Happy Monday everyone! We had a fantastic turnout at our valentine crafting event on Saturday — thank you to everyone who came. For those who couldn’t make it, here’s a clear, step-by-step tutorial for the mini conversation heart piñatas we made. I loved seeing how everyone personalized their hearts. Here’s how to recreate them at home.
Supplies you’ll need:
– Mini cardboard heart boxes (pre-made heart-shaped boxes work great)
– Awl or sharp tool to make a hole
– Twine or string for hanging
– Candy or small treats to fill the piñata
– White school or craft glue
– Crepe paper folds (easy to cut in bulk; if using crepe paper rolls, fold into 5″ sections before cutting)
– Red felt for the message letters
– Letter printouts for tracing or templates (optional)
– Small scissors and a toothpick for spreading glue
Step 1 — Add a hanging loop: Poke a small hole in the top of the heart box with the awl. Thread a length of twine through the hole, pull both ends inside the box, and tie a knot to secure the loop.
Step 2 — Cut and fringe the crepe paper: Cut 3/4″ wide strips from your crepe paper folds. You’ll need roughly 10 feet of crepe paper per heart. Keep the paper folded while you fringe each strip to speed up the process.
Step 3 — Fill and close the box: Fill the heart box with candy and treats, then place the lid on. You don’t need to glue or tape the lid shut — the layered fringe will hold everything together once applied.
Step 4 — Attach the fringe: Starting near the bottom of the top half of the box, run a horizontal line of glue and press the first fringed strip into place. Trim the end as needed. Continue gluing strips, working upward toward the top center of the heart. Repeat the same process on the bottom half of the box.
Step 5 — Cover the sides: Begin at the bottom point of the heart and glue fringed strips upward along one side, stopping at the top center. Then repeat on the other side, working from the bottom point up to the top center. Make sure the layers overlap slightly so the cardboard is fully covered.
Step 6 — Add the message: Trace or freehand small letters onto red felt using your letter printout or a template. Carefully cut the letters with small scissors — they’re tiny, so precision helps. Use a toothpick to spread a thin layer of glue on each letter and press them onto the piñata to spell your message.
Step 7 — Gift or decorate: These make adorable gifts. To open the mini piñata, either gently pull apart the box and lid or let kids smash it for the fun of it. Alternatively, skip filling them and use the finished hearts as festive decor.
Whether you fill them with candy or use them as pretty decorations, these mini conversation heart piñatas are an easy and charming DIY for Valentine’s Day. Have fun crafting!
All photos by Studio DIY