DIY Pumpkin Pinata & Apple Cupcakes

Every year we have a pumpkins and apples party for my daughter's birthday at a local apple orchard per her request. Because this is a tradition we've come to expect a fun hay ride, delicious apples and laughter when we feed the farm animals, but I also like to mix it up and make each party unique.

Over the summer I was visiting a friend and she was elbow deep in pinata making, do it yourself style, so I joined in the fun. Hey what's a little more newspaper, flour paste and a balloon?

Using this recipe and strips of newspaper, I hung the balloon outdoors, from a tree, this made clean up nearly nonexistent and provided a 360 degree work surface, no fussing with trying to get a sphere to stay that shape on top of a table.

After dipping a piece of the newspaper in the flour paste, I laid it flat across the balloon, smoothing it out and overlapping the pieces until there was a solid couple layers. At this point it is a good idea to let the project dry and then afterward apply another layer.

Once that was done, using regular glue, I applied a single layer of tissue paper, just to create a semi-solid orange base.

 

Once your pinata is completely dry cut orange tissue paper (I used a package of ten) into post-it note sized squares then ball 'em up and after coating a portion of pinata with regular glue stick it on placing the tissue paper pieces close to one another so it fills right in.

 

 

 

Glue the little wads of paper right onto the pinata.

 

 

Next comes the goodies!

I did half, let it dry and then worked on the other half. Once completely covered I cut a fist sized flap in the top, enough to stuff with an assortment of Halloween and pumpkin-y favors.

This I just carefully closed, no real need to adhere. Opposite this I carefully sliced two 1/8 slivers just under a 1/2 inch apart. Then taking a green pipe cleaner, I laced it through the sliver and then wound it together to form a handle.

To give it that extra special pumpkin sparkle I cut a vine out of green construction paper, a few leaves and using the same technique as with the orange tissue paper on the pinata, I covered the leaves to create the vine. This could easily be done as an apple too.

 

 

These cupcakes were super simple...and super cute.

• Prepare your favorite cupcakes, we opted for vanilla. Top with your favorite frosting in pink, red or white (vanilla) which is what I did.

• Pour red sprinkles into a bowl and dunk your frosted cupcakes to coat completely. I picked up these wrappers that make the cupcake appear as if it is nestled in grass. Alternatively, you can use red cupcake wrapper for  your apples or green, if you like Granny Smith's (it would follow you'd use green sprinkles too.)

• Next poke a pretzel stick to create a stem and then I carefully placed a pre-made candy leaf (I picked up in the baking department at the craft store) right next to the stem.

Apple-licious!

If you have any fun, unique or creative autumn projects please share them with us!

 

Deirdre

 

 

Meow.