How to Make Confetti

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Make any occasion more festive with your own homemade confetti.

Step 1: Gather paper
Gather paper that can be shredded—old newspapers and magazines, discarded copier paper, used gift wrapping, or colored construction paper.

Tip
If you work in an office, ask coworkers who use hole punchers to save the little paper circles.

Step 2: Cut them
Turn paper into confetti with scissors, a hole puncher, or a paper shredder. Craft-supply stores offer decorative hole punchers that create stars, sequins, hearts, and other designs.

Tip
If you use a paper shredder to make the confetti, make sure it’s the crosscut kind, which cuts paper both vertically and horizontally.

Step 3: Make them cling-free
Scoop up the confetti, put it in a paper bag, and mist it with anti-static spray. Close the bag, shake it up for a minute, then open the top to let the confetti air-dry. This will prevent the confetti from clinging to your guests’ hair and clothes.

Step 4: Make flower confetti
Try making flower confetti: Sprinkle a layer of silica gel crystals onto the bottom of an ovenproof dish, cover with flower petals, and then alternate more layers of silica and petals. Heat in a 200-degree oven for about 30 minutes, and then let cool before gently shaking off any silica residue.

Tip
If you’re sending party invitations, insert a tablespoon or so of confetti inside the card.

Step 5: Bag it
Make individual party bags for New Year’s Eve guests by pouring confetti into small glassine bags, sealing, and taping a noisemaker to the top of each.

Step 6: Stuff balloons
Stuff some confetti into balloons that guests can pop. Just funnel in the confetti before blowing them up.

Step 7: Spray your guests
Spray confetti over party guests by turning on a large fan and slowly pouring confetti in front of it.

Tip
Some party supply stores and websites rent and sell confetti cannons, blowers, and swirl fans.

Step 8: Clean up
After vacuuming your floors, pick up any stubborn confetti with a lint roller.

Did You Know?
The largest collection of confetti in the world contains 1,700 unique shapes, including pieces that look like Elvis Presley.