How to Make a Donkey Pinata

A favorite party activity is the pinata, filled with special treats and candy. Each child takes a turn swinging at the pinata with a bat, trying to release the goodies inside. A popular pinata design is the donkey pinata, which is typically covered with brightly covered tissue paper.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 cup flour
• 2 cups water
• Bowl
• Newspaper
• Scissors
• Oval balloon
• Cardboard
• Tape
• Cord
• Colored tissue paper
• Paper for eyes
• Box cutter

1. 
    

   Mix flour and water in a bowl and blend well.

2. 
    

   Cut newspaper into thin strips.

3. 
    

   Inflate an oval balloon. This will be used for the body portion of the donkey pinata.

4. 
    

   Dip a newspaper strip into the flour-water solution and wipe off the excess liquid.

5. 
    

   Lay the newspaper strip on the balloon. Repeat Step 4, and continue to add strips to the balloon, laying in a weave-like pattern. Continue until the balloon is completely covered. Give the balloon two more layers, allowing each layer to first dry before adding a new one. After the body portion is completely dry, move on to the next step.

6. 
    

   Roll up a piece of cardboard and secure with tape to fashion a leg. Repeat, until you have four legs. Tape each leg onto the oval. Instead of cardboard rolls, empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls can be used, depending on the size of the balloon.

7. 
    

   Roll a piece of cardboard to fashion a donkey neck. Tape onto the body.

8. 
    

   Fashion donkey ears and a cone-like cardboard shape for the face of the donkey, and tape into place.

9. 
    

   Repeat Steps 4 and 5, covering the entire donkey with one layer of papier mâché, in a weave-like pattern, and allow to dry.

10. Fasten a cord around the donkey, to create a loop on top for hanging the pinata. Tape the rope into place. Make sure the rope is positioned so that the donkey will hang evenly.

11. Repeat Steps 4 and 5, covering the entire donkey with another layer of papier mâché, in a weave-like pattern, and allow to dry. Cover the cord that is secured to the body of the donkey, but do not cover the loop for hanging.

12. Cut tissue paper into long narrow strips and fray one side of the strip. Cut enough tissue paper to cover the entire donkey.

13. Cover the donkey with the tissue paper. Start at the bottom of the donkey, and apply a bit of the flour-water mixture along the non-frayed edge of the tissue paper and apply to the donkey. Add the next layer, so that the top row overlaps the bottom row. Continue until the donkey is covered. Add strips of tissue paper for a tail, and cut out eyes from paper and glue in place. To fill with candy, use a box cutter to cut a small flap in the top of the body, after the tissue paper dries.

[dilettante]

on 6/15/2009 This is the best pinata how to article! The instructions are detailed and each is accompanied by a picture - perfect for visual learners - that shows the completed project, the colorful donkey. This would be a fun classroom project. Students could learn about different cultures that celebrate with pinatas, traditional shapes including the donkey and the history of pinatas. A classroom party would be lots of fun to complete the learning experience.