Pinata Crafts

Kids love pinatas and there is no reason not to make one on Valentines Day too.

Material:

Heart shaped balloon
Newspaper cut into strips
Paper mache
Candy toys to add to the pinata

Am I the only parent that cringes at the thought of a Piñata at a party? They invariably cause tearful children and decapitated cartoon characters. However, with a pull string piñata and extra bags of goodies, a piñata can be a pleasant party activity.

Celebrate Thanksgiving by making this Turkey Pinata. This arts and crafts project will tell you how to make this Turkey Pinata craft. Celebrate Turkey Day with this fun fowl piñata

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:

Batch of papier-mâché
14-inch balloon, inflated
10-inch-wide bowl
1 two-page spread each of regular newspaper, comics, and plain newsprint, torn into 1 1/2- by 11-inch strips
String
9-inch orange balloon, inflated
Cloth tape
Black marker
White paper
Scissors
Yellow construction paper
9-inch red balloon, not inflated
20- by 30-inch sheets of tissue paper: 1 red, 1 yellow, 3 orange, 2 brown
Stapler
Glue
Wrapped hard candies

Hey kids, do you want to learn how to Make a Pinata with an easy-to-make arts and crafts project idea just for children just like you. This hot-air balloon pinata is great for first time makers and kids like you will love this easy and fun pinata tutorial -- and it makes for a nice big target for little pinateros.

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS NEED TO MAKE THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY:

14-inch balloon, inflated
10-inch bowl
One batch papier-mâché paste
1 two-page spread each of regular newspaper and the comic pages
32-oz. plastic yogurt container, cut in half horizontally
String
Hole punch
Glue stick
5 sheets of tissue paper in bright colors, cut
into 3 1/2-inch squares
4 lbs. of individually wrapped candies

Time needed: Afternoon or Evening
1. For stability while working, place the balloon in a 10-inch bowl. Fold the spread of newspaper in half and then in half again. Tear (don't cut) 1 1/2-inch-wide strips so they have a slightly rough edge (tearing along a straight edge works well). The rough edges help make a smooth overall surface. Drag a strip of newspaper through the papier-mâché paste, wipe off any excess with your fingers, and place it at an angle on the balloon. Place the second strip so that it slightly overlaps the first. Continue until the balloon has been covered with one layer of paper strips--except for a 2-inch square at the top, through which the candy will go. Give the papier-mâché up to 24 hours to dry. Cover your leftover paste with plastic wrap so it doesn't dry out (if it does, add warm water).

2. For the piñata's hanger, wrap the midpoint of a length of string (doubled up, if necessary) around the bottom of the balloon, pulling the ends up to the top; tape it to the balloon in a few places. Knot together the ends of the string 6 inches above the top. Tape the top half of the yogurt container to the bottom of the balloon. This will become the neck of the hot air balloon.

3. Cover the balloon (including the string), the neck and the bottom half of the yogurt container (which will become the hot air balloon basket) with a layer of strips of comics, placing them at a different angle from the first layer. (Using different colored strips lets you distinguish one layer from the next, ensuring a uniform overall thickness.) Allow the second layer to dry.

4. Cover the balloon, neck and basket with strips of plain newsprint going in a third direction. Smooth over any rough edges as you work. Allow the balloon to dry thoroughly.

5. Punch four holes into the neck of the hot air balloon and four into the basket. Attach string to the neck about 3 1/2 inches from the base of the balloon to later suspend the basket.

6. Dot the corners of a tissue square with a glue stick and place it just to the side of the 2-inch square on the top of the balloon. Follow with other squares in the same color, working your way diagonally down around the balloon. When you get to the bottom, start at the top again in another color, fitting the squares into a houndstooth pattern. If you want to add streamers, cut 2- by 30-inch lengths of tissue paper and glue them onto matching colored squares about halfway down.

7. Cover the basket with squares of tissue in different colors. Attach the basket to the balloon. Puncture the uncovered part of the balloon at the top of the piñata and remove all of the balloon fragments. Make sure the inside of the piñata is completely dry before you fill it, so the candy won't stick to the sides. Fill it about halfway with the candy. Cover the opening with some tissue squares, and your piñata is ready to hang.

