This project might be my favorite thing I’ve seen in a long time. We love smiley faces around here and we just had to make a giant round smiley face pinata. Perfect for any happy party or if you need to get some aggression out it even works for when you’re in a bad mood and want to hit a smiley face with a bat. Ha!

Pinatas are easy to make but you need a day or two to make sure the papier mache dries. This smiley face is so iconic and happy it will be hard to bring a stick to it.

Materials needed: 3’ Balloon, newspaper, flour, water, large bowl, white spray paint, x-acto knife, twine, gaffers tape, tissue paper (in buttercup), scissors, hot glue gun, black cardstock

Step 1: Inflate a 3’ balloon. Tape down the knotted part of the balloon for a completely round shape.

Step 2: Paper mache the balloon. We used a 1:1 mixture of flour and warm water. Paper mache at least four layers, allowing 24 hours to dry between each layer. Then, spray paint white.  

Step 3: Carefully cut a 4” square door with an x-acto knife. This is how you’ll fill the pinata with treats.

Step 4: Make a harness for the pinata using twine and gaffer’s tape. Cut three long strands of twine; long enough to go around the pinata. Knot the strands together at the bottom, wrap around the perimeter of the pinata, and knot at the top. Make a loop at the top with the loose string.

Step 5: Place strips of gaffers tape at the bottom, middle, and top of the pinata just below the knot to secure the harness to the pinata.

Step 6: Starting from the bottom of the egg, apply fringe with hot glue in concentric circles until covered.

Step 7: Cut out a face for your pinata from black cardstock. Once you’re happy with the placement of the face, hot glue it on.

Step 8: Fill your pinata with goodies then hot glue the goodie door shut. Hang your pinata and you’re ready to party!

Photos and styling by Sarah Kate Price and Amy Moss
Crafting by Naomi Julia Satake, Justine Pon, and Erica Kjos

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