mini pinatas

As an art teacher, I love connecting arts & crafts to literature and recycling. This Halloween craft is a great way to repurpose cardboard toilet paper tubes. If you want to link your mini piñata characters to books, some of my students’ favorite Halloween-inspired stories are The Runaway Pumpkin; Go Away, Big Green Monster and Stellaluna

Supplies

  • 1 cardboard toilet paper tube per piñata
  • Black tempera paint (for bat)
  • One 8-inch piece of yarn, twine or string per piñata
  • 1 sheet of tissue paper per piñata (orange, black and green for all characters)
  • Scissors (+ optional decorative scissors)
  • Double-sided Scotch tape or glue stick
  • Small candies or toys
  • Construction paper or cardstock (colors of your choice + white and black)
  • Googly eyes
  • Black marker
  • White colored pencil
  • Hole punch
  • Placemat to cover workspace

Note to parents: Read through directions and prepare all materials in advance to make the project easier for younger kids (cut string, tissue, pull-tabs, wings, etc.).

Directions

  1. If making bats, paint the tubes black (for each bat) and let dry.
  2. Cut two circles of tissue (about ½ inch larger than the cardboard tube) for each piñata. Use green tissue for monsters, orange for pumpkins and black for bats or cats.
    mini piñata2
  3. Use a glue stick or double–sided tape around the edge of the tube. Cover one end of each tube with a tissue paper circle. 
    mini piñata1
  4. Place a few small candies or toys in the open end of each tube. 
  5. Use a glue stick or double–sided tape to secure a string across the opening so that the ends hang down. Cover the end of the tube (and string) with the other circle of tissue paper. 
    mini piñata3
  6. Wrap each tube in tissue paper of coordinating color. (4¼ x 7” rectangles work for toilet paper tubes.) 
  7. Using cardstock or construction paper, make pull tags. Decorate with markers. 
  8. Tie tags on with the ends of the string. These are pull-tab to get the candy and toys out.
  9. Decorate characters as follows:

Monsters: Cut white paper circles for eyes. Make pupils with black marker, glue onto the tube and draw a mouth and eyebrows with markers. 

Pumpkins: Cut black paper mouth and eyes or draw features with black marker. 

Bats or cats: Cut wings from black construction paper or cardstock and glue or tape on. Add googly eyes and draw a mouth with white pencil. Pinch the top of the tube closed to make bat ears. Could use this method for a cat. Instead of wings, add a tail.

________

Alyssa Navapanich is an art enthusiast who teaches art to elementary school kids in North San Diego County.

________

13 Halloween Party Games for Kids

13 Halloween Party Games for Kids

Host the best kid’s Halloween party with these lucky (or unlucky) 13 games.Planning a Halloween party for the kids? Here are fun party games that thrill trick-or-treaters of all ages. Need an extr . . .

Read more

Art with Alyssa: Halloween Luminaries

Art with Alyssa: Halloween Luminaries

Supplies Something to cover your workspace (opened large paper bag, placemat or plastic cloth) Glass jars such as jelly, pickle or small yogurt jars and/or mason jars; cleaned and dried. Sponge . . .

Read more

DIY Halloween Treats

DIY Halloween Treats

These not-so-spooky treats are sure to delight your child’s friends, neighbors and classmates. Click the links below to download FREE printable bag toppers for Spooky S'mores, Jack-o-Lantern Teeth a . . .

Read more

Halloween Bingo Scavenger Hunt

Halloween Bingo Scavenger Hunt

It’s not bingo, and it’s not a traditional scavenger hunt, it’s a Halloween bingo scavenger hunt! Get the kids together for a Halloween party and walk (or drive) the neighborhood, looking at H . . .

Read more

Halloween Door Decorations for Families

Halloween Door Decorations for Families

Whether decorating at home or school, our Halloween doors are to “DIY” for! Not very crafty? Try the “mummy and me” door for beginners. More experienced crafters can try our “fear the waking . . .

Read more

Art with Alyssa: Mini Halloween Piñatas

Art with Alyssa: Mini Halloween Piñatas

As an art teacher, I love connecting arts & crafts to literature and recycling. This Halloween craft is a great way to repurpose cardboard toilet paper tubes. If you want to link your mini piña . . .

Read more

Art with Alyssa: Fall Leaves

Art with Alyssa: Fall Leaves

Celebrate the season by making fall leaves with a DIY printing plate made from Styrofoam. Print leaves onto paper just for fun or get creative and use the printing plate to make thank you cards, place . . .

Read more

Greedy Ghosts Game

Greedy Ghosts Game

What to do with all that leftover Halloween candy? Toss it into the open mouths of these three greedy ghosts, and it becomes a fun game for one or a whole party! Supplies: Cardboard box (at least 1 . . .

Read more

Art with Alyssa: Halloween Tabletop Cornhole

Art with Alyssa: Halloween Tabletop Cornhole

This DIY Halloween craft offers lots of room for creativity, such as creating beanbags and cornhole boards inspired by your favorite characters. As an art teacher, I love connecting arts & craft . . .

Read more

Make Potion Bottles for Halloween

Make Potion Bottles for Halloween

If you’re into decorating for Halloween, making potion bottles is a fun project to do with the family or at a Halloween party. The Harry Potter-inspired bottles can be crafted into spooky (or not- . . .

Read more

Art with Alyssa: Skull Craft for Dia de los Muertos

Art with Alyssa: Skull Craft for Dia de los Muertos

Create a beautiful calavera (skull, in English) to celebrate Mexico’s Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Traditionally, skulls are created out of sugar or clay, elaborately decorated and place . . .

Read more

Art with Alyssa: Skeleton Craft for Día de los Muertos

Art with Alyssa: Skeleton Craft for Día de los Muertos

Skeletons (or calacas) seen during Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) often represent the happy afterlife of loved ones who have passed away. The skeletons are whimsical, fun and are usually show . . .

Read more

Día de los Muertos Door Decoration for Families

Día de los Muertos Door Decoration for Families

Whether decorating at home or for your child’s classroom, our Día de los Muertos door decoration is sure to make your guests (or students) feel welcome. Click here for instructions on how . . .

Read more

Funny Halloween Cones Decor

Funny Halloween Cones Decor

Kids can express their creativity making this fun, easy Halloween decoration. A search of the cupboards or a trip to the dollar store will supply everything needed to create these creepy cones for H . . .

Read more

Be Family Informed – Sign up for our Newsletters below!

Subscribe