Ye Olde Pinata
May 30, 2012 1:04 AM Subscribe
I need to make a piñata in the shape of something instantly identifiable as British (a London taxicab? Big Ben?) by Saturday morning. What should I make, and how should I make it? Extra points for ease of crafting and decoration.
Note that a teapot and a double-decker bus have been done in the past and can't be repeated. I'm making a piñata because I live in Poland - which is not a country where you can just go out and pick up a piñata or modify an existing one.
The piñata is for a school party for teachers, adult and teen students and their families, with kids as young as 5 attending, and with most attendees having had zero life experience with the concept of a piñata.
I am racking my brain here for designs that are British AND piñatable within such a smallish timeframe. Thanks.
Note that a teapot and a double-decker bus have been done in the past and can't be repeated. I'm making a piñata because I live in Poland - which is not a country where you can just go out and pick up a piñata or modify an existing one.
The piñata is for a school party for teachers, adult and teen students and their families, with kids as young as 5 attending, and with most attendees having had zero life experience with the concept of a piñata.
I am racking my brain here for designs that are British AND piñatable within such a smallish timeframe. Thanks.
union jack. i can't imagine how papier mache won't dry by saturday.
posted by violetk at 1:13 AM on May 30, 2012
posted by violetk at 1:13 AM on May 30, 2012
Yeah sorry. I keep thinking it's much later in the week than it is.
I just read a tip that said to make multiple compartments for candy if adults are whacking the pinata.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 1:15 AM on May 30, 2012
I just read a tip that said to make multiple compartments for candy if adults are whacking the pinata.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 1:15 AM on May 30, 2012
It's probably not instantly recognizable as British, but I still want to suggest making a Guy Fawkes effigy pinata. That way, after you beat its stuffing out, you can light it on fire. Good times for all!
posted by Jonathan Livengood at 1:19 AM on May 30, 2012
posted by Jonathan Livengood at 1:19 AM on May 30, 2012
bowler hat.
posted by violetk at 1:20 AM on May 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by violetk at 1:20 AM on May 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
A spitfire, a bulldog, a mini, an OXO cube, a Marmite jar, Simon Cowel.
posted by rongorongo at 1:23 AM on May 30, 2012
posted by rongorongo at 1:23 AM on May 30, 2012
Red London bus is pretty easy- a big red rectangle with some windows! Plus, you can personalise with a specific destination on the front of the bus.
posted by KateViolet at 1:24 AM on May 30, 2012
posted by KateViolet at 1:24 AM on May 30, 2012
Ah sorry, I completely missed you can't do a double decker bus. Underground sign?
posted by KateViolet at 1:25 AM on May 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by KateViolet at 1:25 AM on May 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
Well okay this is what I would do:
Since it's really the littlest kids who have the most fun breaking pinatas, I would make it very easy to bash open, with like, practically a candy-hatch somewhere.
For assembly, I'd think of it from the top-down, in a skeletal sort of way. Imagine your shape from the point you're going to hang it from, and down. I'd take long strips of thick paper or card and staple them together from that hanging point to make a wireframe. So, like, say you're doing Big Ben, I'd make my hanging loop at the top, with four strips of paper hanging down for the four edges of the tower roof. Connect the tips to make the square edge, and then attach four more strips, bent down the middle, to make the corners of each wall. Then I'd take a cardboard square and slice a nice big U shape into it for my candy-hatch and attach it to the bottom to make the floor of the tower. Then I would add reinforcing strips here and there along the "walls" and "roof", to make a sort of loose mesh. I'd probably add some wire in there maybe? Get crazy with masking tape, you know? Maybe put some more cardboard in places, perhaps with extra candy compartments at the top and along the sides. It would be a balancing act of structural stability versus ease of whacking it all open.
