In this review we will tell you and show you how to make a piñata with your own hands. Moreover, we will demonstrate not just one example of making a piñata, but five!
A bright and festive piñata is a traditional element of Mexican holidays!
A piñata is a hollow inside toy made using the papier-mâché technique. Various sweets are traditionally placed inside such a toy. The pint is hung on a string from a tree branch or other outdoor or indoor elements, the children are blindfolded with thick cloth, and by swinging the bat they must hit the body of this toy so that candy begins to fall out of it. After which you can take off the blindfold and quickly rush to collect sweets, the child who has collected the most sweets wins and is awarded a special prize, for example - a doll or a car, or the other children give him all the collected sweets.
How to make a piñata with your own hands.
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.
Angry Birds
The ball makes a very original do-it-yourself piñata in the style of the birds from the game Angry Birds. For the master class you will need the following:
- balloon – 1 pc.;
- filling – candies, small souvenirs;
- water – 1 tbsp. + 5 tbsp.;
- acrylic paints – red, white, black, beige;
- flour – 1/4 cup;
- red satin ribbon - to attach the piñata 1 pc.;
- newspaper and paper - 7-8 sheets.
The easiest way to make a red bird from Angry Birds is to paint a balloon made using the papier-mâché technique. This is done like this:
- Inflate the balloon, tie it, stick strips of newspaper moistened with water over the entire surface, and let the layer dry.
- Mix flour with a glass of water. Bring the rest of the liquid to a boil and then add the flour mixture to it. Cook for 3 minutes, let cool.
- Next, glue several layers of strips, preferably 2-3, made of paper, using paste. Each one should take about 8 hours to dry. Leave a hole near the tip that is not sealed.
- After drying, burst the ball and take it out. Make 3-4 holes around the perimeter and insert the tape. Fill the toy with filling and seal the hole.
- Outline the bird's face - eyes, beak and eyebrows, as shown in the photo, color.
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.
Golden heart
Such a piñata can be either voluminous, large, or compact. To make it you will need boxes, a glue gun, a knife or cutter, strong tape, metallized foil (Mylar film) of gold color or bright yellow tinsel.
We make the main blanks and sides of the future heart from cardboard. We connect the parts using a hot glue gun and attach a ribbon for hanging the souvenir.
All that remains is to fill the toy, decorate and hang it.
The stick for breaking a cardboard piñata should be quite heavy. If an adult breaks it, you can use a metal tube. If it is intended for a child, then it is better to take a wooden stick.
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.
Method two - from cardboard
This method is suitable if the piñata is planned not to be round, but, for example, in the shape of a heart. In this case, we need to cut out two hearts from cardboard, as well as a strip 15-20 cm wide, which will connect these two hearts into one volumetric one. We glue the corners with paper strips or tape, and then decorate them in the same way as in the first method.
A very important point is fastening. It must be made reliable so that it can withstand the weight of the product along with its contents. At the same time, the fastening should not damage the walls of the figure itself, so that surprises do not spill out ahead of time. As a fastener, you can use a hook made of strong wire or make a handle from several layers of wide tape.
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.
For the laziest
If you don’t have the desire or time to bother with cutting out shapes, you can take a ready-made cardboard box. A piñata can be made from any box you have at home. It is enough to put the gifts inside, tie the boxes crosswise with a rope (don’t forget to leave a loop for hanging) and cover the craft with colored paper.
And so that no one finds out that the piñata was made at the last moment, design it as if the square shape was conceived from the very beginning. Boys will certainly appreciate the “punching boxes” in the shape of Minecraft heroes. And what? Everything there is square, even a person, even a sword.
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.
A variety of ideas for decorating a children's party
On their birthday, every child, regardless of gender and age, expects a miracle, and a self-made piñata will help make the holiday memorable. Depending on the theme of the party being organized, you can make a toy of any shape and configuration:
- animal figures; traditionally in Mexico, piñatas are made in the shape of multi-colored donkeys and horses;
- geometric decorations with stickers, teardrop-shaped or spherical toys turn into snow drops or stars;
- three-dimensional letters and numbers, such piñatas will become an original gift for the birthday boy and will emphasize his individuality;
- figurines with the shapes of berries or fruits; it’s easy to make piñatas in the shape of strawberries or apples, pineapples and even huge bananas;
- symbolic forms, if the holiday is not for children, you can use any symbols, a New Year's ball or heart, a crescent moon.
Making a good holiday with fun entertainment is not difficult; it is important to choose the right shape of the piñata. It could be a pig or an owl, a large chocolate candy or a cracker with confetti, a multi-pointed star and a beautiful ball
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.
