How to Make Mexican Pinatas

Mexican piñatas provide entertainment to children at festivals and parties. The piñata is crafted from papier-mâché and filled with candy and treats. Each child takes a turn swinging at the piñata with a long stick. The goal is to break open the piñata and release the candy and treats for all to share. Mexican piñatas are often shaped to resemble a donkey, star or other object and covered with colored tissue paper.

Things You'll Need

• Balloon
• Newspaper
• 1 cup flour
• 2 cups water
• Bowl
• Scissors
• Cardboard
• Masking tape
• Cord
• Colored tissue paper

Instructions

1. 

   Understand that you will be building the piñata around an inflated balloon. To make the piñata look like something other than a balloon, you will need to add cardboard to sculpt your piñata into the desired shape.

2. Decide what you will want your piñata to look like. Perhaps it will be a five-pointed star or a donkey.

3. 

   Draw a picture of an inflated balloon onto a piece of paper. From that drawing, add around the perimeter of the balloon what shapes will be needed to create your desired piñata. For example, if you are making a donkey piñata, you will need four legs and a head.

4. Gather what cardboard materials you will use to create your piñata. For example, empty toilet paper rolls can be used to help shape the legs of a donkey, or cone-shape paper cups can be used for the points of a piñata star.

5. 

   Cut newspaper into strips.

6. 

   Combine flour and water in a bowl and blend.

7. 

   Inflate your balloon. If you are making a rainbow piñata, you would want a long, narrow balloon, but if you are making a star piñata, you will want a round balloon. Choose a balloon shape that best fits your project.

8. 

   Dip a strip of newspaper into the flour solution and remove excess liquid.

9. 

   Lay the wet strip onto the balloon. Continue adding wet strips, laying in a crisscross pattern. Cover the entire balloon. Allow it to dry, and then add two more layers. Allow each layer to dry before adding another layer. Allow the piñata to dry before proceeding to the next step.

10. Create your sculpture by adding pieces of cardboard. Affix each piece with tape. Tie a piece of cord around the piñata, which will be used for hanging. Tape this onto the papier-mâché, and leave a loop on top for hanging. Consider the best location to place the cord, so that the finished piñata will be balanced when hung.

11. Coat your sculpture with three more layers of papier mâché. Allow to dry between each layer. Allow the piñata to dry before proceeding to the next step.

12. Cut a small hole or flap, to add the candy.

13. Cut the colored tissue paper into long strips, about 3 inches wide. Fold the strips in half, lengthwise. Cut fringes along the side opposite the folded edge.

14. Cover the piñata with colored tissue paper. Begin at the bottom of the piñata, and work up. Apply the flour glue solution to the folded edge to affix to the piñata. Keep the glue off the fringed edge.