Then I would take colored craft paper and cut it into strips. Pinatas have this sort of ruffled textured that you can mimic by just layering up the edges of your strips and making little cuts all along the edge. They will flutter in the wind! Then, wrap your structure with your strips. I'd just get down your base color. You could do this with tissue paper if you want, that will make it really really breakable. Then I'd take craft paper and cut out identifying details and apply them. Like for Big Ben I'd make the clockface on white paper and draw the numbers and hands on there and just stick it on wholesale with glue. And all the little windows would be black rectangles of paper.
Oh, you have to remember to put the candy in as you create the thing, of course. Unless you want to plan ahead and get hardcore and create an access hatch. But that's silly.
posted by Mizu at 1:28 AM on May 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
Since it's really the littlest kids who have the most fun breaking pinatas, I would make it very easy to bash open, with like, practically a candy-hatch somewhere.
For assembly, I'd think of it from the top-down, in a skeletal sort of way. Imagine your shape from the point you're going to hang it from, and down. I'd take long strips of thick paper or card and staple them together from that hanging point to make a wireframe. So, like, say you're doing Big Ben, I'd make my hanging loop at the top, with four strips of paper hanging down for the four edges of the tower roof. Connect the tips to make the square edge, and then attach four more strips, bent down the middle, to make the corners of each wall. Then I'd take a cardboard square and slice a nice big U shape into it for my candy-hatch and attach it to the bottom to make the floor of the tower. Then I would add reinforcing strips here and there along the "walls" and "roof", to make a sort of loose mesh. I'd probably add some wire in there maybe? Get crazy with masking tape, you know? Maybe put some more cardboard in places, perhaps with extra candy compartments at the top and along the sides. It would be a balancing act of structural stability versus ease of whacking it all open.
Then I would take colored craft paper and cut it into strips. Pinatas have this sort of ruffled textured that you can mimic by just layering up the edges of your strips and making little cuts all along the edge. They will flutter in the wind! Then, wrap your structure with your strips. I'd just get down your base color. You could do this with tissue paper if you want, that will make it really really breakable. Then I'd take craft paper and cut out identifying details and apply them. Like for Big Ben I'd make the clockface on white paper and draw the numbers and hands on there and just stick it on wholesale with glue. And all the little windows would be black rectangles of paper.
Oh, you have to remember to put the candy in as you create the thing, of course. Unless you want to plan ahead and get hardcore and create an access hatch. But that's silly.
posted by Mizu at 1:28 AM on May 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
A British pound coin? You'll have to paint the queen on. For bonus points, do it from the older, classic design (top left on this page): http://www.coins-of-the-uk.co.uk/pics/dec1p.html
Only downside is that you'd be hitting the queen in the face.
posted by Magnakai at 1:28 AM on May 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
Only downside is that you'd be hitting the queen in the face.
posted by Magnakai at 1:28 AM on May 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
Definitely a TARDIS.
posted by anonnymoose at 1:35 AM on May 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by anonnymoose at 1:35 AM on May 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
For the young kids you could have Pooh bear...that could probably be purchased at a party supply place, even. Paddington bear might work too.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 1:39 AM on May 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 1:39 AM on May 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
I second the red telephone box - easy to do yet distinctive.
posted by Segundus at 1:40 AM on May 30, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Segundus at 1:40 AM on May 30, 2012 [2 favorites]
A flock of corgis. A bonus is that you can use tissue boxes as the bodies. Append legs with toilet paper rolls, then print out a bunch of heads and find some crepe paper for fur.
posted by benzenedream at 1:40 AM on May 30, 2012
posted by benzenedream at 1:40 AM on May 30, 2012
keep calm and beat the candy out of this box sign.
posted by mcrandello at 1:51 AM on May 30, 2012 [8 favorites]
posted by mcrandello at 1:51 AM on May 30, 2012 [8 favorites]
I vote for a Beefeater. Very distinctive colours, and characteristic hat, which you can easily make by papier mache-ing a round box. Bonus marks for his raven.
posted by roofus at 2:47 AM on May 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by roofus at 2:47 AM on May 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
a red post box - easy shape, very distinctive
posted by crocomancer at 2:59 AM on May 30, 2012
posted by crocomancer at 2:59 AM on May 30, 2012
Stonehenge? That would automatically have many candy compartments.
posted by cogat at 5:31 AM on May 30, 2012
posted by cogat at 5:31 AM on May 30, 2012
For the young kids you could have Pooh bear...that could probably be purchased at a party supply place, even. Paddington bear might work too.
