on hand or $1
• Crepe paper streamers, on hand or $1
• Glue, on hand
• String or twine, on hand or $1 and up

Total: $1 and up

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For some reason, owls are something I associate with fall decor. Maybe it’s because they were so popular in the 70s, and the trendy colors of the day were oranges, browns, and golds – fall colors! Whatever the reason, I love working owls into my fall projects. If you’re hosting any kind if celebration this season, this owl piñata by Tonya at Create Celebrate Explore would be a fun addition to the festivities! The kids will love it and it’s something I continue to enjoy as an adult – you’re never to old to take a swing at a piñata, right? [how to make an owl piñata]

Project estimate:

• Cardboard, on hand or $1 and up
• Crepe paper streamers, on hand or $1
• Paper bag, on hand
• Cardstock, on hand or $1
• Tape, on hand
• Glue, on hand
• Zip tie, on hand or $1
• Rope, on hand or $1
• Candy, $1 and up

Total: $1 and up

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So you want a pinata at your party, but you don’t want it in the shape of a donkey or a dinosaur or a car.  But you don’t want just a plain ol’ geometric shape either.  How about a fun, funky pinata made using party hats?  At Oh Happy Day, Jenny shows how to make this unique idea for your own party.  It’s easy to customize to any party’s theme or color scheme, from birthday parties to family picnics and even weddings!  (If you can’t find just the right ones, you can customize party hats to get the look you want!)  [make a party hat pinata]

Project estimate:

• Balloons, on hand or $1
• White glue, on hand or $1
• Newspaper, on hand
• Party hats, $1
• Tissue paper, on hand or $1
• Hot glue, on hand
• Double stick tape, on hand

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make a Party Hat Pinata appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!  If you find yourself hosting party guests today, here is a fun favor idea that they will love!  Meg at Mega Crafty found an innovative way to make a miniature piñata – using plastic eggs left over from Easter!  They make piñatas just the perfect size for an individual serving of candy, and they are quicker to make than using more traditional  methods so you can whip out enough for all of your guests in a pretty short time.  You could even personalize them so that they double as placecards!  [how to make recycled Easter egg mini piñatas]

Project estimate:

• Plastic Easter eggs, on hand or $1
• Paper, on hand
• Glue, on hand
• Candy, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  Free and up

The post Recycle Easter Eggs into Mini Piñatas appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

If you’re planning a birthday party, here’s an idea for you to take a whack at.  (Yuk, yuk, yuk!)  Our friend Beckie at Infarrantly Creative has been perfecting the art of the paper bag piñata, an alternative to the papier mache variety that cuts out the mess and the drying time.  It’s quick enough that you can make it last-minute, and it’s easy to customize for any party theme.  Now you have no excuse not to have a piñata ever again!  [how to make a paper bag piñata]

Project estimate:

• Paper bag, on hand
• Crepe paper streamers, $1
• Plastic hanger, on hand
• Artwork, on hand
• Sewing machine (optional), on hand
• Packing tape, on hand
• Hot glue, on hand
• Candy, $1 and up

Total:  $2 and up

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What is it about piñatas? We keep buying them for every birthday, but it’s kind of a drag to watch blindfolded kids wave sticks around. Like they need a legit excuse for that! And it always takes like three times longer than it should, and everyone ends up waiting like, forever, for that little burro to just bust open, already. Over at Oh Happy Day, Jordan has solved this problem for us by creating adorable personalized mini piñatas made out of recycled cereal boxes. Set them next to party-goers’ plates. Just fantástico. [make mini piñatas]

Project Estimate:

• Recycled light cardboard box, on hand
• Tissue paper, $1
• Tape, glue, scissors, on hand

Total: $1

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