How To Make A Ball Pinata

You will need:

• One large balloon
• 6 cups water
• 1/4 cup flour
• A large amount of newspaper (Sunday funnies are great!)
• Paint
• Tape
• Scissors

Start by making the paste: Bring 5 cups of water to a gentle boil. While the water is coming to a boil, in a separate bowl mix 1 cup water and 1/4 cup flour. Add water-flour mixture slowly to boiling water and boil entire mixture for three minutes. Remove from stove to cool. While paste cools, cut or tear up newspaper in strips and blow up the balloon, tying off the end.

After the paste has cooled, dip the newspaper strips in paste and begin to wrap the newspaper strips around the balloon, making several smooth overlapping layers. Leave a small hole where the balloon ties so that you can later cut an opening to add candy or party favors. When you are done wrapping the balloon, allow it to dry till hard.

When the pasted strips have dried, paint the pinata the desired color. You may also want to decorate the pinata with glitter, stickers, or other decorative items.

When the paint and other decorations you may have added have dried, pop the balloon through the small whole you left near the tie. Then cut a small opening just big enough to add your candy or party favors. After filling the pinata, seal the opening with tape and while doing so, tape a string to the top so that you may later hang the pinata.

Written by Kimberly Hargis

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