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You are here: Home / Party / DIY Confetti Poppers for Cinco De Mayo

April 25, 2018 by: Jennifer Priest

DIY Confetti Poppers for Cinco De Mayo

This post is sponsored by Post and Pebbles Cereal. All opinions are 100% my own. 

What if confetti poppers were SCENTED? Say what!? Cinco De Mayo is around the corner and I teamed up with Fruity Pebbles to bring you a super fun, outdoor confetti popper idea: Scented DIY Confetti Poppers with Fruity Pebbles!

DIY confetti poppers covered with tissue paper and filled with Fruity Pebbles Cereal

Watch this video to see how to make your own DIY confetti poppers:

CLICK to watch this video on YouTube

Keep reading to get the full supply list for this project as well as tips and tricks for saving money when making this DIY party favor idea.

Why Confetti Poppers are smart DIY Party Favors

As a long-time crafter, I'm always really concerned about waste when creating projects for parties. We usually throw everything from parties away, right? When I was planning how to make these DIY confetti poppers for Cinco De Mayo I really thought about these factors:

  • How easy is it to find the supplies?
  • How affordable are the supplies? Can we use anything we already have or that's free?
  • How can I make these confetti poppers as eco-friendly as possible?
  • How do I make unique party favors that are better than the party poppers you can buy at a party store?

I can't even tell you how many times I found an amazing DIY idea online, clicked over to the site, and saw that I would need $400 of hard-to-find supplies to make the project. Have you had this happen to you too?

I always try to think about how easy it is to find the supplies I use and how affordable the project supplies and tools are. I don't think it's right to say a project cost $10 to make if you're using a $350 electronic cutting machine to make it. (Though I admit I have been guilty of saying this in the past!)

As I was creating these party poppers, I thought about how to use supplies that you probably already in your home, like toilet paper tubes. And I also thought about using supplies that don't cost a lot to buy, if you need to buy supplies.

We always celebrate Cinco De Mayo on the patio, grilling carne asada and Anaheim chiles. A fresh peeled roasted Anaheim chile, sprinkled with a little sea salt and wrapped in a warm flour tortilla is like a summertime staple around here!

At parties, my grandma used to have those poppers you throw on the ground that snap … but they made such a huge mess. Clean up the next day was always an issue. This year, we’re making confetti party poppers in a new way … with Fruity Pebbles cereal!

Box of Fruity Pebbles cereal with DIY confetti poppers covered with tissue paper

Why choose Fruity Pebbles to make Confetti Poppers?

Since we celebrate Cinco De Mayo outside, it was important to me to minimize the mess. Confetti bombs are so much fun but a pain to clean up. I love glitter, confetti, and party streamers but a lot of that stuff is not biodegradable. It's nearly impossible to clean up glitter or confetti from the soil or grass. Fruity Pebbles cereal will dissolve over time if it did happen to get in the grass or dirt.

I know the kids also love the way Fruity Pebbles smells … sweet and fruity! I think it smells like “summer” … it's so yummy. Also, using cereal to fill the confetti poppers makes them way more special and unique than the confetti canons you can buy at any party store.

Plus, a whole box of Fruity Pebbles cereal can make about 20 confetti poppers party favors … do you know how much glitter and confetti costs? It's a lot … I checked *wink wink*.

Supplies to make DIY confetti poppers covered with tissue paper and filled with Fruity Pebbles Cereal

Supplies to make DIY Confetti Poppers or Party Canons

You can find most of these supplies at the craft store or in your home. These party poppers are easy to make and a unique, affordable, and smart alternative to plastic confetti poppers from the party supply store.

Gather these supplies to make DIY Confetti Poppers using Fruity Pebbles cereal:

  • Fruity Pebbles cereal (or use Cocoa Pebbles for chocolate scent!)
  • 1.5″ circle paper punch
  • Cardstock
  • 1.25″ wood discs – you can find these in most craft stores in the wood section
  • 1/4″ wood dowels – the square dowels I used were leftover from making felt letter boards. You can use round or square dowels.
  • Toilet paper tubes
  • Saw (optional)
  • Bright colored tissue paper
  • Scissors
  • Fringe Scissors
  • Acrylic craft paint
  • Paint brush
  • Tacky Glue

Why you need these supplies to make DIY Confetti Poppers

You might be wondering why you need ALL of these supplies to make what looks to be a simple craft project, especially since I did not use them all in the video I made showing how to make this confetti popper project.

