How to Make and Where to Find Pinatas for Cinco De Mayo

A Cinco de Mayo celebration wouldn't be the same without a pinata. There are plenty of places to purchase these party treats, but it's also easy to make simple ones at home.

To make your own pinata there are just a few simple things you need. First set up a place you can work where you have plenty of room. A nice big table covered with either a throw-away cloth or even extra newspapers would keep everything neat.

To make the papier-mache paste you will need regular all-purpose flour, water, sugar and newspapers that have been torn into strips about six inches long and about an inch wide. In a bowl you will combine 1/2 cup flour and 2 cups cold water in a bowl. Add this mixture to a saucepan of 2 cups boiling water and bring it to a boil again. Next you will remove the pan from the heat and stir in 3 tablespoons of sugar. As it cools the paste will thicken and once it is completely cooled it is ready to use.

Now you can make several smaller simple pinatas so more people at your celebration may have an opportunity to break one open. This can be done by just using a simple balloon. You can make several of them in different sizes depending upon how large you blow your balloon up. Since these are homemade you don't have to be perfect since these are really all about having fun. You can even get the kid involved in making their own pinatas.

You start by running your newspaper strips through the paste and begin to cover the balloon. You'll want to have at least three layers of strips so you're going to do one set in one direction, a second set in a different direction and the final strip in another direction. The easiest thing to do to have these ready to hang is lay a heavy string or small rope, long enough to tie and hang from wherever you're hitting these things, over what will be the top of the pinata. You will then papier-mache right over enough of the string leaving the ends hanging to make a hanger. Make sure to overlap each strip of newspaper you place on your balloon allowing a little time between each layer so the paste will dry better. Once all three layers on on the balloon and dried, take a small knife and cut a flap up near the string (the top of your pinata) just large enough to pull open and stuff goodies into. If the knife didn't happen pop the balloon inside, then make sure to pop it before adding the treats.

You can now decorate your pinata any way you like by painting it, adding color tissue paper on it, ribbons or just about any other way you can think of to make it pretty. Hit the craft store and see what crazy things you can come up with such as decorations you can add to the outside. Just don't go too overboard since this pinata is going to bashed into oblivion. Viola, your pinata is ready to hang until the party-goers have at them.

If this is too much trouble for you or if you want to buy a pinata that's already put together then here's some sites to check out.

Pinatas.com has quite an array of great pinatas for any occasion. They carry pinatas geared towards girls and boys. They have theme pinatas and exclusive ones too such as promotional ones or ones that make noises like a rooster that crows or a cell phone that rings when hit. There are also specialty pinatas for bridal showers, baby showers, wedding parties, whatever you need. Make sure to check out the line of Fiesta Pinatas for your Cinco de Mayo celebration. Find everything from an inexpensive $5 colorful parrot to a fiesta star for $35. Another great thing they offer is a set of mini pinatas for about $54. You get nine mini burros and nine mini bulls. These would make great table decorations.