Halloween has officially begun here at Brit HQ, and we’re kicking things off with a combination of two of our very favorite festive things: piñatas and candy corn! Candy corn IN a candy corn piñata? Yes. Halloween dreams can come true. Let’s get to it!
Materials:
– crepe paper (orange, yellow and white — you can use streamers)
– cardboard
– newspaper
– long balloons (the balloon animal ones)
– Sta-flo liquid starch
Tools:
– plastic bowl
– scissors
– rubber gloves
– painter’s tape
– Elmer’s glue
– twine or rope
– box cutter
Instructions:
1. Blow up three balloons aiming to make them the same size.
2. Create triangular shapes with the balloons twisting them to create corners. Tape them in place.
3. When you finish creating triangles out of all three balloons, tape them all together.
4. Roughly trace around your balloons on top of the cardboard and then cut out two triangles for the front and back of your piñata. Tape them to the balloons.
5. Tear your newspaper into thin strips and pour some Sta-flo into your plastic bowl.
6. Put on your gloves, dip your newspaper into Sta-flo and then use your fingers to squeegee the excess starch. Lay your newspaper on the cardboard and balloons.
7. Continue adding pieces of newspaper to the piñata until it is completely covered. If you need to mold the shape a little, crumple up extra newspaper and shove it under the outer layer of paper.
8. After adding two to three layers of newspaper, let the piñata dry. If you can, put it outside to get air or place it in front of a fan. Then add a few more layers the next day and let it dry overnight again.
9. Cut a long piece of crepe paper, fold it and then cut fringe by snipping halfway up the short side of the crepe paper.
10. Starting at the bottom of your piñata, add a thin line of Elmer’s glue and then place your crepe paper on top. Move your way up the pinata layering the crepe paper as you go.
11. Cut a small door in the top of your piñata using your box cutter. Make sure it’s large enough for you to fit your hand inside. Pop any balloons that you miss with the box cutter.
12. To add your rope or twine, cut a small rectangle of cardboard and poke a hole in the middle. Make a hole in the top of your piñata too. Cut a long piece of twine and tie a knot at the bottom. Thread it through the hole until the knot is secure against the cardboard. Put the cardboard piece inside the piñata and then bring the string through the hole in the piñata.
13. Pour a load of candy corn inside and close the door. Hang it up and take a swing!
As you can see, this list of instructions is a doozy! Making a piñata is definitely a lengthy process — but we promise it’s easy to follow. Plus, you can use these basic steps to make any shape piñata you like.
Blow up three balloon-animal style balloons, aiming to make them the same size.
Create triangular shapes with the balloons twisting them to create corners. Tape them in place.
When you finish creating triangles out of all three balloons, tape them all together.
Roughly trace around your balloons on top of the cardboard and then cut out two triangles for the front and back of your pinata. Tape them to the balloons.
Now you’ve got your piñata skeleton.
Tear your newspaper into thin strips and pour some Sta-flo into your plastic bowl.
Put on your gloves, dip your newspaper into Sta-flo and then use your fingers to squeegee the excess starch. Lay your newspaper on the cardboard and balloons.
Continue adding pieces of newspaper to the piñata until it is completely covered. If you need to mold the shape a little, crumple up extra newspaper and shove it under the outer layer of paper.
After adding two to three layers of newspaper, let the piñata dry. If you can, put it outside to get air or place it in front of a fan. Then add a few more layers the next day and let it dry overnight again.
Next up, the fringe! Cut a long piece of crepe paper, fold it and then cut fringe by snipping halfway up the short side of the crepe paper. Starting at the bottom of your piñata, add a thin line of Elmer’s glue and then place your crepe paper on top. Move your way up the piñata layering the crepe paper as you go.
Now, we’ve gotta fill it up and get it ready to hang!
Cut a small door in the top of your piñata using your box cutter. Make sure it’s large enough for you to fit your hand inside. Pop any balloons that you miss with the box cutter.
To add your rope or twine, cut a small rectangle of cardboard and poke a hole in the middle. Make a hole in the top of your piñata too. Cut a long piece of twine and tie a knot at the bottom. Thread it through the hole until the knot is secure against the cardboard. Put the cardboard piece inside the piñata and then bring the string through the hole in the piñata.
Pour a load of candy corn inside and close the door.
It’s almost too pretty to destroy…
But we’ll go ahead and take a swing! ;)
Back in January, we introduced you to a feel-good cause to inspire your New Year's resolution: a walking challenge to help raise funds for the amazing cancer fighters at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I took part in the challenge with the Brit + Co team and ended up walking 105+ miles in January — it was awesome.
This spring, there's a new challenge on the horizon, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Big Climb. The ask: On May 15, 2021, you can step up to take cancer down by committing to climb 1,311 steps, walking 3.2 miles, or doing 440 chair step-ups at home as part of the Big Climb. If you need some motivation to bring movement back into your daily routine — look no further!
As always, it's free to sign up, but climbers are encouraged to set a fundraising goal to help beat cancer. We'll be organizing another Brit + Co team to step up, and I hope you'll join us too! Keep scrolling for a peek at where I'll be completing the challenge in my Los Angeles neighborhood around the hidden Silver Lake Stairs. Happy climbing!
Never underestimate the power of an accountability buddy! I asked my in-laws, my partner, and a few friends to join me so we can keep each other motivated and accountable in completing the challenge — virtual high-fives all around! Also, my dog Fox is a great climber, too.
An aesthetically pleasing backdrop is a huge motivator for me! I'm fortunate to have all sorts of painted steps around my neighborhood to keep the challenge interesting, but you can also keep cool inside with at-home chair step-ups.
Don't forget to share your progress on social — #BigClimb!
Feel free to break the challenge up if you need to by tackling half the distance in the AM and half at sunset. Here's me 1,311 steps later and ready for a break — but, think I earned this one!
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