1.5″ circle paper punch

Paper punches run about $12 to $20 to purchase. If you don't plan on using the paper punch for more projects, I don't recommend buying one. I will say that of all the paper punches I've used, the 1.5″ circle punch is the one I use the most. I had 3 of them at one time because I used them so often. Here are some other ideas for using a circle paper punch, if you do decide to buy one:

  • Punch circles from cardstock and use them as DIY gift tags
  • Make a circle paper garland … use on your desk or as party decor
  • Use them as flashcards or for a memory game
  • Write names on them and use them as placecards for fancy dinners

You can also use an electronic cutting machine like a Cricut to cut the circles out of the cardstock. Or go super low-tech by tracing the toilet paper tubes onto the cardstock and cutting the circles out by hand.

1.25″ wood discs

You can find these in most craft stores in the wood section

1/4″ wood dowels

The square dowels I used were leftover from making felt letter boards. You can use round or square dowels.

Saw to cut dowels

You'll need the saw to cut the dowels to about 5″ long, or slightly longer the length of the toilet paper tubes. I don't use a saw in the video demo of this project because the dowels I had were already cut to length. The dowels I used were scraps leftover from making felt letter boards.

You can also use paper straws or paper lollipop sticks for this part of the project. You can cut these to size with scissors.

Toilet paper tubes

These are free! The sizing of toilet paper tubes is pretty standard from brand to brand so you can make this project using the same dimensions I share in the instructions without having to measure the toilet paper tubes you have on hand.

Fringe Scissors

Fringe scissors make the process of creating tissue fringe go much faster than using regular scissors alone. I got my fringe scissors at a 99 cent stores for 99 cents (it was a steal of a deal!) but you can also find them online. The best deal I found online was for a pack of 2 sets of fringe scissors that includes a comb to remove the papers when they get stuck between the blades (which happens pretty often if you are cutting all the way through the paper to make shred).

Tacky Glue

I chose Aleene's Tacky Glue for this project because it dries quickly but stays tacky enough that it can hold the dowels upright while the glue dries. hot glue dries bulky and will separate from the wood if the weather is cold. And with tacky Glue, the kids can help make this project since there are no hot tools involved.

DIY confetti poppers covered with tissue paper and filled with Fruity Pebbles Cereal

How to make DIY Confetti Poppers

Project Time: 2 hours

Makes: 5 confetti poppers

How to make confetti poppers tubes

Punch 5 circles from cardstock paper using 1.5″ circle punch.

Putting Tacky Glue on Wood Disc, paper circle, and wood dowel

Glue the wood discs to the center of the cardstock circles using Tacky Glue.

Gluing together wood dowel, wood disc, paper circle to make plunger for DIY confetti popper

Glue to dowels perpendicular to and in the center of the wood discs to make the “pushers”. Allow to dry.

Painting plungers for DIY confetti poppers

Paint the pushers with bright acrylic paint. Allow to dry. Add a second coat of paint if the first does not cover completely.

Using scissors, snip the paper circle around the circumference of the wood disc on the pusher.

How to decorate confetti popper tubes for Cinco De Mayo

Cutting colored tissue paper with scissors

While the glue is drying on the dowels and wood discs, cut the tissue paper into 2″ strips. Fold in half to make the strips 1″ wide.

Cutting fringe from folded tissue paper to make pinata

Using scissors or fringe scissors, cut fringe along the open edge of the folded strip of tissue paper. Repeat for each color of tissue paper.

Tissue paper fringe

Cut a 4″ circle or square from the tissue paper. Cut a small “X” (about 1″ tall” in the center of the paper. Glue the paper to close off one end of the paper tubes, pressing the sides of the paper flat to the sides of the tube.

Cover end of toilet paper tube with square of tissue paper

Glue the strips of tissue paper to the toilet paper tubes, wrapping the tissue paper fringe around the tube. Switch tissue paper colors to make a striped pattern like on a piñata. Continue until each tube is covered in tissue paper fringe.

