Started the pinatas for the paleontology party, a dinosaur egg pinata, and the pirate party (in two weeks) which is a cannonball. Do you see a theme emerging? That's right! Our pinatas are always round!
First of all, I have a weird thing against kids beating any animal/cartoon/living thing effigy... So, homemade pinatas it is! I also made a vegan pinata for a friend this way (no glue).
So, start with one of those large punchy balloons. Inflate to your desired size and tape the belly buttons down on both sides. Balance it on a wide cup, bowl, whatever. Make a thin paste of water and flour. Cut strips of paper... I use thick brown packing paper for this first part because I like a sturdier pinata that stands up to a few cracks. Dip the strips, pull 'm through two fingers to remove the excess and lay 'em on the balloon. I essentially make a basket... covering about 1/3 of the balloon and 4 strips up just past the middle. This is now the bottom of the pinata. For an egg shape, you'll need to do a large balloon and a smaller one that will eventually be the top of the egg.
Let this dry. Not with a hair dryer, not in the sun, an oven, or any heat source. This will expand the air in your balloon and crack your pinata. A fan is fine.
Place the balloon on your stand, bottom side up. Cut two lengths of rope or cord, each long enough to encircle the balloon plus 2 inches. I look for thin, flattish nylon cord because again, it needs to take a few whacks. Lay centers if the cords in a cross on the center of the 'basket', draping the ends down to the 4 'handles.' Tape down the center and a few spots down the length of the cord.
I use strips of newspaper for thus part. Paper the entire balloon. Cover it once for little kids, 1.5 times for older kids and twice for adults. Allow the cord to remain out of the paper at the widest point of the balloon. Hang and let dry.
NEXT UP: finishing yer pinata...
First of all, I have a weird thing against kids beating any animal/cartoon/living thing effigy... So, homemade pinatas it is! I also made a vegan pinata for a friend this way (no glue).
So, start with one of those large punchy balloons. Inflate to your desired size and tape the belly buttons down on both sides. Balance it on a wide cup, bowl, whatever. Make a thin paste of water and flour. Cut strips of paper... I use thick brown packing paper for this first part because I like a sturdier pinata that stands up to a few cracks. Dip the strips, pull 'm through two fingers to remove the excess and lay 'em on the balloon. I essentially make a basket... covering about 1/3 of the balloon and 4 strips up just past the middle. This is now the bottom of the pinata. For an egg shape, you'll need to do a large balloon and a smaller one that will eventually be the top of the egg.
Let this dry. Not with a hair dryer, not in the sun, an oven, or any heat source. This will expand the air in your balloon and crack your pinata. A fan is fine.
Place the balloon on your stand, bottom side up. Cut two lengths of rope or cord, each long enough to encircle the balloon plus 2 inches. I look for thin, flattish nylon cord because again, it needs to take a few whacks. Lay centers if the cords in a cross on the center of the 'basket', draping the ends down to the 4 'handles.' Tape down the center and a few spots down the length of the cord.
I use strips of newspaper for thus part. Paper the entire balloon. Cover it once for little kids, 1.5 times for older kids and twice for adults. Allow the cord to remain out of the paper at the widest point of the balloon. Hang and let dry.
NEXT UP: finishing yer pinata...
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