Hello Kitty Pinanta

My daughter wants a Hello Kitty themed party for her birthday,  so I decided to get started on the decorations.  We have a tradition in our family that the kids get a pinata for their birthday party, so a Hello Kitty pinata is the project!

I started out with a small hello kitty pattern that I enlarged on a copier to the size that I wanted the pinata to be.

Then trace the pattern twice on a heavy piece of cardboard.

Next, cut out the cardboard patterns.

Then cut some 3 inch strips of cardboard that will be used to go around the pattern

Use part of one of the cardboard strips to make a circle, triangle, or whatever shape you want.  You are going to glue this in the middle of the inside of the cardboard shape.  This makes the pinata sturdy, so when you add the wet paper mache, the pinata will not become concave when it drys.

Next, glue the cardboard strips around the outside of the pattern, leaving a 2 - 3 inch gap in the perimeter so you have a place to put in the candy!

This is what the pinata will look like before you add the paper mache.

Now for the fun part - goooooooey paper mache.

First take some newspaper and rip it into 2 - 3 inch strips.

Now it is time to mix the paper mache paste.

This is what you will need:
Flour
Water
Cinnamon (optional)

Mix the water and flour together in a 2 to 1 ratio.  For example, mix 1 cup flour with 2 cups water.  I use warm water because I like it better.  I also add a little bit of cinnamon to the mix.  I do not like the smell of the water and flour mix  -  cinnamon makes is so much more pleasant!
I use my cheap project mixer to mix the lumps out.

Next, dip the newspaper strips in the paste and run it through your fingers to get most of the excess paste off.

Then lay the paper strips on the pinata.

This is what it looks like when you finish.

You will need to let it dry overnight.

.

I usually do a couple layers of newspaper and then add a layer of printer or construction paper that is the same color that I will paint the pinata.  You can see the cinnamon now, put you won't see it after it is painted.

Then, paint the pinata.

Next, cut 3/4 inch slits about 1/2 inch apart on a streamer.  Then, wrap the streamer around the pinata and glue it down.

Next, make the eyes, nose, whiskers, and bow for Hello Kitty.

Lastly, glue on the eyes, nose, whiskers and bow!

I hope my daughter will love it!

I have made several pinatas for my kids birthdays over the years.  You can make them any theme you want and they turn out really neat and the kids love them!  Here are a few:

What type of pinata would you make?

Thanks so much for stopping by!

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