What did you think of last night’s Oscars? I have to admit I nearly lost it when Catherine performed “All That Jazz” from Chicago. I danced along like a fool—yes, I still remember the moves—but today I’m sharing a different kind of celebration project: a mini camera piñata. After asking on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, many of you requested the tutorial for the other birthday gift I gave him. Since he loves photography, I made a leather camera strap and wanted a playful way to present it. A camera-shaped piñata was the perfect choice.
Supplies you’ll need:
- Small cardboard box (or assemble one from cardboard pieces)
- Black crepe paper sheets or crepe paper folds
- Two paper cups or seed starter pots (found in floral or garden sections)
- Small cap or lid (recycled bottle caps work well)
- White school glue
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Silver mylar (optional — useful for extra detail but optional)
Step 1 — Fill the box: Start by placing your treats or gift inside the box, then close it securely. This piñata works well as a clever gift container as well as a party favor.
Step 2 — Prepare the fringe: Cut your crepe paper into one-inch wide strips, then fringe one edge with scissors. Fringe only along one side so the strips layer nicely.
Step 3 — Attach fringe to the box: Begin at the bottom of the box front. Apply a thin line of white glue and press the non-fringed edge of your crepe strip along the glue, letting the fringe hang down. Work around the box, overlapping each row slightly as you glue and wrap up toward the top. Repeat this process on every side of the box.
Step 4 — Cover top and bottom: Use the same gluing technique to add fringe to the top and bottom of the box. Start at the edge and work your way across in rows so the coverage looks clean and consistent.
Step 5 — Make the camera pieces: Trim the paper cups or seed starter pots to create the lens and top detail. Remove the rim from one cup to form a circular lens shape. Trim the top off the second cup and flatten it slightly to become the camera’s top element.
Step 6 — Fringe the components: Cover the trimmed cups and the cap with the same crepe fringes. Apply glue around the piece and wrap the fringe strips, working from the bottom up. For the cap or lid, wrap a small scrap of crepe paper around it and glue the paper inside to secure it.
Step 7 — Assemble: Once all parts are covered in fringe, hot glue the smaller cup and the wrapped cap to the top of the box as the camera’s top elements. Then hot glue the lens piece to the front. If you’d like, add small treats inside the lens before you glue it down for an extra surprise.
Optional — Hanging strap: If you want to hang the piñata, attach a looped strap made from ribbon, twine, or a narrow strip of fabric. For this project I didn’t add a strap because the piñata doubled as a gift box for a leather camera strap, so I kept it freestanding.
All photos by Studio DIY
This mini camera piñata is a simple, customizable project that makes a memorable way to present a small gift. Use different crepe paper colors for a playful look or add metallic accents with silver mylar for extra flair. The technique translates well to other shapes, too, so once you get the hang of the fringe-covered box, you can create many themed piñatas for birthdays, showers, and celebrations.
If you enjoyed this camera piñata tutorial, try making variations using larger boxes, different cup sizes for lens details, or mixed materials for texture. It’s a fun, budget-friendly craft that adds personality to any gift and is easy to adapt for holidays or party themes.
For more DIY project ideas and creativity, explore the rest of the studio’s project gallery and pinata tutorials.