Comments on: Reader Needs Help With Pinata http://ultimatepapermache.com/papier-mache-art/paper-mache-pinata Animal Sculptures and Advanced Paper Mache Projects. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:21:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Kim http://ultimatepapermache.com/papier-mache-art/paper-mache-pinata/comment-page-1#comment-4142 Kim Wed, 22 Sep 2010 00:48:41 +0000 http://ultimatepapermache.com/?p=730#comment-4142 I am glad I found this!! Thanks to those of you who shared their experiences - this is my first time making a pinata, and I have to say, it is WAY more fun than I thought it would be. Who knew you could enjoy flour and water so much?! I am making a large Jack O'Lantern pinata for my Halloween party as there will be no Trick-or-Treating the night of the party...I figured it'd be a nice change for the kiddos. The foundation is one of those punching balloons...I've got three layers on it - based on what you've all shared, I think that should be plenty strong enough to withstand 9 eager ghouls :) I hope it goes over as well as I imagine it will - fingers crossed! I'll try to remember to post a follow-up after the party...it'll definitely be posted on my blog! Thanks again for sharing your experiences!! I am glad I found this!!

Thanks to those of you who shared their experiences – this is my first time making a pinata, and I have to say, it is WAY more fun than I thought it would be. Who knew you could enjoy flour and water so much?!

I am making a large Jack O’Lantern pinata for my Halloween party as there will be no Trick-or-Treating the night of the party…I figured it’d be a nice change for the kiddos. The foundation is one of those punching balloons…I’ve got three layers on it – based on what you’ve all shared, I think that should be plenty strong enough to withstand 9 eager ghouls :)

I hope it goes over as well as I imagine it will – fingers crossed! I’ll try to remember to post a follow-up after the party…it’ll definitely be posted on my blog!

Thanks again for sharing your experiences!!

]]> By: Kirk http://ultimatepapermache.com/papier-mache-art/paper-mache-pinata/comment-page-1#comment-2880 Kirk Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:59:26 +0000 http://ultimatepapermache.com/?p=730#comment-2880 Had to laugh at the pinata experience. For my daughter's 8th birthday party I made a world globe pinata out of about 4 layers of paper mache over a balloon. Since the party was the next day I cooked it in the oven to dry it fast. I thought it would be destroyed after a few whacks. Well, was I surprised when after about 2 turns for each of the 8 kids present the pinata was still intact!! Everytime one of them hit it there was a loud smack but no damage other than some slight denting. Eventually the holes through which the string holding up the pinata were threaded ripped and the pinata crashed to the ground. The kids finally smashed it open on the lawn with the stick and scrambled for the spilled candy. They loved it and I had gained a whole new respect for the strength of paper mache! Had to laugh at the pinata experience. For my daughter’s 8th birthday party I made a world globe pinata out of about 4 layers of paper mache over a balloon. Since the party was the next day I cooked it in the oven to dry it fast. I thought it would be destroyed after a few whacks. Well, was I surprised when after about 2 turns for each of the 8 kids present the pinata was still intact!! Everytime one of them hit it there was a loud smack but no damage other than some slight denting. Eventually the holes through which the string holding up the pinata were threaded ripped and the pinata crashed to the ground. The kids finally smashed it open on the lawn with the stick and scrambled for the spilled candy. They loved it and I had gained a whole new respect for the strength of paper mache!

]]> By: Brooke http://ultimatepapermache.com/papier-mache-art/paper-mache-pinata/comment-page-1#comment-2207 Brooke Sun, 21 Feb 2010 22:33:21 +0000 http://ultimatepapermache.com/?p=730#comment-2207 Next time you make a pinata, depending on the size, you could try to use a thin gage of chicken wire as the sculpting base. Push and mush the wire into the desired shape, then use wire cutters to snipe a few open areas. cover with paper mache and tissue paper. This works well on the larger designs and gives it the sturdy whackablity that the kids love. Next time you make a pinata, depending on the size, you could try to use a thin gage of chicken wire as the sculpting base. Push and mush the wire into the desired shape, then use wire cutters to snipe a few open areas. cover with paper mache and tissue paper. This works well on the larger designs and gives it the sturdy whackablity that the kids love.

