Do It Yourself – Make a Pinata
In recent times pinatas have grown very well-known objects for children’s birthday and Christmas parties. Pinatas have surely come a long way from the first pinatas which were clay pots rather than the paper mache structures that are so well-known today. They are pretty simple to build and can provide quite a few hours of entertainment for you and your kids. Therefore if you are up for the challenge of building one, here is all you need to know to make a paper mache pinata by yourself.
Required Tools
Newspapers
Large Bowl
Scissors (optional)
Required Materials
Candy
Balloon
Masking tape/clear tape
Flour
Water
Crepe paper and streamers
Paint
String/yarn
Instructions
1. Particularly if you are working along with small children, be certain to cover your work area thoroughly because making a pinata can be a very messy project. Tear or use scissors to cut several strips of newspaper about 1-inch wide and 6-8 inches long and set them aside. Blow up the balloon and put it aside as well.
2. Next go on to the paste; in the bowl make a paste using the water and flour, heat the paste over medium heat for 3-6 minutes. The paste must start to thicken however, if it is too thick it will not work well so monitor it carefully. You want the paste to be thick enough to stay in place without dripping all over the place however, at the same time it has to be malleable.
3. Dip the newspaper strips you made into the paste and cover the balloon with them leaving a small hole around the area where the balloon is tied so that you can pop the balloon and remove it later on. Apply 3 newspaper layers to the pinata and when it is dry, deflate or pop the balloon and take it out.
4. Then, paint your pinata in bright colors and decorate it with crepe paper, streamers and anything else you wish. Finally you need some way to hang your pinata. Punch 4 small holes in the pinata around the hole you left for the balloon and run string/yarn through the holes and tie them together at the top. Now all that is left is to fill the pinata with candy and other treats, stuff or tape the hole shut and your pinata is ready for use.
Tips
While you are gluing the newspapers to the balloon it might be difficult to hold the balloon so put the balloon in a bowl that is covered with plastic wrap to keep it in one position.
Make the surface of the newspapers as level as possible so the pinata is easier to decorate and looks smoother.
Check out a couple of the tutorials available on the internet for tips on making your pinata in different animal shapes.
Use individually wrapped candy to fill the pinata. While bulk candy might be cheaper and more convenient, keep in mind that when the pinata bursts all the candy will spill onto the floor so individually wrapped candy is advised.