Pinatas -Pinatas are a lot of fun to make and can be prepared quite a while ahead of the party. They make great arts and crafts for children of all ages. Kids love the activities that accompany pinatas and parents can spends quality time making crafts and buildiing memories. - Here are the pinata projects they have listed... Big Bird Piñata or Decoration - This beehive can be used as a piñata or just a decoration. If you want to use it as a decoration you don’t have to do the paper mache. Just tape the tissue paper to a white balloon.

This rather large paper mache bird makes a great friend or a rather nifty pinata. A great craft for older kids.

This is a more detailed arts and craft project. It is not a good "first time paper mache" project. If this is your first time using paper mache, try one of our other arts and crafts paper mache projects before attempting this one.

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS NEED TO MAKE THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY:

2 balloons
toilet paper rolls, gift wrap rolls and/or paper towel rolls
tape
newspaper ripped into strips
flour
glue
scissors
construction paper and/or tissue paper
OPTIONAL: feathers


Instructions:

Make the Feet

take a toilet paper roll, flatten it and fold it in half

tape it so it doesn't unfold

do this with 8 rolls.

Tape together the rolls to form bird feet shapes (three toes with one back toe)

the back toe helps to stabilize the bird so it doesn't fall over

Make 2 feet

Tape half a gift wrap roll or a paper towel roll onto each foot (I didn't have either, so just taped a few tp rolls together)

When taping tp rolls to the feet (and to the body later on), cut slits about 1 inch long and 1/2 inch apart all around the roll. Flatten the slits and use them to tape the rolls to the feet/body.

Tape everything VERY well.

Assemble the Frame
Stuff the roll full of newspaper. If you don't stuff it well, the project will get too mushy when you're paper maching it, and will start to collapse.

Blow up one balloon all the way. Tape the legs to it. This is the body.

Tape a paper towel roll to the top of the body. This is the neck.

Stuff the neck full of newspaper, again to keep it from getting mushy.

Blow up another balloon about 1/2 way. Tape it to the neck.

You can break for a day at this point if you like.

Read the tips to paper mache for how to make paste and tricks on maching.

Paper Mache:
Cover the entire bird with 2 to 4 layers of paper mache. You MUST do this in one sitting -- if you half mache a balloon it will pop when the mache starts to dry. If the project starts getting too mushy, just charge on -- lie it on its side if you have to. At this point you'll be very happy with yourself if you remembered to stuff the paper towel rolls full of newspaper -- it really helps keep everything supported!

Once the project dries, you can adjust the legs or neck by rewetting them with a damp cloth (or a second round of mache). This is sometimes necessary if you had to lie it on its side.

Let the project dry completely (12 to 24 hours depending on your humidity level)

If making a pinata, cut an opening in the top of the bird. Fill with candy. Tape shut. (Use a damp cloth to soften the mache if you have trouble cutting the opening).

Once dry, cover the entire bird with 2 to 4 more layers of paper mache. I like to use scrap white paper for this layer since it's easier to decorate.

Decorate the bird:
I'm going to tell you what we did, but the sky's the limit here! You can use feathers, paint, fake fur, tissue paper, felt, etc, etc. Older children, especially, will enjoy a pile of craft supplies and their imagination at this point.

We cut 4" x 8" strips of yellow construction paper and fringed them. We taped these (starting at the feet) all the way up both legs.

We cut "petal shaped" pieces of pink construction paper and glued them in a feather like way all over the body, neck and head.

We added purple feathers at the top of the head.

We added large google eyes.

We added a rolled cone of yellow construction paper as a beak.

Paper Bag Monster Pinata Craft - A easy-to-make pinata made from a paper bag and tissue paper. Pinatas are great at childrens parties and kids love to make the craft themselves for the parties.

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS NEED TO MAKE THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY:

A large paper bag
String
Tissue paper
Glue
Scissors
Crepe paper streamers
Optional: Googly eyes, paint

Fill a paper bag about half way with goodies (like candies and small toys).

Roll the top of the bag down, staple the folded top shut, and punch two holes along the top.

Cut strips of tissue paper and cut fringes in them.

Glue the fringes of tissue paper to the bag (glue along the top of the fringes).

Cover the bag with tissue paper.

Decorate with paper cut-outs, markers, paint, and/or googly eyes.

Tie a long string through the holes. You will eventually hang the pinata up using this string.

