It’s been far too long since our last piñata, and with summer on the mind we built a giant tropical drink piñata. Each piñata seems to get bigger and more whimsical, and this one has the cutest accessories—a tiny parasol and a bendy straw. Ready to make one?
Note: we don’t have many step-by-step photos because this piñata took several days and lots of problem-solving. Below you’ll find clear, detailed written instructions to follow.
DIY Tropical Drink Piñata
Total Time: 3 hours plus paper-mâché drying time
Supplies
36″ balloon
Lots of newspaper
Flour and water (for paper-mâché paste)
Cardboard (we used two large 48 x 60″ sheets)
Scissors
Scotch tape
School glue
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Masking tape
Pink crepe paper streamers
Iridescent mylar or mylar streamers
White paint and a paint color for the straw/glass rim
Yellow cardstock or poster board (for citrus garnish)
Small parasol (cocktail umbrella)
Cardboard wrapping paper tube (for the straw)
Ribbon or fishing line for hanging
Directions
1. Make a paper-mâché sphere following a standard tutorial for paper-mâché balls. Leave one small hole for filling the piñata with candy—only one opening is needed.
2. Cut a large rectangle of cardboard about four feet wide, slightly curving the top and bottom edges. Roll the short ends inward to form a wide, slightly angled cylinder and glue the seam. Center this cylinder over the paper-mâché sphere so the sphere’s filling hole sits inside the cylinder, and glue them together.
3. Cut a second rectangle roughly 18″ tall and 24″ wide. Roll it into a tube and secure the seam with hot glue. Attach this tube to the sphere opposite the first cardboard cylinder—this becomes the glass stem.
4. For the base of the glass, cut a circle about two feet across. Cut a radial slit from the outer edge to the center, then cut a smaller center hole slightly larger than the tube’s diameter. Slip the circle over the tube, close the slit, and glue the edges and the circle to the tube to secure the base.
5. Prepare your fringe: fold several lengths of crepe paper streamers together and cut fringes along one edge. Repeat for as many rows as you need—one large roll of streamers should be enough. Do the same with mylar for shiny accent rows.
6. Starting at the base edge, tape or glue the mylar fringe in horizontal rows, overlapping about 1/2″ between rows. Work inward and upward, then continue covering the sphere and cylinder with crepe-paper fringe the same way. Finish the rim area with three rows of mylar for a sparkly accent.
7. Create a lemon or lime garnish from leftover cardboard: cut a half-circle, paint it white, then cut a colored rind layer and wedge shapes from yellow or green cardstock and glue them onto the half circle to resemble citrus slices. Paint the cardboard straw tube in a color you like and paint the inside of the rim white for contrast.
8. Cut a small slit in the center of the citrus wedge and slide it over the rim. Attach the parasol to the side of the glass with hot glue and secure the straw tube to the other side. Bend the straw tube slightly to create a natural curve and glue it in place if needed.
9. Fill the piñata with candy through the small hole you left. Make two small holes near the top rim and thread ribbon or fishing line through them to hang the piñata securely.
Photos by Jeff Mindell | Craft production by Annie Steward | Creative direction by Kelly Mindell
Whether you plan to use it the traditional way or simply as a playful summer decoration, this tropical drink piñata makes a great pool-party prop. Hang it by a tiki bar, or let it be your reason to set one up—either way, it’s a fun, festive addition to warm-weather gatherings.
p.s. We also made an avocado piñata you might like as inspiration for other projects.