I did that once. I never could stuff the bear so kids could beat thecrap candy out of it.
Oh, you have to remember to put the candy in as you create the thing, of course. Unless you want to plan ahead and get hardcore and create an access hatch. But that's silly.
If the craft paper isn't thick or the glue is pretty runny (I only remember doing it with newspaper, water/flour, and a balloon) you're going to have gluey candy, no?
posted by tilde at 5:41 AM on May 30, 2012
I did that once. I never could stuff the bear so kids could beat the
Oh, you have to remember to put the candy in as you create the thing, of course. Unless you want to plan ahead and get hardcore and create an access hatch. But that's silly.
If the craft paper isn't thick or the glue is pretty runny (I only remember doing it with newspaper, water/flour, and a balloon) you're going to have gluey candy, no?
posted by tilde at 5:41 AM on May 30, 2012
The London City Hall probably isn't iconic enough (yet) but it would be super easy to make using a balloon...
posted by JoanArkham at 5:43 AM on May 30, 2012
posted by JoanArkham at 5:43 AM on May 30, 2012
Buckingham Palace Guard, with Bearskin Hat.
posted by jquinby at 5:46 AM on May 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by jquinby at 5:46 AM on May 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
google.pl + grafika + anglia symbole = ideas.
I vote for the red telephone booth! Or if you feel all crafty make a palace guard.
If you don't feel crafty order here maybe?
posted by travelwithcats at 5:49 AM on May 30, 2012
I vote for the red telephone booth! Or if you feel all crafty make a palace guard.
If you don't feel crafty order here maybe?
posted by travelwithcats at 5:49 AM on May 30, 2012
The phone box is instantly recognizable, I agree.
I've made pinatas, and disagree with Miko, though (just thismonce, I always agree with Miko!) about the access hatch. I found my homemade pinata held up to a lot of whacking, and was glad I had that access hatch (3/4 of a rectangular) on the back. We evenripped it a little more to help the pinata's demise along.
Other ideas:
The London Eye? Circles are easy for pinatas--get a balloon, blow it up, papier mache it. Bam!
Other easy circles: just use two photos of very "British" thungs: Beefeater, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Shakespeare, the Queen or the Royal Wedding and put one on either side of a round pinata.
Black cab. Earl Grey or English Breakfast Tea Bag. "Mind the Gap" Tube symbol.
Olympics are in London too, this year. (But I don't know if Olympic rings scream "Britain!" even so).
My kids think Britain when we watch soccer, but then they're Manchester City/Manchester United fans.
posted by misha at 7:13 AM on May 30, 2012
I've made pinatas, and disagree with Miko, though (just thismonce, I always agree with Miko!) about the access hatch. I found my homemade pinata held up to a lot of whacking, and was glad I had that access hatch (3/4 of a rectangular) on the back. We evenripped it a little more to help the pinata's demise along.
Other ideas:
The London Eye? Circles are easy for pinatas--get a balloon, blow it up, papier mache it. Bam!
Other easy circles: just use two photos of very "British" thungs: Beefeater, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Shakespeare, the Queen or the Royal Wedding and put one on either side of a round pinata.
Black cab. Earl Grey or English Breakfast Tea Bag. "Mind the Gap" Tube symbol.
Olympics are in London too, this year. (But I don't know if Olympic rings scream "Britain!" even so).
My kids think Britain when we watch soccer, but then they're Manchester City/Manchester United fans.
posted by misha at 7:13 AM on May 30, 2012
Here are some images for inspiration:
Union Jack pinata.
Wallace and Gromit pinatas, maybe?
