Piñatas are all the rage at kids’ birthday parties. There’s just something about getting blindfolded, trying to hit a brightly colored object with a stick, and picking up the candy that falls when someone succeeds that young people (and the young at heart) love. Piñatas have become must-haves for birthday celebrations, but unfortunately they’re not cheap.
But did you know that piñatas are really easy and fun to make? You can create a colorful piñata with just a few supplies, and you can find some of them around the house. Here’s how to make a simple one.
Supplies
* Newspaper
* 1/4 cup flour
* 6 cups water, divided
* Large balloon
* Large bowl
* Poster paint
* Twine or other strong string
* Candy and/or small toys
Instructions
* Cut or tear newspaper up into strips 1 1/4 inches wide. Make more than you think you’ll need to cover the piñata, because several layers must be applied.
* Mix up some papier-mache paste. Mix the flour with 1 cup of cold water, and press out all lumps. Then put the other 5 cups of water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add a spoonful of boiling water to the flour and water mixture, and mix well. Continue stirring while slowly pouring the mixture into the boiling water. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes and let cool.
* Blow up the balloon and tie securely. Set it down in the bowl.
* Soak a strip of newspaper in the paste until soaking wet. Smooth it onto the balloon, wiping off excess paste with your fingers.
* Add more newspaper strips soaked in paste, overlapping each by about an inch and crossing the strips. Cover all but the tied end with two layers of newspaper.
* Let the piñata dry for 2 to 3 days.
* Pop the balloon and remove it.
* Decorate the piñata with poster paint. Glue on construction paper accents, streamers and other decorations if desired. Let paint and glue dry.
* Using an ice pick, carefully poke a hole on each side on the top. Thread a length of twine through the holes and tie the ends together to make a hanger.
* Fill the piñata with candy or toys. Cover the hole with masking tape, and paste some newspaper over the tape. Let dry for 24 hours, and paint to match the rest of the piñata.
If you like, you can use a large balloon and a smaller one to make a body with a head. Just cover the balloons separately, let dry and decorate as desired, then put the open ends together after you’ve added the candy. Attach with more newspaper and paste, and let dry.
Making piñatas is rather messy, but it’s also lots of fun. A homemade piñata is also much less expensive than a store-bought one, and it is completely customizable. The next time you’re planning a birthday party, why not try your hand at papier-mache?
