How to make a piñata:

• A newspaper
• Scissors
• A stapler
• A 12" x 12" sheet of aluminum foil
• Rubber cement
• A round balloon inflatable to eleven or twelve inches
• Strips of newspaper
• Wheat paste or liquid starch
• Aluminum wire
• Mailing tape
• 4 sheets of red tissue paper (about 20" x 30")
• 3 sheets of green tissue paper
• 1 sheet of white tissue paper
• Metallic ribbon in red, green, gold, and silver
• Plastic sheeting or newspaper for surface protection while covering the balloon

Procedure:

Use the pattern as a guide to make the five points of the star. The points should be made from four thicknesses of newspaper. Each one should measure seven inches on the straight sides. Staple the layers of newspaper together so that they do not shift when forming the points.

Use the tip pattern as a guide to make the tips of the points from aluminum foil. Each one should measure three inches on the straight sides. Use rubber cement to glue the tips to the still-flat points.

Once the tips have dried, roll the stapled layers of paper together to form the five points. Use the rubber cement to glue them together, overlapping the straight edges. Allow to dry.

Inflate the balloon to eleven or twelve inches and knot. Dip the newspaper strips in the paste/starch one by one and apply five full layers, leaving a three to four inch bare circle around the knot of the balloon.

Make cuts around the bottoms of the points (about one inch deep). Fold back the flaps formed by the cuts and glue the points onto the wet piñata, starting at the opening and gluing the first two points on each side of it. The remaining three points should follow a straight line down the piñata.

Allow the piñata to dry thoroughly. Deflate the balloon and remove it.

Run wire around the widest part of the piñata. Attach another strand of wire (perpendicularly) to the wire running around the piñata so as to form a handle, pressing the wire close to the piñata surface. Secure all of the wire (except the actual handle) with the mailing tape. The handle should come up over the opening in the piñata enough to allow it to be filled and so that the rope can pass through easily when the piñata is hung.

Make ruffling with the tissue paper and glue it to the outside of the piñata in layers, alternating between colors. Cover the parts of the points not covered in foil as well.

Make tassels with the foil ribbon and attach to the tips of the points with rubber cement.

Fill with treats. Hang on a hook or a pulley. Two people should handle the rope, pulling it to move the piñata around.

Each child who attempts to break the piñata with a long stick or plastic bat should be blindfolded. The piñata is struck until broken.