Today is a fun milestone: my first savory-inspired DIY project. I usually lean toward sweet treats (see past projects), but it was time to create something sugar-free in piñata form. Meet the taco piñata — a playful, colorful centerpiece perfect for a fiesta.
Supplies:
Cardboard
Yellow, green, brown and white crepe or tissue paper (about 3 feet of yellow/orange crepe paper for the taco shell; scraps for toppings)
Yellow/orange and red cardstock
Masking or artist tape
School or craft glue
Hot glue gun
Box cutter
Scissors
Fishing line
Estimated cost: $5–$10. Time required: 2–3 hours.
Instructions:
1. Cut two half-circle shapes from cardboard. Mine were about 2 feet wide at the bottom. Also cut a 2″ strip the same length as the bottom of your half-circles. Measure the curved edge of a half-circle and cut a tapered piece of cardboard the same length: roughly 4″ wide at the center and 2″ at the ends. This taper creates the taco’s folded shape when stuffed.
2. Tape the tapered strip to the inside of one half-circle, keeping the ends flush and positioning the strip a couple of inches down from the edge in the middle to leave room for toppings. At this point, make a hole in the center of the tapered strip and tie fishing line through it so you can hang the piñata later. Attach the second half-circle the same way. Finally, tape the bottom strip around the shell, leaving a flap open for filling. Tip: use plenty of tape — start with a light framework, then reinforce thoroughly.
3. Cover the shell with crepe or tissue paper fringe. Fold the crepe paper and cut 1–2″ wide strips, then fringe one edge of each strip. Starting at the bottom edge of one side, glue the strips so the fringe overlaps like a taco shell texture. Continue up to the top, then repeat on the other side and along the bottom.
4. Make the toppings from paper. For cheese, curl thin cardstock strips around your finger. For lettuce, stretch out the end of crepe paper strips to create ruffled leaves. Cut red cardstock into half-circles for tomatoes. For guacamole, meat/beans and sour cream, crumple pieces of crepe paper to build texture. Hot-glue the lettuce first along the exposed edges, then layer the other toppings starting from the bottom so they look naturally stuffed into the shell.
Tada! Your taco piñata is ready.
All photos by Studio DIY
Fun note: I half-imagined this taco piñata doubling as a guitar — multipurpose décor for your taco bar. With a taco spread and this piñata, you’ll have a festive, colorful centerpiece for any celebration.