Let Me Tell You About Piñatas...

A few years ago I discovered something amazing. It happened when I was planning my daughter's birthday party. She wanted a piñata, so I looked online. I found some decent ones, but I just couldn't bring myself to actually pay $20 or more for something that was going to be smashed to pieces. It just didn't make sense. So what did I do? I decided to make my own.
And guess what?
I enjoyed it! I've always loved papier mâché, but I hadn't considered the possibilities of what I could do in terms of piñatas. Ever since it has become a staple for our birthday parties (there will be more on those at another time). The joy of making your own piñata is that you can do exactly what you want for your theme:

  

 My daughter wanted a cat Beanie Boo party. Pretty obscure, right? This was made using 2 balloons for the head and body, bunched up newspaper as the ears and muzzle, and some toilet paper tubes for the legs. Finish it off with acrylic paint and tissue paper. Bam! You have your own piñata.

  Of course my other daughter had to follow suit a few months later with the whole idea of a Beanie Boo. Same concept. Add a horn with bunched up newspaper as well.

Don't want a giant piñata? No problem. For our Pokémon-themed birthday party I had something else planned....

 That's right. Individual piñatas that look like Poké Balls. For these I used water balloons (and no, there was not water in the balloons before I did the papier mâché). I actually put little souvenirs inside and we had the kids go outside and throw them in order to break them open. I made a second set with nothing inside so that the kids could take one home as well.

Are balloons the only option? Heavens no! My son is a big car fanatic, so I have done a car and a monster truck for him. Check these out:

 

I learned some things about this car one here. It was my first attempt at building a cardboard frame first. Notice how the sides caved in. It didn't matter because the thing was smashed hours later anyway, but I like to learn from my mistakes.

A year later, I attempted what has become my favourite piñata: the monster truck!

 

 Here it is before the paint job. I built the frame out of cardboard like last time, and I used dowel rods to attach the wheels. While it was drying I stuffed it with plastic bags. That was the key to preventing the sides from caving in.

 And there's the finished product. I had to remind myself to not spend too much time painting this baby because it would be destroyed. It was hard. I genuinely enjoy making these though. Do my kids ask me to make them elaborate? No!!! Something you need to understand about me. I LOVE making things. This is my stress relief. So don't go thinking my kids are spoiled punks with high expectations. It's just not so.

If you have any questions about making one of these guys, let me know. I'd love to offer tips, ideas...whatever I can. I'm no expert. This post sums up my experience with piñata making, but I know there will be many more to come in my future.

Just have fun!!!