Luau Pinata

More party prep…
So I decided to attempt a homemade piñata for T’s birthday party this year. I’m still not entirely sure why. I researched some information online and found there were basically 2 methods to do this: a) to cover a blown-up balloon with paper mache & crepe paper or b) to create a shape from thin cardboard and cover with paper mache & crepe paper. I decided method ‘b’ gave me more control over the shape/design so that’s the method I used.

Step 1- Formwork:
I created the formwork for the piñata using old cut-up clothing gift boxes, taped together. I added a stiffener (piece of cardboard) in the center as some tips I had read suggested, so the weight of the wet paper mache wouldn’t make it cave in. I realize now I should have added even more, perhaps 1 in each petal, rather than 1 in the center.


Steps 2,3,4- Paper Mache:
I covered the formwork with 3 separate layers of paper mache. This is just this strips of newspaper, dipped in a ‘glue’ mixture (2 parts warm water to 1 part flour), squeegee’d between my fingers and layered on the formwork. The first and last layer I used plain newspaper. For the middle layer I used colored ad’s, so I could easily make sure I was covering each previous layer. Between layers 2 and 3 I added a portion of a metal coat hanger to the top, to act as the hanging loop. I added a few extra layers around this, to help secure it in place.


Step 5:
Decorating. I used crepe paper to decirate the flower. I took a length of the crepe paper, folded it in half lengthwise to make a double layer, and then folded that in half in the opposite direction. I made lots of little ‘slits’ to make the fringe, and then pulled the 2 double-layer strips apart, so I had 2 lengths to add to the piñata. 2x the rewards for each effort. Sounds complicated and confusing, but it went pretty fast. I added the strips with a little Emler’s school glue at the top of the crepe paper, starting from the bottom of the flower and working my way up, overlapping each layer as I moved up.
I added a pale pink center and yellow step out of tissue paper I had lying around the house.

Total cost for the piñata: $2 (for the hot pink crepe paper). Plus another $15 to fill it with candy of course.

Luau party banner

I made this banner for Taylor’s upcoming Hawaiian luau birthday party. It was free to make, if you consider that all the paper came from my stash. I had bought a “stack” of colorful We Are Memory Keepers paper a year or so ago and only used it on 1 layout. It’s more colorful than I’d normally use and it came with 3 or 4 sheets of each pattern/solid so it was just sitting there collecting dust. The colors worked for her party, so I went with it. I used a good handful of white cardstock from my stash to back each pennant as well. I borrowed the “Life’s a Beach” Cricut cart from a friend and used it for the hibiscus flowers and the bamboo letters. I borrowed some punches and dies from another friend for the large scallops, ribbon slots and smaller punched flowers. I was planning on using ribbon to tie each pennant together but then remembered I had bought some raffia grass skirts so I grabbed a few strands from one and used them in place of ribbon. I’m so glad I thought of that, it really added a nice tropical touch! I plan to hang this in 1 long run (3 “swoops, 1 for each word) along the top of our fence behind the pool. I threw them up on the wall like this just for the purpose of a quick photo.
Coming up… a homemade piñata, cardboard surfboards and goody bags.