Crafts

How to Make a Party Pinata

What’s a kids’ birthday party without a pinata? Or does it even have to be a birthday party? Maybe you want a pinata at your next family BBQ. You can make your own. Get the kids involved – they’ll have fun crafting and decorating it.

There are two different ways to make a pinata. The traditional way out of paper mache is time consuming and takes a few days to make, but it’s sturdy and breaks nicely. Making one out of a paper bag is less mess and a much easier, quicker option, but it’s not going to break as nicely. You choose – here’s how to make a paper mache pinata and a paper bag pinata.
Paper Mache Pinata Instructions

What you need…

* Large, round balloon
* Newspaper
* Paper mache paste
* Paint
* Crepe paper
* String or yarn
* Masking tape

How to make it…

1. Blow up the balloon as much as you can. Place the balloon in a bowl to hold it.

2. Cut the newspaper into 1-inch wide strips. Test the length by draping over the balloon.

3. Dip the strips of newspaper into the paper mache paste. Get excess paste off by sliding the paper between your fingers and place these strips over the balloon. Leave the spot where you tie the balloon free of paper; this is where you’ll remove the balloon and add your candy.

4. Once completely covered, allow to dry and then repeat the paper process 2-3 more times, completely covering with another layer of paper. Once dry, pop the balloon and remove it through the hole you left in the paper mache.

5. Now it’s time to decorate. You can paint and add some crepe paper to the outside of the pinata. Give it a tail or some streamers hanging off the bottom. Then you can hang it with the string or yarn and masking tape.
Paper Bag Pinata Instructions

What you need…

* Paper bag
* Newspaper
* Tissue paper
* String or yarn
* Craft glue
* Stapler
* Scissors
* Hole punch

How to make it…

1. Fill about half of the paper bag with the toys or candy you plan on putting in your pinata. Not too much or it will be too heavy. Then fill the rest of the bag with scrunched-up newspaper. Leave about 2 inches from the top. Now pinch the bag together and roll it down two or three times and staple it shut.

2. Cut a piece of tissue paper so it’s about 2 inches longer than the bottom of your bag. Put glue on the tissue paper and place the bottom of your bag on the tissue paper. Wrap the tissue paper around the bottom of the bag.

3. Now cut several strips of tissue paper about 4-6 inches long (enough to fit around your bag). You can be creative and cut a fringe in your tissue paper if you would like – on all of the strips or just about half of them. Begin gluing the strips to your bag all the way up until it is completely covered, slightly layering them as you go.

4. Cut several more strips of tissue paper to add streamers to the bottom of your pinata and glue them to the bottom of the bag.

5. Punch two holes in the top of the bag and string your string or yarn through the holes. This will be how you hang your pinata so be sure you tie it to the pinata good. Now hang and enjoy!
So those are two ways you can make a pinata. If you’re short on time, then the paper bag version is the way to go but for a more authentic pinata, go with the paper mache. The time and mess to make it are well worth the experience of cracking that baby open.

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