How to Make a Thanksgiving Turkey Pinata

Stuff the Thanksgiving Turkey with candy this year. Create a pinata your kids will love putting together as much as they love destroying it. Once you've made your turkey pinata, add some Thanksgiving goodies and see who can break it open first.

Things You'll Need

• Flour
• Water
• Disposable container
• Newspaper
• 14 inch balloon
• 9 inch orange balloon
• Tape
• White paper
• Black marker
• Orange, brown, red and yellow tissue paper
• String
• Yellow construction paper

Instructions

Forming the Pinata

1. Mix 1 1/2 cups warm water with 2 cup flour for the paper mache mixture. Stir until smooth.

2. Blow up a 14 inch balloon and set on top a large bowl. The bowl is only a base to keep your balloon stable while covering it.

3. Tear several newspaper sheets into 1 1/2 inch by 11 inch strips. Dip strips one at a time into paper mache mixture.

4. Wipe excess mixture off newspaper strip and place over balloon at an angle. Overlap each strip slightly over the previous one.

5. Cover the entire balloon, leaving a 2 inch square open at the top of the balloon. This is where you will put the candy in.

6. Dry the balloon for 24 hours. Save the extra paste in an air tight container.

7. Put two more layers of newspaper strips over the first layer. Dip each strip in the paste and remove excess before overlapping on the balloon. Allow the pinata to dry for 24 more hours.

Decorating the Pinata

1. Tape a three foot piece of string to the pinata for hanging. Tape a 9 inch orange balloon to the larger end of the balloon. This is the head of your turkey.

2. Cut two circles from white construction paper. Draw Black eyes on each circle, and tape them to the turkey head.

3. Cut a triangle from yellow construction paper, and tape to the balloon for the turkey beak.

4. Form a fan with red, yellow, brown and orange tissue paper. Tape the fan to the tied end of the turkey for the tail.

5. Cut orange and brown tissue paper into 2 by 4 inch strips. Glue these strips to the body of the turkey pinata. Cover the entire large balloon with the "feather" tissue pieces.

6. Pop the balloon and take out all balloon fragments.

7. Fill the pinata through the opening near the head. Cover the opening with tissue paper. Tape the paper on tightly.

Tips & Warnings

• Make your paste in a disposable container with a cover.

• Properly dispose the balloon fragments, keep out of the reach of small children.

Resources

• Turkey Pinata