How to Make a Pinata on a Budget

Tomorrow my little bitty turns 5.  I am still trying to let it sink in, but she is very excited that she will be a whole hand. I started asking her about her birthday before Christmas.  She kept saying she wanted it to be a surprise, but she really wanted a pinata.  Every conversation we had about her birthday she mentioned a pinata. I very quickly remembered a pin on pinterest from Infarrantly Creative for a paper bag pinata.

So today we gave it a whirl.  All we needed was 2 large paper grocery bags, a hanger, some crepe paper, and a decoration for the center.  Oh…and the most important part.  The filler.

So first things first, put one bag inside of the other and fill with your pinata goodies.  Then fold the top over the hanger and staple to secure shut.  You are going to use the hanger to hang up the pinata.

Now comes the fun part, decorating!  I took the streamers and cut them into strips.  I started taping them onto the bag in rows, overlapping them as I went.

Now for the main center decoration.  You can print a character off the computer, or do what I did and use a paper party plate that matches the rest of our party decor.

I taped the plate to the center and worked the streamers around it to blend it in.

In the end I have a super excited birthday girl that is very happy with her pink butterfly pinata! I would estimate that the pinata itself probably cost me less that $4 to put together.  Then the cost of the goodies to fill it.  Compare that to the store bought pinatas that are about $20 each!