Make a Pinata

SKILL LEVEL 2

by Priscilla Moreno

Pinatas are the highlight of children's parties (even children who have long since passed their 18th birthday). This pinata takes on the shape of the balloon that's at its core, however round or oblong it might be.

Priscilla Moreno has been making pinatas since she was a child. Her favorite candy is Skittles.

2 Skill level
2 out of 5
7 Steps
15 Materials

Step 1 Blow up a balloon to pinata size

Blow up a giant balloon to the size you want the pinata to be. Rest it in a large serving bowl so it doesn't roll away as you work.
Step 2 Make the mache

Cut newspaper into strips about 1 inch wide. Create enough strips to cover the pinata.
In a large bowl, mix 2 cups of flour with enough water to make a paste that's neither runny nor doughy.
Step 3 Apply the mache to pinata form

Dip a strip of newspaper into the paste, covering both sides of the strip. Run the strip between your fingers to remove excess paste. Lay the strip on the balloon and smooth it flat.
Continue applying strips of paste-covered newspaper, turning the balloon in the bowl as you work and overlapping the strips to completely cover the balloon.
Step 4 Dry and repeat

Let the mache dry. You can speed up the drying by blowing a fan at the balloon. Turn the balloon in the bowl to dry all sides of the pinata.
Apply 4 or 5 more layers. You can dry between each layer for a stronger pinata, or apply all layers before drying.
Step 5 Cut holes in pinata

Use a utility knife to poke two holes in the top of the pinata for the hanging wire. The distance between the holes depends on the size of the balloon, but space them far enough apart that that the wire won't rip through the mache when the pinata is full.
If the balloon doesn't burst when you cut the hanging holes, pierce it to break it.
A couple of inches from the holes, cut a flap large enough that you can slip candy into the pinata a few pieces at a time. Don't fill the pinata yet.
Step 6 Decorate the pinata

Cut colorful tissue paper into strips and glue one end of each strip to the pinata, starting on the end opposite the hanging holes and overlapping each the glued end with the loose end of the strip above it. Cover the pinata, leaving the flap and hanging holes unobstructed.
You can decorate the pinata with any other materials you like, such as glitter, beads and colored yarn. If you wish, cut eyes, a mouth and ears from construction paper or poster paper and then glue to the pinata.
Here are some ideas for decorating your pinata.
Step 7 Fill and hang pinata

Fill the pinata with candy, coins and small toys. Thread a wire through the hanging holes and twist the loose ends of the wire together. Tie a rope to the wire loop to hang the pinata.