DIY Monster Pinata

Children strike pinatas to release the candy inside.

A pinata is an entertaining activity that allows you to keep the children at the party busy while simultaneously providing them with treats to take home. A monster pinata is a fitting choice for a child's birthday party with a monster theme or even a Halloween party. Craft pinatas in a variety of shapes, sizes, animals and creatures, including monsters. Proper planning beforehand ensures your pinata monster is the masterpiece you and your child envisioned.

Things You'll Need

• Notebook
• Glue
• Water
• Bowl
• Spoon
• Balloons
• Cardboard tubes
• Newspaper
• Scissors
• White computer paper
• Candy
• Masking tape
• Tissue paper
• Construction paper
• Google eyes
• Feathers

Instructions

1. Sketch the monster you want to create. The monster can have more than one head, several arms or ears and fangs to make it frightening.

2. Assemble the basic frame for the party using balloons for main body parts such as the head and torso and cardboard tubes for appendages or a tail. For example, tape a toilet paper tube to a large, fully blown-up balloon to form the neck and body of a monster. Tape two smaller balloons together and to the top of the toilet paper tube to make a two-headed monster. Use more tubes, taped to the main body balloon to create arms, legs and a tail.

3. Mix a paper mache solution, such as one part water to three parts glue.

4. Tear sheets of newspaper into 2-inch wide, 6-inch long strips. Dip the strips into the paper mache and layer them to cover all the body parts of the monster frame. Continue until you have at least two to three layers of paper mache.

5. Allow the first few layers of paper mache to dry. In the meantime, tear up strips of white computer paper. Cut a hole in the body of the monster and fill the body with candy. Cover the hole with masking tape.

6. Add a layer or two of the white paper on top of the newspaper layers. This makes the monster easier to decorate.

7. Tear and crumple pieces of colorful tissue paper, such as purple or green, and glue it to the monster as fur. You can also cut ovals out of construction paper and glue it to the monster as scales, or glue feathers onto the monster. For a frightening and freakish-looking creature, use a combination of fur, scales and feathers to cover the monster.

8. Glue googly eyes onto the monster's head or heads. Cut a tongue out of pink construction paper and triangular and jagged teeth out of white or yellow construction paper and use them to decorate the monster's face.

Tips & Warnings

• Fill all tubes used in the craft for necks, appendages and tails with newspaper to help them to maintain their shape after you apply the paper mache.

References

• DLTK Kids: Paper Mache Bird
• DLTK Kids: How to Paper Mache