Who doesn’t love a pinata at a party!?!? I had pinatas at our All Saints Day party years ago when we hosted them at my house, but now we have our parties at the school gym and I just couldn’t find a spot to hang a pinata! For years I just didn’t have a pinata at the party, but I really wanted one. So last year I decided if I wanted a pinata I was going to have to be creative. After a lot of thought I decided to make a ball pinata that the kids could kick around!
It worked great!!
But a note to anyone who wants to try this…
give the smaller kids a turn to kick the ball first!
give the smaller kids a turn to kick the ball first!
You will need:
- Printable Instructions (if desired)
- a balloon
- news paper
ripped or cut into 1 inch by 6 inch strips (approximate) - paper mache
whisk 1 3/4 cups of flour and 2 cups cold water in large bowl - masking tape or painters tape
- red, black, and white acrylic paint
- candy or toys to stuff inside
Blow-up your balloon and tie the end in a knot.
Dip your newspaper strips into the paper mache mixture. Run each of the paper mache, covered, strips between two fingers to pull off the excess batter. Lay the strip over the balloon in a criss-cross pattern. Continue to do this till you have the balloon well covered with 4 or more heavy layers of newspaper.
Dip your newspaper strips into the paper mache mixture. Run each of the paper mache, covered, strips between two fingers to pull off the excess batter. Lay the strip over the balloon in a criss-cross pattern. Continue to do this till you have the balloon well covered with 4 or more heavy layers of newspaper.
Be sure to leave a 2-3 inch area of the balloon exposed so you can add the candy later. (I used the tied area of the balloon as my exposed area, it’s easiest!) If you have bigger kids in the group you will want more layers of paper mache strips to make the pinata harder to break.
Once it’s covered, place it in a warm dry spot to dry.
Hint: Place it on a paper bowl or old cap to keep it from rolling away! 😉 but be sure to change the spot which is down occasionally, so it can dry completely.
It will take a few days to a week (maybe more, depending on how wet you made it).
Hint: Place it on a paper bowl or old cap to keep it from rolling away! 😉 but be sure to change the spot which is down occasionally, so it can dry completely.
It will take a few days to a week (maybe more, depending on how wet you made it).
After it’s dry, pop the balloon (If it didn’t pop already) and remove it.
Add your candy and toys.
Add your candy and toys.
Now use tape to cover your hole, so the candy can’t fall out. You will want a heavy layer of tape.
Now use acrylic paint to paint over the whole paper mache ball.
Now use acrylic paint to paint over the whole paper mache ball.
I used a mixture of red and black on mine.
First paint it red and then lightly go over top with black.
Hint: Use a paper bowl or old cap to keep it from rolling away as you paint.
First paint it red and then lightly go over top with black.
Hint: Use a paper bowl or old cap to keep it from rolling away as you paint.
When the red/black layer of paint was dry I painted on a devil’s face.
If you don’t feel you can paint one than just find a picture of a devil to glue onto the pinata.
You may want to cover the picture with a layer of Modge-Podge or white glue to make it smooth enough to roll.
You may want to cover the picture with a layer of Modge-Podge or white glue to make it smooth enough to roll.
At the party let the kids take turns kicking the Pinata!
(First, be sure to give each child a bag for the goodies! I used plastic lunch bags.)
If you have a group of energetic kids have them yell “NO!!” as the Pinata is kicked!!
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| St. Michael crushing the head of Satan! (After the “Saints” were done kicking it!) |
His was a fun activity at our All Saints Day Party!
My kids are asking for it again this year!
May God Bless you all with a peaceful day!
~Jen-Marie
January Liturgical Ornament - Felt Patterns - PDF Download