Materials needed:
- Large round balloon
- Liquid starch
- Bowl
- Newspaper
- Plastic tablecloth
- Foam core board
- Crepe paper
- Glue
- Scissors
- Exacto knife
- String
- Large needle
- Paint and paintbrushes
- Measure tape
- Pencil
For an example we will be making a piñata shaped like the sun. Blow up the balloon and measure around the balloon. You will transfer this measurement to the center of the foam core board and cut it out with your exacto. Now measure from the edge of the circle to the closest side of the core board. Mark this measurement all the way around the circle from the cut line outward. Now cut. You should be left with a foam core board that is a circle with a circle cut out of the center. Cut the outer ring into 6-8 points to represent the suns rays. Slide the balloon into the center of the circle. Set this aside for the moment.
Piñata’s are made primary with paper mache. This is done by tearing the newspaper into strips. You will need a lot of strips. Soak the strips in liquid starch. Run the strips through your fingers over the bowl to remove excess.
Lay the individual strips of paper on the balloon as if you are bandaging the entire balloon and rays. Make sure to lay strips over the spot where the balloon and core board intersect on both sides. Making sure the entire surface of the balloon and core board is covered. Allow to dry over night. Add another thorough layer. Allow to dry.
Cut a small circle in the upper back of the sun about 4” around. Pop balloon. Allow some extra time for the inner moisture to dry.
Once it is completely dry, fill with candy and prizes through the rear opening. Replace circle to cover the hole.
While the piñata is drying, you will have lots of time to cut the crepe paper. This is a good project to do while watching TV because it is tedious. Using scissors cut the crepe paper ¾ of the way up to short length to fringe it. Once you have a quantity of fringe, begin attaching to the sun by gluing the crepe paper in place layering the next piece over the last with only the fringe visible. Use this method to seal up the rear opening.
Attach needle to the string and sew string securely into the core board. Tie off.
Use paint to create a friendly face. Allow to dry.
Then let the kids or adults destroy it.
One of the great things about Piñatas is that they can be made in any shape or design. We made a sun for ease of explanation but you can literally make anything, Use wadded up pieces of newspaper to bulk up areas when you are laying your wet strips down. You can even pop the balloon and cut away areas and paper mache again. The project is only limited by your imagination. Let it soar.
You supply the bat and blindfold.
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