I have been making pinatas for my daughters' birthdays for years now and just thought I'd share how I do it.

The first thing to do is buy one of those big bouncy balloons. I recommend using the big bouncy balloons because of their thickness and round shape, you can create any design using a round shape. I'm an artist, so I just draw out whatever character I want before I start. Recently, the bouncy balloons are harder to find so when you find them buy several.

Tear up a bunch of news paper, varying sizes,grab a small paint brush,make sure it's soft,if you don't have a paint brush that's fine you can use your hands.

Then you have to make some glue, here is the recipe:

Boil some water and add flour to it until you get a consistency a little thicker then gravy. Let it cool down to about room temp.

Then,I blow up the balloon, (keep the rubber-band part of the balloon on) and set it in a big bowl,you can use a strainer or a mixing bowl. The bowl will keep the balloon still for you. Put the rubber-band part up, it will be the top of your pinata.

Start applying your glue concoction with your brush or hand. Do this in small sections applying pieces of your torn up newspaper,make sure it's down good. Then repeat the same process, overlapping so entire balloon gets covered. You should get as close as you can to the top of the rubber-band part, as you can, with out covering it. When you cover what you can see then just turn the balloon over in your bowl and do the bottom.

Then, let this dry overnight. I hang mine up by the rubber-band from a hook in my ceiling. It takes about four days from start to finish to make a pinata.

Get some string, yarn will do and wrap the heck out of your pinata coming together at the top. After you have wrapped it get a stronger string like binder twine or you can double up with your yarn and insert it under all your strings,leave enough binder twine for your needs. If your gonna hang it from a tree then you will need a lot of binder twine. Then you can take the rubber band of and use your string to hang it after your next coat.

Repeat this process, applying your glue and paper right over your strings. Cover the whole thing again. Hang up by your string this time and let dry overnight again. Depending on how strong you want your pinata, you can chose to put another layer on, the more layers you have the stronger it will be. I usually put on three layers.

You can begin adding the fringe now. Start with tissue paper in what ever color you chose, cut it in strips about two inches wide it's up to you really. Apply the strips carefully using your glue. I usually go around the pinata gradually making my way up. Then I turn it over and do the same.

When the pinata is covered with fringe then hang it to dry again. Now your ready to cut an opening into your pinata. Cut close to the top kinda on the side so it can be covered easily, and then insert your candy or whatever you decide to fill it with close your opening. Your done. Now it's time for your kids to destroy all of your hard work.

Have fun and let the kids help. For pictures and instructional videos of this witch and more visit my blog