Construction Themed Birthday Party: Pinata Tutorial

As promised, the pinata tutorial...finally.

Making a pinata is way easier than it may seem. Here's what you need...

Internal support {I used an empty milk jug and a balloon. An inflated balloon is perfect for a round pinata. Just pop it once the pinata has set.}
Flour
Water
Newspaper
Acrylic paint
Crepe paper
Elmer's glue
Candy

Since I was making a construction cone, I started out by making a paper cone and fitting it over an empty milk jug and a small balloon to hold its shape. The whole contraption is sitting on an upside down bowl that was covered with plastic bag.

Then, I cut 2 inch wide strips of newspaper. For the paper mache paste, I used 1 part water to 5 parts flour. See the recipe here.
To apply the newspaper strips, drag them first through the paste. Squeeze off any excess paste and then apply the strips to the paper cone.
Once you've completed one layer of paper strips, let it dry before adding the second (and final) layer.
Note: don't close up the top of the pinata with paper mache. Leave it open just like a typical safety cone would have an opening in the top. You'll need this later to fill it with candy.
When the paper mache cone was totally dry, I cut slits along the bottom so it would fan out and attach to the bottom square.
And for the bottom square, I simply cut out a square from a cereal box and paper mached it with the newspaper and paste. To attach it to the cone's bottom, I stapled it and then covered it with paper mache to make the seams smooth.

How many times can I type paper mache in this post?! Sheesh.

Paint the dried pinata with acrylic paint.
After the paint is dry, use Elmer's glue to attach 2 inch pieces of crepe paper in overlapping rows. Cut fringe in the crepe paper pieces.

We filled the pinata through the opening in the top. {Sorry for the blur.}
To hang it, drill two holes through the top, about 1.5 inches from the top edge. Thread cotton string through, tie it, and hang from a tree.
And the best part, busting it open and watching the kiddos scramble for candy!