Do you know any child that would not love a piñata for his or her birthday or an upcoming holiday? Piñatas are great fun and often become the life of the party. You probably already know that, if you have ever seen kids in action trying to break one.
What you may not have known is that making piñatas is almost as much fun as breaking them open and gathering up all the goodies. The best part is that it is much easier to make than you might think, as long as you stick to fairly basic designs.
Surprise a child you love or have him or her help you make a great piñata for the next event or occasion your family plans to celebrate.
Items Needed:
- Bag, light box, or balloon
- Construction Paper (assorted colors, as needed)
- Plain paper
- Tissue paper
- Glue
- Water
- Paint
- String
- Assorted candy, gum, and small toys
First, decide what the shape of the piñata will be. For round shapes, such as a basketball, begin with a blown up balloon. For squares or rectangles, use a light cardboard box. If the cardboard is too heavy, the piñata will be hard to break. For other shapes, you will need to configure the design and assemble it from construction paper, brown paper bags or other heavy paper.
Leave a hole in one end, large enough to fill the piñata with candy and treats when construction is finished. Next, mix one part glue and one part water. Tear strips of plain paper, dip them in the Paper Mache mixture, and apply to your shaped form. Continue applying until the entire shape is fully covered with at least two to three layers. Cover with colored tissue paper, to bring out certain areas, if desired.
Once dry, paint the design, character, or image you want to portray, or simply embellish the existing design. Fill the pinata with candy and toys, cover the hole securely, and attach a piece of string to the top so you can hang the piñata.
All that’s left to do is to put a blindfold on your child and give him or her a stick!