Piñatas were always the highlight of childhood parties, and making your own is a fun, simple project. I realized a tissue box is an ideal base for a mini piñata — it already has an opening for stuffing treats, is lightweight, and is easy to cover. Here’s a clear, step-by-step guide to crafting a bright mini tissue box piñata you can finish quickly before your celebration.
Supply list:
- Tissue box (empty)
- Crepe paper sheets or crepe paper streamers in desired colors
- Ribbon for a handle and optional decorative ribbon
- Scissors
- Glue (craft glue or a hot glue gun)
- Sweets and small treats
- Kraft paper or plain paper to seal the box opening
Cutting the fringe:
Cut fringed strips from your crepe paper. I used about six lengths around 7.5 ft each. If you use crepe paper sheets, keep them folded, trim off the bottom edge (about an inch or less), and then cut vertical slits to create the fringe — this yields about 7.5–8 ft per sheet. If you use crepe paper streamers, cut the streamer lengthwise in half and then fringe. Also cut ribbon for the handle and any decorative bottom ribbon; mine were about 18 inches long.
Preparing the box and handle:
Tie a large knot in the decorative ribbon you’ll place at the bottom, and tie a loop knot in the ribbon for the handle. Poke a hole with scissors in one top corner of the tissue box and another hole in the opposite bottom corner to thread the handle. Pull the ribbon through so the knot prevents it from slipping through the holes.
Fill and seal:
Fill the tissue box with candies and small toys. Seal the open end with kraft paper or plain computer paper. If your tissue box has a bold print, cover the entire box with paper so the pattern doesn’t show through the crepe paper fringe.
Attaching the fringe:
Start with the sides of the box. Apply thin lines of glue around the box and wrap the fringed crepe paper around, pressing gently so it adheres. Overlap each fringe layer slightly so no box surface shows. Continue wrapping around the sides until they’re fully covered.
Top and bottom finish:
Once the sides are covered, add fringe to the top and bottom. Instead of wrapping, cut each fringe strip to length and glue it in place along the edges. Make sure the fringe layers align neatly so the finish looks full and even.
Final steps:
Allow the glue to dry completely. Once set, your mini tissue box piñata is ready to hang and enjoy. It’s a quick, colorful craft that makes a playful party favor — and yes, it’s meant to be smashed in good fun!
All photos by Studio DIY