Make a tiki pinata for a tropical get-together.
Go beyond grass skirts, leis and fruity drinks when hosting a tropical themed party. Tikis, a Polynesian wood or stone bust, will add some authenticity to the theme. A carved tiki sculpture may not be in the budget, but a tiki pinata can substitute for the real thing. The pinata can serve double duty as decoration and entertainment for guests. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Fold the flaps of one box closed. Tape the flaps down. Position the box so the taped down sides are on the top and bottom. Flatten the second box, which will be used to cut out pieces to complete the tiki.
2. Cut a paper towel roll in half to create two tubes. Center one piece vertically as its nose on one side of the box. Tape in place. Cut the second piece in half again. Tape each smaller tube at the bottom sides of the first piece.
3. Place two paper towel rolls parallel to each other and tape the ends together. Cut six 2-inch pieces of tape. Fold them in half sticky side out with the ends overlapping. Stick three pieces to the top roll and three to the bottom. Press in place to create the tiki's mouth.
4. Trace the flip-flop onto a piece of cardboard and cut it out. Trace and cut out five more flip-flops. Make stacks of three. Tape around the flips-flops at the top and bottom to hold the stacks together. Tape each stack on a side of the box opposite each other to depict the tiki's ears.
5. Combine the flour and water in a bowl for the papier mache paste. Stir until the flour and water are well blended. Cut 1-inch strips from one sheet of newspaper. Dampen one strip of newspaper at a time. Cover the areas around the mouth, nose and ears until the tiki is smooth. Do not cover the entire pinata with papier mache. It is mostly cardboard and will not require a lot of papier mache to create a smooth surface for decorating. Dry the pinata overnight.
6. Place the tiki in a well-ventilated area on a few sheets of newspaper. Lightly spray paint the tiki to make it one solid color. Allow it to dry. Match the spray paint color to the tissue paper for decorating the tiki pinata.
7. Cut a 2-inch-by2-inch flap in the top of the pinata for adding the candy. Cut only three sides, leaving one side attached to the pinata.
8. Select a color of tissue paper for the eyes. Cut out two ovals from the tissue paper. Glue the eyes in place, one on either side of the nose.
9. Unfold the tissue paper and lay it flat on your work surface. Measure 2-inch wide sections across the paper. Cut out the strips. Cut 1 1/2-inch vertical slits into each strip. Add glue to the top of one strip above the slits. Glue the strip 1/2-inch from the bottom. Glue the strips one by one around the tiki as decoraation. Overlap the the rows by 1/2-inch. Do not glue strips over the mouth, nose or eyes. Trim the strips to fit around these sections.
10. Cut two slits on either side of the flap. Cut a 6-foot piece of ribbon to hang the pinata. Slide the ribbon through the slit and pull through the other side. Use the hole to help reach the ribbon inside the box and pull it through the second slit. Tie a knot where the ends meet. Adjust the length of the ribbon as needed.
Tags: tissue paper, papier mache, tiki pinata, color tissue, color tissue paper