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Having a piñata at your party is a great way to provide decoration and entertainment all in one. There's no need to go out and buy a piñata for your next party, though. With these simple steps you can build your own, and you might find that making piñata can be just as fun as breaking them!
Steps
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Protect your work area. Making your piñata has the potential to get a little messy, so make sure you give yourself plenty of room to work. Cover your work area with layers of newspaper or a disposable plastic tablecloth. This will keep your tabletop clean, and make cleanup afterward a breeze. Keep yourself clean too by wearing an old shirt or apron as well as latex gloves.
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Make the papier-mâché paste . In a bowl, mix 2 cups (473 g) of flour, 2 cups (473 ml) of water, and a tablespoon of salt. Stir the mixture until it starts to thicken like a batter. Don't worry about breaking down all the lumps; you want the batter to be relatively smooth but it will likely still have chunks of flour in it. [1] X Research sourceAdvertisement -
Prepare your papier-mâché strips. Tear some newspaper into strips that are about 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) wide and 6 to 8 inch (15.2 to 20.3 cm) long. This will make the newspaper lay nice and flat on the balloon. You will need to prepare many of these strips of paper so that you have enough to cover your balloon in several layers. [2] X Research source
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Choose a shape for your piñata. Make your piñata whatever you like! The easiest shape to make is an oblong sphere based on a balloon form, but you can create anything you want. [3] X Research source
- To create a more elaborate shape, tape or glue cardstock, and cardboard onto your balloon form.
- Traditional piñatas are made with a ceramic pot as the form, but these can be messy and dangerous. Stick with a pliable form made from paper products.
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Inflate your balloon . This will form the body of your piñata, so make sure you make it nice and big. Round balloons are preferable because they will create a larger space for all of the candy. You may also use a box if you prefer a square shape for your piñata. Add any additional shapes to make legs, arms, tails, snouts, hats, etc., using cardboard, newspaper or construction paper. Tape these shapes on with masking tape or clear tape. [4] X Research source
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Apply the papier-mâché paste to your paper strips. Dip the strips into your paste and remove any excess paste by running the strips through your pinched fingers or dragging them along the edge of the bowl. [5] X Research source
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Apply the papier-mâché to the balloon. Lay the strips down all over the balloon in a crisscross pattern until the entire balloon is covered. Leave the knot of the balloon uncovered to make removal of the balloon easier. Complete this step 3 to 4 times, allowing each layer to dry before adding another. [6] X Research source
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Let the piñata dry. Once you have finished adding layers of papier-mâché, let the piñata sit until it is completely dry and has hardened. How long this will be will depend on many factors, including how thick the papier-mâché is, and the humidity and temperature of the air. In general, plan on several days. [7] X Research source
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Paint the piñata. Use a single color to smooth out the paper and to create an even surface. It does not need to be especially well-painted, just enough to cover the paper. Choose a color that matches the decorations you'll be adding on or to match the animal or character that you're turning your piñata into, as it'll probably show through. [8] X Research source
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Glue crêpe paper to the piñata. This will give your piñata a more traditional look. It is also a festive and inexpensive touch. Cut or tear strips of crêpe paper and glue it onto the piñata. Leave the paper in strips, or bunch it up into small tassel-like balls and glue on. [9] X Research source
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Add finishing touches. Once you've gotten the base of crêpe paper on, add other neat details to your piñata. Colorful cupcake liners and brightly colored tissue squares can be added as fringe. If you made an animal, add googly eyes for a fun look.
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Cut a hole for the candy. If the balloon has not yet popped, go ahead and pop it and remove it. Since you did not cover the knot of the balloon with your papier-mâché, you should have a small hole already. [10] X Research source
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Make the hole bigger if needed. If the candy doesn't fit, cut away at the edge of the hole until it is large enough to pass the candy through. [11] X Research source
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Punch two small holes around the main hole. Tie a string or ribbon to the holes to create a loop. This will come in handy later when it comes time to hang the piñata.
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Put the goodies in the piñata . Start adding in candy, streamers, stickers, confetti, small toys or anything else you like.
- Avoid adding any candy that isn't wrapped.
- Toys that may break easily are also a poor choice.
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Cover the hole. Glue down some crêpe paper on top of the hole, or use masking tape. The goal is to prevent the filling of the piñata from falling out before you've actually hit it.
