How to make a Piñata

It’s great to be back with something fresh and creative this rainy season.


Piñatas are vessels filled with gifts and treats to share with people at an event. The vessel is breakable and guests take turns to hit it in till it smashes and spills the goodies for the eager guests.

This tradition may have started out in China where clay pots filled with seeds were smashed towards a great harvest, or with the Aztec who had it as part of a celebration.

Party Piñatas today are made of cardboard and filled with candy and small toys for the guests to enjoy. We recently made a Unicorn shaped Piñata for a 10 year old birthday party and will share the making experience with you.

Materials Needed:

  1. Carton or Strong Cardboard
  2. Various colours of cardboard
  3. Craft Tissue - in the main colour of your piñata 
  4. Crepe Paper
  5. Paper
  6. Strong twine or rope
  7. Glue gun and sticks
  8. PVA Glue
  9. Glue stick
  10. Sticky tape

Steps:




Draw the outline of the shape for your piñata, in our case we drew the outline of the unicorn, skipping the horn.





Cut out the outline and trace this shape on another cardboard to get two pieces of the same outline. Cut out the second piece as well.

Cut strips of cardboard as wide as you want the piñata to be and as long as will go around the entire shape, this will make the thickness of the piñata. Roll the strip to soften it so its easy to bend along any curves or corners.


Plug the hot glue gun and allow to heat up, then use it to attach one edge of the strip along the outline of the piñata, go all the way around, leave a little space for the goodies to go in at the end.




Place the second outline piece on top and glue the lower part, in this case its the legs.

Secure the ropes that will be used to suspend the piñata - stack about 2 pieces of cardboard together and poke holes in them, then pass the twine through the holes and tie them up, secure the twine and cardboard with sticky tape to reinforce it, then poke holes through the upper sections of the piñata where you’ll be hanging it and attach the twine from the inside - the twine will be sticking out on the upper surface.


Once the twine is secured, close the upper section with sticky tape, tape the middle, top and bottom as well, this will help support the piñata so it can hold the weight of the goodies you’ll be adding later.


Next, mix some PVA glue and cover the entire piñata with strips of paper, this adds to the structure and neatens it up. Allow it to dry completely before going to the next step.



Once dry, cut strips of tissue in the colour you want and fringe it, then glue the strips all over the piñata. We added a little coloured cardboard to make the hooves.


Cut strips of crepe to make any embellishments, like the mane and tail. Add other embellishments like the horn, eyelashes and spots using coloured cardboard.

Fill the piñata with treats to delight and you’re done!

Find more crafting information on our YouTube page.
We are Africa’s Best Crafter ... #adonmu


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