How to make a piñata with your own hands
This original holiday accessory is not difficult to make; on average, the work will take you three hours. The finished product will delight children and adults. The main condition is to stock up on desire and available means.
It can surprise not only with its contents, but also with its appearance.
Necessary tools and materials (paper or cardboard)
To create a piñata you will need ordinary materials. This craft does not require large investments and the use of expensive equipment. Prepare in advance:
- a balloon so that when inflated it reaches a large size;
- paper sheets or old newspaper;
- PVA glue or any other adhesive;
- fastening tape or twine, a piece of wire;
- paper or corrugated cardboard of the desired color;
- scissors, stationery knife;
- awl, tape;
- If necessary, party caps may be needed.
Making a pinata with cones
If you want something extraordinary, the option in the form of cones looks original. This colorful attribute will become a real masterpiece, giving a fireworks display of colors and gifts. You can make a craft such as a piñata with your own hands at home; instructions for making it are given in the article; it will help you create a holiday in your home.
This is the name given to a hollow toy, inside of which various sweets are placed. It is made using papier-mâché technique.
To get started, use the master class. Make it step by step to get an original product:
- The first step is to make the body of the future piñata. To do this, inflate the balloon, securing it with a thread. It is better to put tape on the tail to remove excess fragments.
- Prepare the paste. To obtain the mixture, you need to take flour and water in equal proportions. The result should be a thick solution.
- Cut the newspaper into strips, then place them in the prepared mixture. Then glue them onto the balloon.
- Now you can hang it up and continue making papier-mâché. After creating the first layer, let it dry thoroughly. Next, you need to gradually glue the remaining layers. When everything is glued, the workpiece is left untouched until completely dry.
- Making cardboard cones. Draw templates and cut them out. Then roll and secure the joints with tape.
- In the next step, make a small hole on a piece made of papier-mâché. Release the air stream from the balloon.
- Carefully cut out a circle with a diameter smaller than the cone. Now you can remove the deflated balloon from the inside.
- Using a utility knife, carefully make a hole in the back. Tie the rope or braid with a double knot, threading it through the resulting hole.
- It's time to fill the piñata with all kinds of sweets. After filling with everything you need, close the hole, additionally securing it with tape.
- Glue the cones to the body of the piñata. Their number depends on your idea.
- Finally, you need to decorate the finished product. For these purposes, use crepe paper. You can cut it into thin strips, making a fringe. Apply a layer of glue over the workpiece. Wrap this element around the base. Try to keep the fringe pointing down. Continue decorating the frame until there are no gaps left. Cones are decorated in a similar way. All is ready.
Round pinata
Using simple steps, you can create a round piñata that looks like a soccer ball:
- First you need to inflate a latex ball with a pump, tying the ends with thread;
- Making a frame from papier-mâché based on paste;
- After waiting for it to dry completely, cut the tail of the ball to easily deflate it and remove it from the base;
- Then you can fill the piñata with various little things. You can put candies, chewing gum, key rings. After which you should hang it by the fasteners;
- At the final stage, it is recommended to decorate the product.
Decorating a piñata
Decorating a piñata is a creative process. You can apply any colorful palette or paint with acrylic paints. Pictures depicting popular fairy-tale characters that are easy to paste look original.
Nuts and candies, small toys or even notes with wishes can also be used as surprise filling.
If you are planning a friendly party, use colorful decoration using corrugated paper in different shades. Brightly colored foil will also work. From these materials you can create a disco ball or a bright star.
It all depends on the celebration for which the piñata game is intended.
For a birthday, it is better to decorate the piñata with the numbers of the upcoming festive event. Little princesses will love toys decorated with flowers and a stylized sun.
History of appearance
So, piñata: what is it? For the first time, such entertainment appeared in Mexico, although, according to some information, its appearance owes to the inhabitants of China. It was in this country that several centuries ago the New Year was celebrated with the obligatory presence of a large figure of a cow or bull, filled inside with flowers and five types of seeds. People smashed it, burned the remains, and took the ashes for themselves. It was believed that in this case the coming year would be pleasant in all respects. Mexico became acquainted with such fun, which is an integral attribute of children's birthdays, a couple of centuries later. European residents enjoyed diversifying their holidays with exciting entertainment.
