August 24, 2011

Octopus Pinata Tutorial


It’s been a birthday kind of week here at Positively Splendid! Monday, I shared the full details of the under the sea birthday party I recently planned for my daughter’s fourth birthday earlier this month, and yesterday I gave details for how to create sand pail cupcakes and cupcake toppers. Today, in the final installment of this little series, I’m giving you the scoop for how the kiddos and I put together this darling hula girl octopus pinata!

To create the papier mache portion of the pinata (the octopus body/head), follow the method I used for the ruffled ice cream cone pinata I created last year. Once the ribbon hanger has been placed in the top of your balloon and it has been filled with candy with the bottom sealed as detailed in that tutorial, here’s what you’ll need:

Acrylic paint
Foam brushes
Adhesive foam in assorted colors (I used black, white, grey and red)
Kraft paper or paper sack
Hot glue
Crepe paper streamers
Long twisting balloons
Hand balloon pump
Clear packing tape

step 1 / Prop your papier mache body in a bowl to act as a stand. Using foam brushes, apply 1-2 coats of acrylic paint over the body. My kids had fun helping with this step! Allow the paint to dry completely.

step 2 / Cut out facial features for your octopus from the craft foam. I made mine nice and girly, but you could easily make this suitable for a boy, as well. Adhere the features to the front of your octopus. Cut a strip of Kraft paper that is about 4 inches wide and long enough to go around the bottom of your octopus to conceal the covered bottom opening. Cut vertical slits in this piece to make it resemble a hula skirt, and then use hot glue to adhere it around your octopus body. Accessorize the “waistband” of the skirt, if desired, with a piece of streamer, adhering the piece with hot glue. Feel free to add other streamer accessories, as well. (I gave our octopus a pink hairbow.)

step 3 / Use your hand pump to blow up 8 of your balloons, so that there is about a 6 inch portion at the end of the balloon that remains unfilled when you tie it off. Wind this unfilled portion around, as shown, and adhere it to your octopus body with packing tape so that the wound balloon portion and tape are hidden under your hula skirt. Be sure to space your balloon legs evenly around your octopus body as you go.


You are finished!

Take lots of pictures at this point, because it won’t be long until eager partygoers crack into your handiwork. ;)



I hope your week is going swimmingly so far! Teehee. ;)

Photobucket

Linking this to…
Tatertots and Jello

Amy @ Positively Splendid

Amy @ Positively Splendid

Having grown up in a home brimming with sewing notions and paintbrushes, Amy has a deep love for all things creative. On any given day, you'll find her knee-deep in her latest creative endeavor, with projects ranging from sewing and crafts to home decor and kid-friendly ideas. Amy believes that everyone, regardless of skill level or experience, possesses the ability to create something beautiful, and Positively Splendid was born of her passion for helping others harness their innate creative potential.
Amy @ Positively Splendid

@splendidamy

, , , , , ,

5 Responses to Octopus Pinata Tutorial

  1. Amanda @ Serenity Now August 24, 2011 at 4:56 pm #

    Such a great idea, Amy. Those pinatas can be really expensive when they are store-bought! Yours turned out great, and I bet it was a hit with the kids.

    Reply
  2. Karen's Ideas Galore August 26, 2011 at 1:09 am #

    Very cute…my sister just made a Yo Gabba Gabba cake with “Foofa”…I think your pinata would fit right in (if it was painted pink). I haven’t seen that show, but it looks similar to me!

    Reply
  3. Jessica @ Sunny Tuesday August 26, 2011 at 2:46 am #

    That is ridiculously cute!

    Reply
  4. Amanda August 27, 2011 at 3:08 pm #

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    Reply
  5. Amanda August 27, 2011 at 3:13 pm #

    OMG!! that’s soooo cute!

    I’d love it if you shared this with the Fun Family Crafts audience. FFC is similar to Craftgawker but it only features kid friendly tutorials. Looking forward to seeing what fun crafts you submit!
    http://funfamilycrafts.com

    Reply

Leave a Reply

myfreecopyright.com registered & protected


© 2009-2012. Positively Splendid. All rights reserved.