Skill Level
Beginner
Time to Make
1+ day
Adult Supervision
Yes
Top Tip
Allow plenty of time to make the 2 halves for an egg-shaped piñata. To fully dry one half can take up to 48 hours. Leaving it somewhere warm to help the layers dry more quickly. If you have 2 matching bowls, you can make 2 halves at the same time. A plastic or glass mixing bowl can be used to make the piñata. Wash the bowl thoroughly in warm soapy water after making the pinata to remove any leftover glue. If your bowl has a flat base, the papier-mâché can be made into a curved egg shape by adding some scrunched up newspaper with some glued strips over the top. Just do this at the top of the egg, as the base needs to be cut away into a flap.
How to Make
- This egg-shaped piñata is made from two halves. For one half, tear some newspaper sheets into strips. Spread a layer of PVA glue in a mixing bowl and then start gluing the newspaper to build up 3-4 layers. Smooth out each layer of newspaper and coat with more glue until the bowl is completely covered. Continue with the layers just above the top of the bowl. Leave the bowl to dry for several hours or preferably overnight and then add 3-4 more layers of PVA and newspaper. Leave to dry.
- When the top edge of the newspaper has dried, carefully start to pull it away from the sides of the mixing bowl. If the papier-mâché mould sticks to the sides of the bowl, leave it to dry for a few more hours. Once the papier-mâché mould has been lifted out of the bowl, allow it to dry thoroughly as it may not be completely dry at this stage. To dry the outside completely, turn the mixing bowl upside down and place the papier-mâché mould on top to support it.
- Repeat the process to make another half egg mould in the same way and with the same size mixing bowl.
- When both halves are completely dry, cut off the tops to keep the moulds clean. Cut a flap in the bottom of one of the papier-mâché moulds. This half will form the bottom of the piñata.
- Place the two halves together and stick them together with masking tape. Stick a layer of newspaper strips over the tape so that the 2 halves are securely connected. Leave them to dry.
- Cover the piñata with white paint, you can also use a different colour so that the newspaper strips don't show through the holes in the doilies. Leave them to dry.
- Cut some coloured paper doilies into quarters. How many you need to cover the piñata depends on its size. Place the piñata upside down in the mixing bowl to keep it steady. Spread a small amount of glue on each doily and then start sticking them on the sides so that they overlap. You can arrange the doilies in stripes of the same colour or mix different colours. When half of the piñata is covered, turn it over in the bowl.
- Before you cover the second half, tie a piece of ribbon into a bow and stick it to the top of the piñata. Cover the rest of the piñata with doilies, including a few pieces to cover the ends of the ribbon. You may need to cut the doilies into slightly smaller pieces so that they fit together at the top. Leave them to dry.
- Open the flap at the bottom of the piñata and poke several small holes in the papier-mâché using pointed scissors or a pointed tool. Push 40 cm long ribbons through the holes. Tie a double knot in one of the ribbons in the flap and stick it in place with a dab of glue.
- Fill the piñata with sweets or small Easter eggs and close the flap. Hang up the piñata. Take turns pulling on the ribbons; the knotted ribbons are the only part that can open the flap.
Share
×You can copy this link into emails, text messages or post on social media.
Share now