How to make a back to school Chalkboard mini pinata using your Cricut

Create this cute Chalkboard mini pinata to celebrate your kiddos entering a new grade.

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Celebrate back to school with this Chalkboard mini pinata made with your Cricut.

Hello Magical Crafters! The new school year is right around the corner and what better way to celebrate back to school then with this cool mini pinata. Not only can you take the classic style new grade level pictures, but this chalkboard also comes packed with surprise goodies inside.

My first born will be starting 1st grade this year. It feels like just yesterday she was learning how to walk, now my little one will be learning alot of new things in school this year. She will be happy that she doesn’t have to take a nap anymore. I on the other hand, am always down to have a nap.

Ok back to this mini pinata, since this is a mini, it is another pull style pinata. Meaning no stick involved. Just pull the string and reveal the goodies inside.

Supplies needed to make this Chalkboard are…

• Cricut Explore Air 2
• Light grip cutting mat
• Cardstock (65 lb works well)
• Score pen
• Scissors
• Self healing mat
• Knife tool
• Crepe paper (also known as party streamers)
• Glue ( I use Beacon 3in1)
• Double side foam tape
• String or ribbon
• Chalkboard SVG file
• Chalkboard details file

Click on the button above to purchase and download the Chalkboard mini Pinata SVG file from our shop. Or head over to our Etsy Store and purchase and download the file from there.

To download the detail pieces, click on the library button above and download the file for free. If you are already a subscriber to our email list, it’ll be waiting in your inbox.

You can use another type of electronic cutting macine that uses SVG files, but for this tutorial, it will be demonstrated using the Cricut Explore Air 2 machine.

Once the files have downloaded, let’s head over to Cricut Design Space.

Uploading into Cricut Design Space

Bring up Cricut Design Space and click on “new project” to open up your canvas. Head down the left side of your screen and click on “upload”. Click on the “insert image” option and you can either drag and drop or browse for the Chalkboard mini pinata file.

It will now take you to the save option screen. You can rename this file and add a few tags to help find it in the future. Click on save as a “cut file”. Now you should have the SVG file template in Design Space. But we need to change a few things before hitting that “make it” button.

Changing cut lines into score lines

Let’s head on to the right side of the screen and click on “ungroup”. This will give you multiple groups that I kept together to make it easier for you. Unfortunately, Design Space does not keep each section labeled separately, but it does allow you to rename them, so you can rename them as you go.

Next, go over to the side panels and click on the inner rectangle. Then head to the top of the screen and click on the drop down menu, then select the “score line” option. It should now change all the inside lines on the panels into score lines. ( Will appear as dash lines.) You can rename each one as score lines, then click on “ungroup”.

Now let’s select the outside part of the panels to select all of them, rename each one and then click on “ungroup”. We need to attach each score line to it’s corresponding panel. Select both the score lines and the panel together, then head down the right side menu and click on the “attach” button. (Looks like a paperclip) This will tell the machine that the score line goes with that panel. Repeat the others until done.

Adding details to your Mini Pinata

Before you resize your mini pinata, go ahead and download your detail pieces to add to your mini pinata after assembling. Upload it to your canvas. You can find the detail files in the Magical Crafting Library. And if you are already a subscriber to our email list, it’s waiting in your inbox.

Resizing your Mini Pinata

Once everything is attached together, click on “select all” at the top of the menu screen. Make sure the lock icon by the sizing measurements is locked. Click on the bottom square corner and drag it over to resize it to the size you’d like it to be. For reference, I made mine about 5 inches tall and 7 inches wide.

Now it’s time to finally hit that “make it” button at the top.

Cutting our Chalkboard pinata out

Double check your settings in the cut preview screen. Arrange your cardstock colors in the order it gives you and make sure you have the right size paper selected. You can choose white as the pinata base color or you can match the cardstock color with the crepe paper color.

The cardstock weight I use is the 65lb, after adding the Crepe paper, it’s definitely sturdy enough to hold some goodies. You can use the 80lb if you wish. Once everything is good to go, click on “continue”.

Align your cardstock on the mat and smooth it over, making sure it’s adhere to the mat. Insert the mat into the machine by pressing the blinking “arrow” button. Make sure you insert the score pen and check your cut settings. It should be set to cardstock. Then press the blinking”C” button to start the cut.

Once it’s finish, upload the mat by pressing the “arrow” button again, flip the mat over, and peel it away from the cardstock. This helps the cardstock to not curl up on you. Repeat this process until everything is scored and cut.

Prep and Assemble Time

For easy assembly, refer back to the canvas screen and lay out each piece accordingly. I’ve also included a picture below for the set up as well. This will help keep the guess work to a minimum when trying to figure out where each side panel belongs.

Now take each side panel and fold along the scored section. Once that is done, it’s time to glue everything together.

Start with the base of the chalkboard on the table. Grab a side panel and add a few tiny drops of glue to each tabs on one side. Depending on which glue you use, will determine how long you’ll need to hold it in place until it doesn’t move. Repeat with the other panels until all side panels are glued down and connected to each other.

Be careful to not add glue to the door tab, as this will prevent you from opening it.

Add glue to the top tabs and align the top layer on to it. We now have a 3D Chalkboard.

Completing our Chalkboard Pinata

To finish our Chalkboard, we need to add some Crepe paper to make it a pinata. Grab your Crepe paper and let’s start cutting ome fringes. You can simply take your scissors and cut a lot of lines down the Crepe paper on both sides and then cut down the mddle to create two strands of fringes. Or you can save your hands a bit of a workout and follow these easier steps below.

Grab your knife tool and self healing mat. Fold a few layers of the Crepe paper onto the mat.

Take your knife tool and cut a little less then half way down. Making slices to the end. Repeat on the top part as well.

Grab your scissors and cut down the middle, creating two fringe pieces.

Starting at the bottom of the Chalkboard, add glue and apply the fringe, wrapping it around, making your way to the top.

Apply fringe to the bottom and top. Add your choice of string or ribbon to the door holes for easy access to the goodies.

Add the finishing touches to your Chalkboard with the final details. (Located in the Magical Crafting Library) Add double sided foam tape to the back of the cardstock details and apply to mini pinata.

Congrats Crafter, you have just made your own Chalkboard mini pinata.

What do you fill a Mini Pinata with?

Now that you have made this Chalkboard mini pinata, you may be wondering what the heck to fill it with? Since this is a school theme pinata, you can use goodies focusing on going back to school.

Some items to choose from can be…

• Pencils, pens, and colored pencils
• Hair bows, clips, and ponytail holders
• Pencil top earsers
• Sticky notepads
• Ear bubs or head phones
• Bookmarks
• Gift Cards
• And of course Candy and confetti

You can now fill up that mini pinata with some goodies and hand it over to your kiddo. And don’t forget to take those photos.

Follow and tag us over on Instagram at Ivylillies and show off your Chalkboard mini Pinata creation.

Do you want to make more mini pinatas? Check these out below.

• Watermelon Mini Pinata
• T Rex Mini Pinata