How to Make a Pinata at Home

Even if you are not very craft minded, it is very easy to make a pinata at home and it requires only the minimal of creative skills.

It is a great craft for kids to do so get the kids to help you but be prepared for some mess!

There are two main types of pinata : The ordinary one which I am going to show you how to make here and the string pull pinata which is more suitable to younger kids.

For those of you wondering what a pinata is or where it originated from, here is a History of the Pinata plus the rules of the pinata game.

What you Need to Make a Pinata

• Sheets of newspaper (lots)
• Wallpaper paste or papier maché paste. See papier mache recipes here
• Large bowl for mixing the glue
• Wooden spoon
• Large balloon
• Two x 1.2 meter lengths of string
• Craft knife
• Pin
• Colored lengths of crepe paper (cut into 5 cm wide strips and approximately 40-50 cm long
• Poster paints and brush
• Sweets, trinkets

How to Make a Pinata

NOTE: Make a Pinata at least a week in advance of the party in order to allow it to dry out completely.

1. Tear the newspaper into strips, roughly 3 cm wide and 20 cm long
   
   
2. Using the bowl, make the papier maché paste or make up the glue according to the manufacturer's instructions
   
   
3. Blow up and tie the balloon
   
   
4. Dip individual strips of newspaper into the glue and then apply the strips in a roughly even layer all over the balloon, overlapping each strip slightly. The strips can be laid horizontally and vertically which adds to the strength of the Piñata. Make sure to leave the balloon knot exposed.
   
   
   
5. Once you have done three layers of papier maché (2 for the pre-schoolers), drape one piece of string over the top and down the sides of the balloon. Both ends of the string should extend beyond the knotted end of the balloon by approximately 30 cm's. Repeat this process with the second piece of string but this time lay it at right angles to the first piece.
   
   
6. Cover the balloon and strings with 1-3 more layers of papier maché. Make sure that you don't papier maché the strings right to the top of the balloon as you will need to cut a 7-cm hole later and you don't want to cut the strings. Aim to do about 3-6 layers in total. The more layers you do, the harder the Pinata is to break so only do 3 layers for the pre-schoolers.
   
   
7. Leave the papier maché to dry completely. This may take from 2-5 days depending on the environment. The best place is your airing cupboard if you have one.
   
   
8. Once the Pinata is completely dry, burst the balloon with the pin. Then using the craft knife carefully cut out a hole from the top (the end where the balloon's knot was) about 7 cm in diameter. Don't cut the circle completely off, as you will need it to recover the hole later on.
   
   
9. Fill the Pinata with sweets and trinkets and then close the hole over. Secure the circle lid with either masking tape of a couple of strips of papier maché
   
   
10. Now comes the fun bit whereby you can let your imagination run wild. Paint the Pinata in vibrant bright colors and patterns and then glue on the strips of colored crepe paper so that they hang down from the Pinata. You could also stick on paper party hats to give a more funky look.
    
    
11. Allow to dry completely. I hang mine in an airing cupboard (mind getting glue on your linen!)or you can speed things up by using a hairdryer.
    
    
12. Tie a loop with the 4 strings so that you can suspend your pinata from a tree or whatever post you are using. Your Pinata is now ready to be destroyed!!
    
    

Ready Made Pinatas

Try these stores if buying in the US:

And if buying in the UK:

• How to play the Pinata game
• History of the Pinata
• Make a String Pull Pinata (good for younger kids)
• More Kids Crafts
• Return from make a pinata to Home Page