DIY's Got Talent - Confetti
Make colorful confetti from recycled paper and build a safe balloon-powered popper using a cardboard tube and tape to celebrate your DIY talent.
About this activity
Make colorful confetti from recycled paper and build a safe balloon-powered popper using a cardboard tube and tape to celebrate your DIY talent.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Clear a flat workspace.
- 2
Step 2
Lay down scrap paper or newspaper to catch the confetti.
- 3
Step 3
Gather several sheets of recycled paper into a small stack.
- 4
Step 4
Cut the stacked paper into small pieces with scissors to make confetti.
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Step 5
If you have a hole punch use it to punch extra round confetti shapes from the paper.
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Step 6
Put your confetti into a small bowl or pile so it is ready to load.
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Step 7
Stretch the balloon opening over one end of the cardboard tube so the balloon covers the rim snugly.
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Step 8
Wrap a small strip of tape around the tube edge to hold the balloon opening in place.
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Step 9
Put a handful of confetti into the other end of the tube until it is about one third full.
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Step 10
Push the body of the balloon back into the tube so it is stretched and you can hold it inside the tube.
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Step 11
Aim the open end of the tube away from people and fragile items.
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Step 12
Release the balloon quickly to pop the confetti out of the tube.
- 13
Step 13
Share a photo or description of your finished confetti popper on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do you make colorful confetti and build a balloon-powered popper?
Start by cutting recycled paper into small circles or strips using a hole punch or scissors. Bundle 20â40 pieces and drop them into a cardboard tube (paper towel or wrapping-paper tube). Seal one tube end with tape or folded cardboard. Ask an adult to cut off the narrow neck of a balloon, then stretch the wide end tightly over the open tube end. Pull the balloon back and release to launch confettiâalways aim away from faces and hard surfaces.
What materials do I need for DIY confetti and a balloon popper?
Youâll need recycled paper (magazines, scrap paper), a hole punch or scissors, markers or crayons to decorate, a cardboard tube, balloons, strong tape, safety scissors, and a small piece of cardstock to seal one end. Optional: a funnel or folded paper to help fill the tube, and a bowl for catching confetti. Have adult supervision and a trash bag for easy cleanup.
What ages is the confetti and balloon popper activity suitable for?
This craft is great for ages 6 and up with adult supervision. Ages 3â5 can join if an adult handles cutting, balloon trimming, and the popper launch. Children 9+ can do most steps independently but should still be reminded about safety and not aiming at faces. Avoid giving assembled poppers or loose balloons/confetti to toddlers due to choking hazards.
What safety tips should I follow for the confetti popper?
Supervise the whole project. Avoid small confetti for children under 3 and stay clear of glitter (hard to clean and not eco-friendly). Donât aim the popper at anyoneâs face or fragile items; pop over a table or outdoors. Dispose of balloon scraps immediately because punctured balloon pieces are choking hazards. Use biodegradable paper and pick latex-free balloons for allergy concerns.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
I don't have a cardboard tube or balloonâwhat can we use instead to make the confetti popper?
For the tube used when you 'Stretch the balloon opening over one end of the cardboard tube', use a paper towel roll, a tightly rolled and taped piece of stiff scrap paper, or the neck of a clean plastic bottle, and for the balloon try the finger of a clean latex glove or a larger cut balloon.
The balloon keeps slipping off or the confetti doesn't shoot outâwhat should we try?
Make sure the balloon opening is pushed well over the rim and held with a small strip of tape as the instructions say, don't overfill the tube (about one third full), push the balloon body back into the tube so it's stretched, and release it quickly while aiming away from people.
How can we adapt the activity for younger children or make it more challenging for older kids?
For younger kids have an adult handle the cutting and the step where you 'Stretch the balloon opening over one end of the cardboard tube' and supervise loading and releasing, while older kids can use the hole punch for shaped confetti, decorate the tube, and experiment with different balloon sizes to change the pop.
What are some ways to personalize or enhance the confetti popper for a performance or photo?
Personalize by cutting colored recycled paper or coloring the scraps before you 'Cut the stacked paper into small pieces', use the hole punch for shapes, decorate the cardboard tube with markers or stickers, add thin streamers to the confetti pile, and then share a photo on DIY.org as the final step.