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Hang the piñata . Tie another piece of string, ribbon, or rope to the loop you've already made and use this to attach the piñata to whatever you'd like to hang it from.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionIf I'm short on time, can I dry the pinata we are making with a hair dryer?Community AnswerA hair dryer set on "cool" would work, but it might be easier to aim a few fans at it from different angles.
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QuestionCan I make a pinata with multiple layers?Community AnswerYes. You can stick on more paper mache layers or more layers for decoration.
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QuestionWhy do you need salt?Community AnswerIt stops the papier mache from getting moldy.
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Tips
- Use a thicker string if you are making a heavy piñata, this makes the piñata stronger.Thanks
- Fill the piñata with individually wrapped pieces of candy. Bulk candy may be cheaper, but keep in mind that the contents of the piñata will spill all over the floor and kids will eat them no matter where they have fallen. Buy cellophane and individually wrap bulk sweets if you choose this option.Thanks
- Instead of cutting a flap open, you can leave a hole at the top of the balloon (i.e., don't cover it with papier-mâché) and fill the piñata through this hole.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- I like to hang my piñata with string while it's drying so it doesn't stick to the table. It keeps its shape better.
- Hang the piñata where the ground is smooth, not grass. It makes it easier to find all the spilled treats.
- To customize, add details like the birthday child's favorite character. Get creative with the shape too!
- If making one for young kids, use tissue paper instead of crepe. It breaks more easily when hit gently.
- Avoid unwrapped candy or liquids that may leak. Chocolate can melt if hot. Sticky stuff makes a mess.
- If older kids will be breaking it, reinforce with duct tape so it takes some effort.
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Things You'll Need
- Balloons
- Several newspapers
- Water, flour, and salt (to make the glue) or starch
- Scissors
- Paint
- Crêpe paper (and other decorations if wanted)
- String or ribbon (to hang the piñata)
- Candy (for filling)
- Wooden baton about 18 inches/45 cm (to hit with) or a big stick or bat
References
- ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-make-paper-mache
- ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-make-paper-mache
- ↑ https://pinataboy.com/make-your-own/overview/
- ↑ https://pinataboy.com/make-your-own/overview/
- ↑ https://www.girlguides-nswactnt.org.au/Web/Resource/Online_Guiding/Guides_At_Home_Program/Papier_Mache_Pinata.aspx
- ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-make-paper-mache
- ↑ https://www.girlguides-nswactnt.org.au/Web/Resource/Online_Guiding/Guides_At_Home_Program/Papier_Mache_Pinata.aspx
- ↑ https://www.girlguides-nswactnt.org.au/Web/Resource/Online_Guiding/Guides_At_Home_Program/Papier_Mache_Pinata.aspx
- ↑ https://pinataboy.com/make-your-own/decorating-with-crepe-paper/
About This Article
Article Summary
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To make a piñata, start by making a paper mache paste with flour, water, and salt. Then, cut out some paper mache strips using old newspapers. Once you have your paper mache paste and strips, inflate a balloon and cover it with the strips of paper using the paste. Let the paper mache dry completely and then glue strips of colorful crepe paper over it. When you're finished decorating your piñata, cut a hole in the top and fill it with candy. Finally, cover the hole with a piece of crepe paper and you're finished. If you want to learn how to paint your piñata before adding the crepe paper, keep reading!
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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 2,510,343 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "The star shape piñata always turns out beautiful, and this technique is very forgiving. When filling the piñata with goodies, I like to add confetti. It adds to the drama of breaking open the piñata. No foil confetti, though, as it can be harmful if swallowed." ..." more
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"The star shape piñata always turns out beautiful, and this technique is very forgiving. When filling the piñata with goodies, I like to add confetti. It adds to the drama of breaking open the piñata. No foil confetti, though, as it can be harmful if swallowed."
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"We made two homemade pinatas for our friend Nick's 38th birthday. All the kids loved them. He's been through a lot this year, so it was really special to get to celebrate in this way and still meet our budget. Thank you to everyone who contributed!"
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"I liked the clarity of the article, easy to understand each step and the goal of the entire process. I appreciated the suggestions for going beyond the basic, having fun and playing with the pinata making! I'm going to make some pinatas now."
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"This article helped me do my homework because the teacher told me that I did a process in passive voice. I decided to write about how to make a pinata, because I like pinatas. When I was child, I loved making pinatas."
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"It was going to be my birthday in a few days and I wanted a piñata, and I didn't want to waste money, so I made a piñata, and this was so helpful. Thank you so much!!!"
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