Dora's Tropical Pinata

Cupcake liners are turned inside out to create the blooms on this piñata. For best results, begin making the piñata about three days before the party.

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Materials

• 1 balloon
• String
• 3 bowls, 2 wide, 1 shallow
• 12 sheets of old newspaper
• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups water
• Scissors
• Ribbon
• Cupcake liners
• Tacky glue
• Printable Dora Ornaments
• Small toys or candies
• Small plastic baseball bat or decorated piñata stick

Directions

1. Step 1

   Inflate the balloon and tie it, then add a string around its knot. The string should be long enough for hanging the piñata to decorate it later. Set the balloon in a large bowl (a colander works as well) to keep it from rolling as you work.

2. Step 2

   Have kids tear six sheets of newspaper into 2-inch-wide strips, then tear the strips into 1- to 3-inch pieces.

3. Step 3

   Kids can help mix 1 cup of flour with 1 cup of water to create a thick paste in the second bowl.

4. Step 4

   Have kids dip the strips of paper into the bowl. Removing excess paste with their fingers, have them apply the strips one at a time to the balloon. Leave an open area, about 3 to 4 inches round, at the top of the balloon. (This is where you'll add the candy after the balloon has been popped.) When you get to the lip of the bowl on which the balloon is sitting, turn the balloon over and cover its base as well.

5. Step 5

   Hang the balloon from its string to dry overnight. The paste will drip, so be sure to protect the surface below.

6. Step 6

   After it's dry, add a second layer and repeat Steps 2 to 5.

7. Step 7

   With the scissors, punch two holes on opposite sides of the open area at the top of the balloon (within the papier mâché area). Snip a length of ribbon and pass it through the holes, then tie the ends in a knot to create a loop for hanging the balloon at the party. The ribbon should be as long as you need it to be for kids to be able to reach the piñata when hitting it with a stick. You can now pop the balloon.

8. Step 8

   Hang the balloon by the string from a hook or ceiling lamp. Pour glue into a shallow bowl. Have kids dip the bases of the cupcake liners into the glue and stick them onto the piñata while it hangs. This will prevent any of the cupcake liners from getting crushed. NOTE: If your liners are white on the inside, turn them inside out so the colorful part shows. Let dry.

9. Step 9

   Cut several lengths of ribbon (approximately 10 inches each) and staple them to one of the bottom cupcakes. Print out the printable Dora ornaments. Have your child choose the ornaments she likes to decorate. Help her cut out the ornaments she's chosen and glue them to the ends of the ribbons. Now that decorating is complete, you can cut the string off.

10. Step 10

    Fill the piñata with several bunches of crumpled newspapers and lots of little toys or candies.

11. Party Time!

    At the party, let kids try to break the piñata with a small baseball bat or a decorated piñata stick (available at party stores). Put a grown-up in charge of making sure all the children are well out of the way of the swinging bat!