Harry Potter is very English, right?
Okay, I'm done. ;)
posted by misha at 7:36 AM on May 30, 2012
Union Jack pinata.
Wallace and Gromit pinatas, maybe?
Harry Potter is very English, right?
Okay, I'm done. ;)
posted by misha at 7:36 AM on May 30, 2012
I would make the Crown Scepter or Globe, and make a transparent "diamond" of candy the kids could see inside.
posted by effluvia at 7:39 AM on May 30, 2012
posted by effluvia at 7:39 AM on May 30, 2012
Addenda: The Orb could be a transparent material, with seams that will open easily for the children. The Scepter would be the striking stick for the Orb. The protagonist wears a crown that goes over their eyes so they cannot see.
I think I just got a painting out of this. Thanks.
posted by effluvia at 8:06 AM on May 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
I think I just got a painting out of this. Thanks.
posted by effluvia at 8:06 AM on May 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
A British Bobby would be pretty easy... big oval balloon, you do it up with papier mache, cut out an iconic pointy brim out of cardboard (probably in two pieces for ease of attachment) and mount that halfway down the oval. Make a cut-out shield medal for the hat, a chin-strap, paint on a goofy face. I guess the downside is that using it involves beating a police officer's head in effigy.
posted by nanojath at 8:26 AM on May 30, 2012
posted by nanojath at 8:26 AM on May 30, 2012
misha: "Tube symbol"
This was going to be my suggestion.
How about just a crown (or crown-ish shape), like maybe from the "Keep Calm" poster?
posted by SuperSquirrel at 8:33 AM on May 30, 2012
This was going to be my suggestion.
How about just a crown (or crown-ish shape), like maybe from the "Keep Calm" poster?
posted by SuperSquirrel at 8:33 AM on May 30, 2012
Well, as someone who has made two piñatas this week, I would suggest you look at Oh Happy Day's How to Make a Piñata . You'll need cardboard, masking tape, and crepe paper (she says not to use the cheap rolled kind, but we did, and it was totally fine). Construction of the box part was not very difficult at all, though we were doing numbers (nth-ing the telephone box suggestion). Cutting and glueing the fringe is easy though terribly tedious, but the effect it produces is very pretty and authentic-looking (well, by Southern California piñata standards). I also agree that multiple compartments for candy are a good idea, and easy to make with cardboard. Have fun!
posted by luxperpetua at 9:26 AM on May 30, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by luxperpetua at 9:26 AM on May 30, 2012 [2 favorites]
Nanojath: I guess the downside is that using it involves beating a police officer's head in effigy.
You could make a policeman's hat for the kids hitting the pinata instead, to avoid that moral quandary. Make the pinata stick look light a nighstick, too.
This reminds me of Bertie Wooster and how he was always nicking policemens' hats. Now I want to have an adults' P. G. Wodehouse themed party. With a scavenger hunt and miniature London-themed things to find! Or just Wodehousey things: miniature pig, cow creamer. Maybe full-size umbrella, photo with a swan. Losing team plays Jeeves (or Beach)and has to serve the winning team plates of party food. Aw, man, that would make for a great Olympics Opening Ceremonies party!
posted by misha at 9:43 AM on May 30, 2012
You could make a policeman's hat for the kids hitting the pinata instead, to avoid that moral quandary. Make the pinata stick look light a nighstick, too.
This reminds me of Bertie Wooster and how he was always nicking policemens' hats. Now I want to have an adults' P. G. Wodehouse themed party. With a scavenger hunt and miniature London-themed things to find! Or just Wodehousey things: miniature pig, cow creamer. Maybe full-size umbrella, photo with a swan. Losing team plays Jeeves (or Beach)and has to serve the winning team plates of party food. Aw, man, that would make for a great Olympics Opening Ceremonies party!
posted by misha at 9:43 AM on May 30, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
As to methods for making. I fear modified papier mache will take too long to dry.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 1:09 AM on May 30, 2012 [10 favorites]