Learning how to make pinatas

In this lens you will find the information needed to create your own masterpiece.
This process uses lots of creativity, imagination, art and sculpting, with a whole lot of improvisation along the way. While making the piñata you have to use your creativity to decorate it and the use of ingenious ways to correct problems that may arise.

I will share a detailed step by step tutorial on how I create piñatas. This is the way I make my own but it should only serve you as a guide to your own approach on how to make piñatas. Through this process you'll find yourself doing some things a little different, and that's O.K. Sometimes you have to improvise with changes to make things work and look beautiful. .

1) The first thing you need to do is to decide what shape it will be. I always draw a sketch, and write down the colors to be used and the pose. You can also find a picture of the character or shape you want. This sketch or picture will be your guide.

2) Imagine this shape in 3D, or as a sculpture. I use balloons as the core of my piñatas. The number of balloons will depend on the different body parts that the shape requires. For example, if it's a human figure, I will need a balloon for the head, another one for the torso and one for the abdomen. For the other body parts I use newspaper or cardboard. All of these parts will be attached together to form the final sculpture.

Now that you know what shape your piñata will have, you are ready to start this journey.

1.Balloons
2.Newspaper
3.Cardboard or empty cereal boxes
4.Scissors
5.Strong string/thin rope
6.Glue
7.Crepe paper
8.Tape

The glue I use to make the pinatas is made out of flour and water. You can use white school glue, but I find it to be too expensive when making big piñatas. When I started, I used to buy the 1 gallon size, but later found this other method, which is much cheaper.

This will give a lot of glue to make a full body shaped pinata. If it's a small shape, you can use half of the amounts.

1.- Put 3 cups of water into a pot on the stove and bring to boil.
2.- While the water in the pot is reaching the boiling point, mix 1 cup of room temperature water with 1 cup of flour. Mix well to remove any lumps, you can strain it thru a collander.
3.- Add the cold water mixture to the boiling water, and stir to prevent the glue to stick to the bottom. Let boil for a few minutes, and turn the stove off.
4.- Add a few tablespoons of salt to help prevent mold.
5.- When the mixture is cool, it will be ready to use.

You can store this glue in a covered container, it lasts around 2-3 days.