Piñatas are a fun tradition at birthday parties and neighborhood festivals. The excitement and anticipation that a colorful stuffed piñata game brings to the event is unmatched. Learn how to make a piñata so it can be customized to the birthday theme. With a few household ingredients, parents and kids can have fun creating their own piñatas for the next party.

To make a piñata with a traditional round shape, gather a large balloon, stacks of newspaper torn into strips, flour, water, salt, paint, white paper towels, tissue paper, crepe paper and yarn. Mix one part flour with two parts water to make the paper mache paste. Add a tablespoon of salt to the mixture as well. The paper mache paste should look and feel like thick glue.

Blow up the balloon and tie it off. Then place a strip of newspaper into the paste, taking care to cover both sides. Lay the soggy newspaper strip onto the balloon and press gently. Continue this until the balloon is entirely covered with a layer of newspaper and paste, save for a small hole at the top to get the piñata filler inside.

After the first layer has dried (about 24 hours), put on a second layer of newspaper. After another 24-hour drying period, apply the third layer only this time, use paper towel strips instead of newspaper. When the third and final layer is dry, it’s time pop the balloon. Pull the balloon rubber carefully out of the opening. Now it’s time to decorate the piñata. Use paint, tissue paper, crepe paper, glitter, sequins and anything else you can think of.

Fill up the piñata using the small opening left at the paper mache state. Traditionally, piñatas hold small toys, wrapped candy, coins and other assorted prizes. Once filled, tie a piece of yarn to the top and hang it from a deck or a tree limb for maximum fun.

Once you’ve mastered the simple round balloon, branch out with different molds and decorating accessories. Traditionally, piñatas were made into donkey or star shapes, but nowadays anything goes. Use smaller balloons, plastic bottles, plastic cups, paper tubes and anything else you can think of to create that unique shape you seek when making piñatas. You can create a pirate chest, a fairy princess, an animal or even a famous cartoon character from piñata materials.