]]> By: Suzanne http://ultimatepapermache.com/papier-mache-art/paper-mache-pinata/comment-page-1#comment-2036 Suzanne Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:12:07 +0000 http://ultimatepapermache.com/?p=730#comment-2036 Hello Everyone! The party was a huge success! The pinatas varied, but each took between 4-10 whacks before breaking. Some kids were upset they didn't get a swing at it, while others just wanted the goods inside. I ended up doing 2 layers of paper mache, spray painting with that faux stone flecked paint, adding some really cool details with acrylics, then sprayed on a triple thick gloss coating. Thank you to everyone for your advice and help with this project! Hello Everyone!

The party was a huge success! The pinatas varied, but each took between 4-10 whacks before breaking. Some kids were upset they didn’t get a swing at it, while others just wanted the goods inside. I ended up doing 2 layers of paper mache, spray painting with that faux stone flecked paint, adding some really cool details with acrylics, then sprayed on a triple thick gloss coating. Thank you to everyone for your advice and help with this project!

]]> By: Sarah http://ultimatepapermache.com/papier-mache-art/paper-mache-pinata/comment-page-1#comment-1983 Sarah Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:32:02 +0000 http://ultimatepapermache.com/?p=730#comment-1983 That's a really good idea! P.S what's up with the whole cookie monster thing??? That’s a really good idea!

P.S what’s up with the whole cookie monster thing???

]]> By: Cookie Monster http://ultimatepapermache.com/papier-mache-art/paper-mache-pinata/comment-page-1#comment-1982 Cookie Monster Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:30:25 +0000 http://ultimatepapermache.com/?p=730#comment-1982 My Advice is to mix some glue into the mixture or to put more flour in. The less water has to dry, the faster your sculpture will be finished. -CoOkIe MoNsTeR <33333333 My Advice is to mix some glue into the mixture or to put more flour in. The less water has to dry, the faster your sculpture will be finished.

-CoOkIe MoNsTeR <33333333

]]> By: Tom http://ultimatepapermache.com/papier-mache-art/paper-mache-pinata/comment-page-1#comment-1935 Tom Sun, 24 Jan 2010 04:51:04 +0000 http://ultimatepapermache.com/?p=730#comment-1935 well i cant help much on how to strengthen your project as i am just getting into working with paper mache...however i would think the best way to go with drying something that large without melting your trash bags would be a hair dryer and a fan. my hair dryer has a "cool" button on it so it wont heat the air up as it blow dries....ive used it to help speed up the drying process and i usually use regular latex balloons for my projects and trying to dry the item without popping the balloon has always been problematic when im in a time crunch. im not sure how common it is for hair driers to have a cool button but if you have one i suggest using that. i know its not much help but there ya go....hope the party goes well! well i cant help much on how to strengthen your project as i am just getting into working with paper mache…however i would think the best way to go with drying something that large without melting your trash bags would be a hair dryer and a fan. my hair dryer has a “cool” button on it so it wont heat the air up as it blow dries….ive used it to help speed up the drying process and i usually use regular latex balloons for my projects and trying to dry the item without popping the balloon has always been problematic when im in a time crunch. im not sure how common it is for hair driers to have a cool button but if you have one i suggest using that. i know its not much help but there ya go….hope the party goes well!

]]> By: Ann http://ultimatepapermache.com/papier-mache-art/paper-mache-pinata/comment-page-1#comment-1868 Ann Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:29:23 +0000 http://ultimatepapermache.com/?p=730#comment-1868 If you really need the eggs to be sturdier, about 3 layers of mache, the paste type or diluted Elmer's glue and water are good for this type of work. The suggestion of tissue paper over the top is a good one, and the paint will add more strength than you might realize. If you go any more than that, they will be rocks instead of pinatas, and very hard to break... Trust me, I am speaking from my own pinata making experiences!!! I really hope that helps! If you really need the eggs to be sturdier, about 3 layers of mache, the paste type or diluted Elmer’s glue and water are good for this type of work. The suggestion of tissue paper over the top is a good one, and the paint will add more strength than you might realize. If you go any more than that, they will be rocks instead of pinatas, and very hard to break… Trust me, I am speaking from my own pinata making experiences!!! I really hope that helps!

