Make Your Own Piñata

1. Cover your work area with newspaper or a plastic tablecloth.


2. In a bowl, mix one part flour (2 cups) with one part water (2 cups), and add a tablespoon of salt to create your papier-mâché mixture. With a spoon, combine until blended to a batter-like texture.


3. Blow up a balloon to the preferred size of your piñata, and tie the end into a knot.


4. Tear up newspaper into thin strips, about 1-2” in width. Dip each strip into the papier-mâché mixture, dragging it against the bowl’s edge to remove excess moisture, and place each strip onto the balloon. Apply your strips in a crisscross pattern, leaving the knotted end of the balloon untouched.


5. Once the balloon has been covered with about 3-4 layers of newspaper, allow the form to dry.


6. When dried, hold the balloon’s knot, and use a pin or needle to pop it. Poke two holes into opposing ends of the top of your newly created shape, and string twine, string or rope through them to create your piñata’s loop for hanging.


7. Make another small batch of papier-mâché mixture, and use your leftover newspaper strips to cover up the top hole of your shape. Set the dry base in a clean bowl, and allow this new area to stiffen. Once dried, you’re ready to decorate!

Our Favorite Ways to Decorate Piñatas

• Colorful Cupcake Liners: Take a pack of patterned cupcake liners or choose a bright solid hue, then fold the top third of each liner down, and glue the folded portion to your papier-mâché sphere. Repeat this process until the entire shape is covered. To decorate with patterns like stripes or polka dots, get creative with your placement of solid-colored liners.

• Tissue Paper Texture: Cut out squares of tissue paper, then repeatedly cut into one end of each square to create a fringed appearance. Using a variety of colors, glue them to your shape to create a custom fringed look.

• Traditional Style: Decoupage your shape with tissue paper or thin, colored foil, then glue on solid-colored party hats, adding streamers to the tip of each cone.

• Repurposed: The pages of old books, maps, sheet music and magazines can be used to create truly unique piñatas. Try cutting your materials into squares, then place each square over the blunt end of a marker. This will create a cup-like shape with a base that can then be glued to your piñata. Cover your shape with this technique, and feel free to mix in a few of the previous decorating ideas.

Tip: To fill your piñata with candy, party favors or your own special surprise, use scissors to cut a flap into the side of your finished piñata. Pull the flap up to fill, then press down to hide the opening.

With so many techniques for decorating piñatas, the finished looks are nearly endless! Share how you plan to decorate your piñata by leaving a comment below.