A few months ago I hosted a birthday surprise giveaway and picked five readers to receive a special birthday gift. One of the winners, Jessica, celebrated her birthday last week, and I wanted to send something festive that would survive summer shipping. Instead of cake, I made a funfetti birthday cake piñata—perfectly celebratory, lightweight, and easy to mail. Below is a clear, step-by-step guide so you can make your own cake slice piñata.
Hip hip HOORAY!
Supplies:
Cardboard
Crepe paper (several colors — white and pink for this version)
Straws
Twine
Tape (clear and masking)
White glue
Hot glue gun
Scissors
Awl or sharp tool for making a hanging hole
Step 1: Cut the cardboard pieces. You’ll need two identical triangular slices with a curved outer edge, two rectangles that match the long straight sides of the triangles, and a final rectangle the width of the curved edge and the same height as the side rectangles. Cut a small flap or hole in the center of one triangle so you can fill the piñata later.
Step 2: Assemble the shell. Tape the two rectangles to the long edges of one triangle, then attach those to the second triangle. Finally, tape the curved-edge rectangle around the rounded side—bend it slightly as you go to follow the curve. If your flap was accidentally removed while cutting, just tape it back on so it remains usable.
Step 3: Fringe the crepe paper. Cut long strips of crepe paper and fringe the edges. I used white for the cake layers and pink for the frosting. Starting at the bottom of the long side rectangles, glue rows of white fringe with white glue, then add rows of pink at the top of each cake layer. Repeat to create three visible layers, ending with pink at the top. After completing the sides, cover the curved back in the frosting color.
Step 4: Finish the tip, top, and bottom. Small curved areas are tricky to fringe neatly, so cover the tip with a single piece of crepe paper and then layer fringe over it. Keep the filling flap accessible by gluing fringe to the flap in separate pieces so it can still open.
Step 5: Add funfetti sprinkles. For a true funfetti look, cut many tiny rectangles from colored crepe paper and scatter them across the cake and frosting areas. Use craft glue, double-sided tape, or glue dots to adhere the sprinkles in a random pattern for a playful, celebratory finish.
Step 6: Make the candle and hanging system. Use three sturdy straws taped together as the candle base. Tape a doubled length of twine to the center straw so it forms a loop long enough to reach the bottom interior of the piñata. Tape the three straws together with the twine secured inside.
Fringe a piece of yellow crepe paper and wrap it around the top of the straw stack to resemble a flame, securing with tape. Then wrap additional fringed crepe around the straw column from bottom to top, taping occasionally and adding glue where needed to secure everything neatly.
Step 7: Attach the candle to the piñata. Use an awl to make a small hole near the back-top of the cake slice so it hangs evenly. Thread the twine loop through that hole, position the candle on top, and secure it with a generous amount of hot glue. Once the glue is dry and the candle feels stable, reach inside through the filling flap and secure the twine to the interior with tape for extra reinforcement.
Step 8: Fill and finish. Fill the piñata through the opening with candy, small toys, confetti, or little surprises. Close and secure the flap, give the exterior a final check for loose edges, and your piñata is ready to deliver or hang and smash!
This funfetti cake piñata makes a cheerful gift or centerpiece for any birthday. Fill it, ship it, hang it, or smash it—either way it’s a simple craft that adds a lot of personality to a celebration. Happy crafting, and happiest birthday wishes to Jessica!
All Photos by Studio DIY