We can’t wait to bust out all the sparkles, disco balls, confetti, bubbly, and sparkling grape juice for New Year’s Eve! This year, we thought it would be fun to try some bubbly piñatas made of paper mache. They are perfect for the occasion, but would also be fun for a 40th birthday! Many of my friends and I have been reaching that milestone over the last couple of years, so I plan to surprise the next few with a piñata filled with their favorite (mini) things! We’re thinking chocolates, confetti, and jewelry, and the bottles are cute as they are, or you could embellish with some fancy ribbon or tinsel. Just a heads-up…while paper mache is a lot of fun, there are several steps involved that require a lot of drying time in between, so get started early so they’re ready in time for the big night!

• Toilet paper rolls (2 per piñata)
• Scissors
• Masking tape
• Clear tape
• Glue stick
• Newspaper strips
• Paper mache paste (1 c flour, 1 c water)
• Twisty balloon
• Balloon pump
• Cardboard (a cereal box is perfect!)
• Pen or pencil
• Acrylic paint
• Sponge brush
• Cardstock
• Cutting machine (optional)
• Star confetti
• Gold foil

Step 1
Use scissors to cut both of your toilet paper rolls open in a straight line. Tape them together to make the circle have about a 2-2 ½” diameter. Once you have attached them in one place, you may cut off the excess cardboard before closing the circle.

Step 2
Use the balloon pump to fill a twisty balloon, let out some air, and tie it off at about 10 inches. Place the balloon inside your enlarged toilet paper roll, and allow it to stick up about 3 ½” past the top. Use clear tape to make the top more narrow (to hold the balloon in a bit, like Spanx!), and to attach the balloon to the toilet paper roll in four places, so that the balloon is centered in the tube. Cut the tail off the balloon, so it doesn’t get in the way.

Step 3
Dip your newspaper strips in paper mache paste, and run the strips between two fingers to squeeze off the excess. Cover the top of the balloon, down to the bottom of the tube in the strips of newspaper. It is best to do a few layers, so it will be sturdy. Allow to dry.

TIP: When attaching the balloon to the tube, we recommend running the strips vertically, with one end touching the balloon, and the other on the tube (like a teepee). Then, wrap strips around the entire bottle horizontally.

Step 4
Trace the bottom of the bottle onto a cereal box, and cut out the circle. (It won’t be a perfect circle, and that’s okay!) Use scissors to cut a small door on the back of the bottle. Then, use small pieces of masking tape to attach the circle to the base of the bottle. Cover the circle with newspaper strips dipped in paper mache paste. The strips will run up the sides a bit, so do another horizontal layer of strips to cover the overhang. Allow to dry.

Step 5
Paint the entire bottle in the color of your choice. Allow to dry.

Step 6
Wrap the top of the bottle in gold foil, and place a 8 ½” x ¾” inch strip of cardstock around the bottom of the foil like a scarf. You may add a gold sticker to the center of the “scarf”, or an embellishment of your choice.

Step 7
Use cardstock to create a label for the middle of the bottle (we made it 3 x 2 ½”), and a cutting machine to create words (such as bubbly, champagne, sparkling grape juice, Happy New Year, or create your favorite brand label) on cardstock or vinyl. Add some gold star confetti to the tag for a little sparkle.

Now you have the most adorable bubbly piñatas to share with friends this New Year’s Eve! Cheers, and Happy New Year!