How to fill the confetti poppers

Cupping the tissue covered end of the tube in one hand, fill the other end of the tube 1/3 of the way with Fruity Pebbles cereal.

DIY confetti poppers covered with tissue paper and filled with Fruity Pebbles Cereal

Insert the pusher into the open end of the confetti popper, leaving some room between the cereal and the tissue paper covered end of the tube.

Stack the finished confetti poppers in a basket for party goers to grab during the party.

DIY confetti poppers covered with tissue paper and filled with Fruity Pebbles Cereal

How to use these Fruity Pebbles confetti poppers

Go outside or in an open area. Holding the tube in one hand, pointed away from any people, quickly press the pusher up through the tube, pushing the cereal out through the tissue paper covered end of the tube. The cereal will break through the tissue paper covering and shoot up and out of the tube.

When you're done with the confetti poppers, remove all the cereal from the insides and store with the “pushers” pushed all the way inside the TP tubes. Then you can use them over and over for all of your parties!

For more fun Craft Ideas with Pebbles Cereals, visit the websites:

  • Pebbles Cereal Craft Ideas
  • Join the #YabbaDabbaDoo Craft Challenge!

Pebbles cereal wants to inspire kids to start learning! Visit Pebbles cereal new website, “Yabba Dabba Doo’ something:  a collection of DOO’s“.

What is Cinco De Mayo?

Many people believe that Cinco De Mayo is Mexican Independence Day, but it's not. Mexican Independence Day actually occurs on September 16th, 1810. Cinco De Mayo commemorates the Battle of Puebla where the Mexican Empire fought to victory over the French Empire on May 5, 1862. The Cinco De Mayo holiday symbolizes Mexico's strength as it defeated a better armed Army twice the size of it's forces.

It's believe that the modern celebration of Cinco De Mayo started in the 1860s in California. As time has passed, more and more US states and cities have created official observances of May 5th a a holiday. In the 1980s, Cinco De Mayo became a more commercialized holiday. And in recent years, celebrations of Cinco De Mayo have spread internationally.

Cinco De Mayo party food and decor ideas - mole nachos, mini tacos, and pinata party favor boxes

How we celebrate Cinco De Mayo now:

We celebrate Cinco De Mayo as an expression of Mexican and Californian culture. It's a time to share in our food and traditions as we come together in celebration. Here are some more projects and recipes to inspire your Cinco De Mayo celebration:

  • DIY Piñata Party Favor Boxes
  • Mini Calbacitas Tacos Recipe
  • Mole Nachos Recipe
  • Grilled Avocado Chipotle Elotes – with no mayo!
  • Easy Shrimp Ceviche Tostadas

What are your family's Cinco De Mayo traditions? Are you going to make these fun Fruity Pebbles Confetti Poppers party favors? Let me know in the comments below!

THE FLINTSTONES and all related characters and elements © & ™ Hanna-Barbera. (s18)

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Comments

  1. Victoria @DazzleWhileFrazzled says

    May 7, 2018 at 11:08 am

    Very fun! Great idea, even for non-fiesta occasions!

    Reply
  2. Danielle @ A Sprinkle of Joy says

    May 7, 2018 at 11:46 am

    How much fun are those!!

    Reply
  3. Jenny says

    May 8, 2018 at 6:35 am

    This is such a fun idea! I’m sure everyone loved them. Fruity pebbles smell so good & fruity! Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday. Hope to see you next week at the party!

    Reply
  4. Emily says

    May 10, 2018 at 6:30 pm

    These are SO fun for any party! I love that you used Fruity Pebbles, too – cereal is so much more fun than shreds of paper! Thank you for linking up with Merry Monday. I’ll be featuring your confetti poppers at our upcoming party, and I hope you’ll join us again.

    Reply
  5. Jann Olson says

    May 11, 2018 at 8:45 pm

    So cute I love the idea of using Fruity Pebbles! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

    Reply

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Welcome to Smart Fun DIY where you'll find amazing craft projects, easy-to-make recipes with a Latin twist, clever DIY projects, and smart ways to get the most out of life. I'm so happy you're here and I can't wait to learn more about you! - Jennifer Priest If you're new here, click HERE to learn more.

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