Everyone loves the spooky season! This fall, why not celebrate Halloween and the Day of the Dead by trying your hand at making a pumpkin piñata? It’s simple enough to make, and you might not even need to go out and buy anything!
This is also a great hands-on craft for kids, and they’ll have to put in a little work for their candy!
Pumpkin piñatas are great party games because they’re inexpensive, easy to make, and require no special equipment or tools. They also provide hours of entertainment for children and adults alike.
Everyone will enjoy breaking open the pumpkin to get to the candy hidden inside, and kids will also enjoy making and decorating their own pumpkin.
In this guide, we’ve covered two different ways to make pumpkin piñatas. This fun craft is a great way to spend a damp fall day, and they’re perfect for a Halloween party. Read on to find out how to do it.
Method 1: Paper Mache
The paper mache pumpkin piñata method is a little messy, but definitely cleaner than a real pumpkin! Even younger kids can get hands-on with this fun craft that needs very little equipment. In fact, you should already have most of it around the house!
You’ll Need
- A balloon
- Newspaper
- White paper
- Flour
- Water
- Glue
- Scissors
- Ribbon or string
- Orange paint
- Orange crêpe paper
- Green crêpe paper
- Colored construction paper
- Halloween candy!
How To Make A Paper Mache Pumpkin Piñata
- Blow up the balloon until it’s the size you want your piñata to be, and tie the end.
- Cut the newspaper into strips.
- Mix equal amounts of flour and warm water together to create a smooth batter. As you work, you might need to add more water to loosen the paste.
- Dip a strip of newspaper into the flour and water paste, and then lay it onto the balloon. Repeat with another strip of newspaper, laying in a crisscross pattern over the first strip. Repeat until the balloon is covered in newspaper, leaving a space at the tied end, so you can fill the balloon with candy. There shouldn’t be any gaps between the newspaper strips.
- Balance the balloon in a mug, and leave it to dry completely.
- Repeat steps 2 to 5 twice more, so the balloon is covered in a sturdy layer of paper mache.
- Cover the balloon in one final layer using white paper and paste.
- Leave the paper mache to dry completely, and then pop the balloon. Turn it upside down, and shake out the burst balloon. Now you have the shell, which you can fill with Halloween candy!
- Paint the shell orange, and let it dry completely.
- Use scissors to poke a hole either side of the opening where the sweets went in. Thread ribbon or string through the holes, and tie either end. This creates a loop to hand the piñata up with.
- Cut the orange crêpe paper into strips. Cut the strips into a fringe, leaving a centimeter at the top of each piece. Glue along this centimeter, and attach to the shell. Layer the crêpe paper up the shell until it’s completely covered. By leaving the fringe section loose, your piñata will have lots of movement.
- Create a cone shape from the green crêpe paper. Twist the top of the cone to make a stalk with a circular base. Glue the base to the top of the piñata, covering the hole where you put the sweets in.
- Decorate using the construction paper to make a spooky face.
Method 2: Cardboard
The cardboard method won’t give the traditional round shape of the pumpkin, but it does require less drying time. You can also use this method to make some custom shapes and designs. It’s Halloween, so why not try a spooky ghost or a scary spider?
The most important thing with this method is choosing the right cardboard. It has to be thick enough to withstand the weight of candy, but thin enough to break apart when hit.
You’ll Need
- Cardboard
- Orange crêpe paper
- Black crêpe paper
- Black construction paper
- Glue
- Tape
- Ribbon or string
- Scissors
- Craft knife
- Halloween candy
How To Make A Cardboard Pumpkin Piñata
- Draw and cut your pumpkin shape out of cardboard. Use the first pumpkin cut out as a stencil for the second.
- Cut a long strip of cardboard, roughly 3 to 4 inches wide. It has to be long enough to go all the way around the edge of the pumpkin.
- Bend the cardboard strip and roll it so that it has some flexibility. Use the tape to attach the strip all the way around the edge of the back pumpkin shape. Poke two holes as the top of the pumpkin. Thread the ribbon or string through to create a loop, and tie either end. Tape the front pumpkin piece into place.
- With the craft knife, cut a small flap into the top of the pumpkin, and add your candy.
- Cut the crêpe paper into strips, and then use the scissors to make fringe, leaving a one centimeter section at the top of each strip. Working from the bottom up, cover the pumpkin shape in crêpe paper, using the glue to stick it down. Make sure to cover the front, back, and sides.
- Use the green crêpe paper to create a stalk, and glue into place.
- Decorate with a scary face made from construction paper.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for an easy way to decorate for Halloween, these are great options. They don’t take too much effort, so you won’t mind bashing them open to get to the candy inside. And they look amazing!
We like the traditional orange and black pumpkin look, but feel free to mix it up and create your own spooky vibe. They don’t have to be piñatas, either!
If you don’t fancy kids swinging bats around in your yard, these pumpkin designs can also be used as bowls. Rather than sealing up the top, leave a space so kids can get their hands in, and pass them out to trick or treaters!