Halloween pinata
It's hard to imagine planning a fun Halloween without some fun. You can make a piñata in the shape of a pumpkin or a bat, and a small figurine of a ghost will add a special atmosphere. To make a bat you will need two balls, glue, tape, and black paper. The first step is to inflate the balloons, one should be small, it will serve as the head. Then secure them with tape. Then glue layers of paper on them, letting each one dry well.
The idea of such fun entertainment belongs to Mexico, although, according to some sources, the piñata is the prototype of Chinese lanterns.
Once you have achieved the strength of the mouse's body, you can pierce the ball and pull it out. Next, fill the piñata with the necessary elements. To create the wings, use black cardboard. After cutting them out, secure them. Eyes, teeth and ears need to be glued to the head. The finished version can be hung in the room.
The classic decoration option is corrugated or crepe paper. Paste the toy in a circle downwards with fringe, making each strip overlap.
For Christmas and New Year
For such holidays, it is worth making a piñata that displays the New Year's attribute. It can be in the form of Christmas tree balls with bright confetti inside, snowflakes, in the shape of a snowman, or a unicorn. The filling is made with predictions; small gifts for the whole family and guests, holiday cards are also suitable. Try to convey the festive mood in every detail.
It will take about a day to dry, after which the product is ready for decoration.
For a New Year's piñata, you will need materials identical to the usual one, the only condition is that the decoration must be made in accordance with the theme. It is better to take an oblong ball. When all the papier-mâché layers are dry, remove the ball. Cover the top part with colored foil and tie ribbon bows on top. Then use corrugated paper to make decor - snowflakes.
Depending on the purpose, it can be supplemented with eyes, buttons, scarves.
Making the task more difficult
For those who have learned how to make simple piñata shapes, mastering its production in the form of various figures will not be particularly difficult. For example, for a figure in the shape of an animal, you need to glue cardboard parts or several balls of other sizes to the balloon with double-sided tape, and apply newspaper paste onto them.
During the manufacturing process, you should decide on the place from which the piñata will be hung, and attach a hook with wide hangers made from a thin wire hanger. The hangers can be secured on the inside of the ball with adhesive tape, the hole can be masked with adhesive paper tape.
What can you put in a piñata?
Depending on the theme, the piñata can be filled with the following elements:
- mini candies, lollipops;
- serpentine tape;
- confetti of any configuration;
- souvenir money;
- notes with wishes and predictions;
- small toys;
- bracelets, keychains, hairpins;
- rose petals.
You don’t need to fill the toy completely, but about halfway, so that there is empty space left.
It is not recommended to fill with heavy objects with sharp edges.
How to break a piñata
Having chosen a suitable place for the piñata, hang it. Gather the guests in a circle around her. The hero of the occasion is invited to the center; if desired, you can be blindfolded. He is given a stick, then spin him around. Amid loud singing, applause, and prompts, your hand must hit the piñata to break it. If unsuccessful, another child can try his hand. The game lasts until someone manages to break the toy. After which everyone begins to collect sweets or gifts that fell outside.
The right to strike first is given to the smallest participant, because due to his height, he is unlikely to be able to immediately break the toy.
Right of first strike
Most often, children are lined up according to height and the right to strike first is given to the youngest. After all, the baby is unlikely to break the piñata the first time, so there is a high probability that all participants will have time to play.
If the right of the first strikes is given to older children, then the piñata can be broken faster, which will ensure disappointment and tears for the players who did not have time to hit it. It should be remembered that when one person hits the piñata, the others should be at a safe distance.
So, we got the answer to the question: piñata - what is it? For a holiday, such fun is just a godsend. It unites guests and causes general fun. A pinata is a toy that is an original decoration and entertainment for any celebration, capable of setting a positive tone for the event and bringing a lot of pleasure and joy to the guests.