Glue long crepe paper streamers from the bottom of the pinata.

You now have a scary monster pinata. Hang it up and break it open with a soft bat (like a Nerf bat or a tightly-rolled-up and taped newspaper).

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS WILL NEED TO MAKE THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY:
Easter Bunny Pinata -

Materials Needed:

Large, Round Balloon
Newspaper
Paper Mache Paste
Masking Tape
Cardboard
Paint
Crepe Paper or Tissue Paper
String or Yarn

Instructions:
Make sure you cover you work surface well. I usually set down newspaper first and then wax paper on top of the newspaper. This is a very messy project!
Tear several newspaper pages into strips. You will want them 1 inch wide and about 6 - 8 inches long. Set them aside.

Use a large bowl to prepare your paper mache paste (Pick a recipe here). The paste will be sticky! I would suggest using a bowl that is easy to soak and clean (glass perhaps) or even a disposable bowl.

Blow up the balloon and tie it closed. Now you are ready to start with the paper mache! (To hold your ballon while you are working on it, you might want to try to set it in a cup or bowl that is covered with plastic wrap.)

Dip the newspaper strips into the glue and spread them onto the balloon. Completely cover the balloon, leaving a small hole at the top to remove the balloon and fill the pinata. Let the first layer dry.

Add two more layers of paper mache to your balloon. Allow each layer to dry completely before putting on the next layer. Once it is dry, pop the balloon and remove it through the opening you left at the top (If you cannot get the balloon out, don't worry about it too much - No one will see it).

You can now decorate your pinata to look like a bunny. The fastest way is to paint on the details, or cut the facial features out of construction paper.

You can color and texture to your bunny by using 3 inch squares of tissue paper. Spread some glue on your pinata. Hold the 4 corners of your tissue paper square together and then stick the center of the tissue paper square onto the glue. The 4 corners hould not touch the glue, they should remain sticking up.

To hang your pinata, poke 4 small holes evenly spaced around the larger hole in the top. Thread a piece of string, yarn, or even fishing line through each hole and tie the together at the top. Tie a longer piece of string onto the these.

Big Paper Mache Bird Kids Arts & Crafts Project Idea - This rather large paper mache bird makes a great friend or a rather nifty pinata.

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS NEED TO MAKE THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY:
2 balloons
toilet paper rolls, gift wrap rolls and/or paper towel rolls
tape
newspaper ripped into strips
flour
glue
scissors
construction paper and/or tissue paper
OPTIONAL: feathers

Beehive Piñata or Decoration Kids Arts & Crafts Project Idea Tutorial- This beehive can be used as a piñata or just a decoration. If you want to use it as a decoration you don’t have to do the paper mache. Just tape the tissue paper to a white balloon.

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS NEED TO MAKE THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY:
News print paper (the stuff used in packaging), white craft glue, (Elmer's Glue works well), Large round balloon, Petroleum jelly, Paint, white tissue paper, tape, strong nylon string, yellow paper, scissors, heavy duty thread.

How to Make a Pinata Kids Arts & Crafts Project Idea Tutorial - This hot-air balloon pinata is great for first time makers -- and it makes for a nice big target for little pinateros.

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS NEED TO MAKE THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY:
14-inch balloon, inflated
10-inch bowl
One batch papier-mâché paste
1 two-page spread each of regular newspaper and the comic pages
32-oz. plastic yogurt container, cut in half horizontally
String
Hole punch
Glue stick
5 sheets of tissue paper in bright colors, cut
into 3 1/2-inch squares
4 lbs. of individually wrapped candies

Make a Giant Peach Pinata Kids Arts & Crafts Project Idea Tutorial

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS NEED TO MAKE THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY:
# A large balloon
# Newspaper
# 1 cup of flour
# 1 1/2 cups of water
# 4 cups of boiling water
# Peach (or orange) tempera paint
# Paintbrush
# Masking tape
# Brown pipe cleaner (you may want to use more than one and glue them together)
# A knife (a craft knife will work best)

Papier-Mâché Piñata Kids Arts & Crafts Activity Idea Tutorial

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS NEED TO MAKE THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY:

* Large inflated balloon
* String
* Newsprint or other paper
* Papier-mâché paste
* Small toys and candy
* Crepe paper or tissue paper
* Paints