A lipstick piñata is a playful, show-stopping addition to any celebration — perfect for Valentine’s Day, bachelorette parties, birthdays, or a girls’ night out. It’s whimsical, bold, and surprisingly simple to make. Fill it with candy, small gifts, or even lipsticks for an over-the-top treat. Below is a clear, step-by-step guide to building your own lipstick-shaped piñata.
Supplies needed:
– Large cardboard sheets (two large 40 × 60″ sheets recommended)
– Crepe paper or streamers in black and red
– Gold mylar
– Scissors
– Pencil
– Hot glue gun and glue sticks
– School/craft glue
– Clear tape (regular clear tape works best for mylar)
– Fishing line for hanging
Instructions:
1. Create three cardboard tubes. Start by cutting three rectangles: a large one (approximately 20″ × 40″), a medium one (about 15″ × 35″), and a smaller one (around 20″ × 30″). Curve each rectangle into a cylinder and join the ends with hot glue to form tubes of progressively smaller diameters.
2. Cut circular end pieces. Trace the bottom of the largest tube twice onto cardboard to create top and bottom circles, and trace the bottom of the middle tube once for its top circle. Hot glue the two larger circles to the top and bottom of the largest tube, then attach the middle tube to the top circle. Glue the remaining circle onto the top of the middle tube.
3. Shape the lipstick tip. Form the final, smallest tube the same way. Trim the top of this tube into a gentle curve resembling a lipstick tip. Trace that curved top onto cardboard and cut out an oval. Score and gently bend the oval so it curves inward like a real lipstick. Poke two small holes near the center of the oval, about an inch apart, and thread fishing line through, knotting it to create a hanging loop. Hot glue the oval to the top of the final tube.
4. Assemble the lipstick. Hot glue the smallest tube to the top of the middle tube, completing the stacked lipstick silhouette.
5. Fringe and cover. Cut the crepe paper and mylar into long strips about 1.5″ wide, then fringe the edges. Begin with black fringe on the bottom tube, gluing strips around the cylinder with craft glue and overlapping them by about 1/2″. For the middle section, use gold mylar strips and secure them with regular clear tape (tape adheres to mylar better than glue or double-stick tape). Continue layering the fringe 1/2″ apart until covered.
6. Finish with red fringe. Use craft glue to attach red fringe to the top tube, working from bottom to top until the upper section and the top oval are fully covered. Add a few short strips of fringe over the oval to blend the seam and finish the look.
Photos by Jeff Mindell
Craft assisting by Morgan Wynia, concept and creative direction by Studio DIY
This oversized lipstick piñata makes a memorable gift or party centerpiece. Fill it with your favorite treats or small surprises and watch it steal the show.