]]> By: Ann http://ultimatepapermache.com/papier-mache-art/paper-mache-pinata/comment-page-1#comment-1867 Ann Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:21:48 +0000 http://ultimatepapermache.com/?p=730#comment-1867 First off, let me ask you a serious question: why so many whacks? So you give each kid one whack, I am assuming. But is that really necessary? They are seven-year-olds! They will get bored or frustrated long before the last one swings, especially when you take into consideration the fact that each one will need to change places, get blindfolded and positioned, etc. between tries. All that will take considerable time, and while it would take up a chunk of time during the alloted birthday party time, I would suggest you make the eggs with as few layers as possible to hold them together until the event, thin mache layers, 3 tops, and the paint will do amazing things to hold them in place. Hype up the fun, and when the candy flies in 5 whacks instead of 13, let them scream and eat their well earned booty... I don't mean to be a party pooper, far from it! I just have a bit of experience with kids that little, and the fun needs to be compacted into short bursts, or their poor little over-active bodies go into melt down. First off, let me ask you a serious question: why so many whacks? So you give each kid one whack, I am assuming. But is that really necessary? They are seven-year-olds! They will get bored or frustrated long before the last one swings, especially when you take into consideration the fact that each one will need to change places, get blindfolded and positioned, etc. between tries. All that will take considerable time, and while it would take up a chunk of time during the alloted birthday party time, I would suggest you make the eggs with as few layers as possible to hold them together until the event, thin mache layers, 3 tops, and the paint will do amazing things to hold them in place. Hype up the fun, and when the candy flies in 5 whacks instead of 13, let them scream and eat their well earned booty… I don’t mean to be a party pooper, far from it! I just have a bit of experience with kids that little, and the fun needs to be compacted into short bursts, or their poor little over-active bodies go into melt down.

]]> By: Suzanne http://ultimatepapermache.com/papier-mache-art/paper-mache-pinata/comment-page-1#comment-1785 Suzanne Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:07:37 +0000 http://ultimatepapermache.com/?p=730#comment-1785 Thank you so much everybody! I really appreciate the advice... and so quick too! So far, everything is going well. What I can tell Joey, who may be thinking of doing this sometime... is to use a punch balloon instead of plastic bags. It will give you a perfectly round egg - much better than the trash bag idea. And, it will be a lot smaller, too! These pinatas I have made a REALLY big - and they will not fit in an oven, dryer or anything else. Because of the size, I decided against Modge Podge (only due to cost as otherwise I think that really would have been the way to go). I'll remember that next time I make a SMALLER pinata. I have filled them up with candy and little stuffed animal dinosaur babies, and just added some pieces here and there where I thought it was not hard enough. I'm really hoping that the fan I have on them now will allow me to add another layer to the top (where I filled in the pinatas) late tonight as tomorrow is the ONLY day I can paint them. For some reason, spray paint needs 50 degree temps. After that base coat of paint is dried, I will add details, like a giant crack in the egg and claws and eyes, etc... Then, back outside to varnish it. Another great suggestion - thank you Pamela. Thank you so much everybody for your great suggestions. What I wasn't able to do this time, I will next time! Thank you so much everybody! I really appreciate the advice… and so quick too! So far, everything is going well. What I can tell Joey, who may be thinking of doing this sometime… is to use a punch balloon instead of plastic bags. It will give you a perfectly round egg – much better than the trash bag idea. And, it will be a lot smaller, too! These pinatas I have made a REALLY big – and they will not fit in an oven, dryer or anything else. Because of the size, I decided against Modge Podge (only due to cost as otherwise I think that really would have been the way to go). I’ll remember that next time I make a SMALLER pinata. I have filled them up with candy and little stuffed animal dinosaur babies, and just added some pieces here and there where I thought it was not hard enough. I’m really hoping that the fan I have on them now will allow me to add another layer to the top (where I filled in the pinatas) late tonight as tomorrow is the ONLY day I can paint them. For some reason, spray paint needs 50 degree temps. After that base coat of paint is dried, I will add details, like a giant crack in the egg and claws and eyes, etc… Then, back outside to varnish it. Another great suggestion – thank you Pamela. Thank you so much everybody for your great suggestions. What I wasn’t able to do this time, I will next time!

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