Ladybug Pinata

A Summer Party Planner craft

Materials:

• Flour (2 cups)
• Water (1 cup)
• Newspaper or tissue paper (cut into strips)
• Acrylic or craft paint
• Construction paper
• Pipe cleaners
• Wire hanger pole
• Bat or Stick
• Blindfold

Paper-maché base:

Mix 2 cups of flour with 1 cup of water until it forms a paste.

Blow up the balloon to a desired size and shape.

Cut up the newspaper or tissue paper into strips (about 6 inches long and 2 inches wide)

Dip one strip of paper into the paste and smooth it onto the balloon. Repeat until the entire balloon is covered. It's probably best to apply several layers of paper to the balloon to make the piñata stronger. (Make sure to leave one end open a bit so that you can insert candies and toys into the hole later.)

Let the whole thing dry. This may take about a day.

When the paper is almost dry, pop the balloon and pull it out from the paper-maché form.

Insert a hanger. You might have to bend it to get it though the hole. Poke the curved part of the hanger up through the side of the paper-maché form. You may have to straighten this part too, and then re-bend it once it is though the maché.

Once the piñata is fully dry, insert candies into the open hole. Cover up the hole by adding the remaining paper strips and paste. Allow the piñata to dry completely.

Painting the piñata:

Apply red paint to the entire outside of the piñata and wait for it to dry.

Paint on the black spots.

Paint the head black.

Making the legs:

Cut out rectangular shapes from the black construction paper leaving a small latch at the top of one end. You will need six rectangles, one for each leg.

Roll and glue the rectangles into tubes leaving the latch free at the top.

Glue the latch onto the sides of the piñata to create the legs.

Final touches:

Glue the head to the body. You can use a ball or paper-maché a smaller balloon for the head.

Cut out eyes from the construction paper and glue them to the head.

Curl pipe cleaners to make the antennae and glue them in between the head and body.

Game:

Hang the piñata up on a clothesline or from a pole by the metal hanger. Play the game outside or in an open area to avoid things getting broken.

Make sure everyone stands back from the piñata, except for the child who will attempt to break it.

Blindfold the child and point them in the direction of the piñata. Give them a pole, bat or stick to take swings at the dangling piñata in an attempt to break it open. Children can take turns being blindfolded until someone breaks open the piñata.

Once the piñata breaks the candies will fall out and the game is over.