How to Make a Pinata

The tradition of piñata has been around for centuries and is rooted deeply in the importance of family and celebration. What began as a game for small children in the rural areas of Mexico has quickly become a favorite treat for families all over the world. Knowing how to make a piñata is easier than you might think. With few materials and even less effort, anyone can enjoy the excitement and challenge of breaking open their own homemade piñata.

How to make a piñata:

You will need:
Scissors
Glue
A large latex balloon
Strips of colored paper
Cardboard
String
And finally, a mix of your favorite wrapped bulk candy

Step Number One:
The first step in knowing how to make a piñata is to cut many strips of colored paper. The shape, size, and type of paper are not important, as it will all be used at random when making your piñata shape.

Step Number Two:
The second step to knowing how to make a piñata is to blow up your balloon and begin mixing your adhesive paste. To make a paste that is ideal for piñatas mix equal parts of white craft glue and water. Once your paste mixture is created you can begin gluing your paper pieces onto the blown up balloon. You can paste as many pieces of paper as you like, but keep in mind, the more layers of glue and paper you complete the harder your piñata will be to break.

Step Number Three:
Now, allow for your piñata to dry completely. Depending on how many layers of glue and paper you applied this could take a few hours or even overnight. Once your balloon piñata is dried completely carefully cut a flap “door” into one area of the piñata. This flap does not have to be very big; it only has to be big enough to fit a small handful of loose candy inside. While cutting your door flap, make sure to carefully pop the balloon inside and remove all of the latex pieces that remain.

Step Number Four:
The fourth step in knowing how to make a piñata is to complete the outside of your piñata and fill the inside with candy. Without any decoration, your piñata will remain egg shaped, as this was the shape of the balloon used. Though this shape is perfect for spring and Easter piñatas, it can be decorated to suit other seasonal festivities. Using the cardboard that you collected at the beginning of the project cut and paste shapes to the completed the piñata. Depending on your own creativity and patience, your piñata can be made to look like just about anything. Popular choices include fish, robots, animals, and even cartoon characters. Once you have completed your decorations, you can fill your piñata with candy and tape the trap door shut.

Step Number Five:
Hang your piñata from a tree branch or pole and blindfold each participant. Spin each person around a few times for a challenge and then set them free to take their best shot! Once the piñata is broken, candy will fall from the sky and children will enjoy searching the ground below for their favorite sweets!