Paired with our Hawaiian birthday bash or almost any summer party, this sun will send the gang into orbit. If you're planning a water-themed party, fill 'er up with small bags of gummy fish, sponge critters, or SPF 30 lip balm. Special effect: tissue paper applied to look like swirling flames. Before you start creating this design, please see our favorite papier-mâché recipe, and instructions for creating the core for your pinata.
| Prep Time: Afternoon or Evening | |
| What you need: | |
| Flexible measuring tape or string
3 sheets of orange card stock (8 ½ by 11 inches each) Pencil Masking tape 3 sheets of tissue paper, each a different shade of orange or yellow Papier-mâché paste 1 sheet of blue poster board Colored transparent report cover Glue stick (optional) 1 sheet of white copy paper Black permanent marker | |
| Seasons: Birthday, Evening, Rainy day, Summer, Year round | |
| Materials: balloons, paper, paper mache | |
| Instructions: | |
| 1. | To make the rays, use a measuring tape or string to measure
the circumference of the piñata along the hanging string
line. Divide that measurement into 10 or 11 sections to find your
ray width. Ours were 3 1/4 inches wide and 6 inches tall,
including a 1/2-inch tab along the bottom, as shown. Cut one ray
out of orange card stock, then trace and cut out the rest. Line
them up along your measuring tape or string to check that you
have enough. |
| 2. | Cut four evenly spaced 1/2-inch slits into the tab of each
ray. Attach each ray with tape, following the line of the hanging
string. |
| 3. | Fold the tissue in half lengthwise, then make accordion
folds about 2 inches wide by 10 inches long and cut oblong
pieces. |
| 4. | Use the paintbrush to cover the ball with
papier-mâché paste. Apply overlapping oblong pieces, as
shown. Gently brush paste on top to completely saturate the
tissue. Let this layer dry. |
| 5. | To make the shades, cut a 32-inch-long sunglasses shape
from poster board. The frames, minus the earpieces, should be
about 11 inches wide and 4 inches high. Cut out the centers of
the glasses, leaving a 3/4-inch frame. Cut lenses from the report
cover and attach them to the back of the glasses with tape or a
glue stick. |
| 6. | Glue or tape the earpieces to the back of the sun. |
| 7. | Draw a big toothy grin on white paper with black marker, as
shown, cut it out, and tape or glue it in place. |
© FamilyFun. All rights reserved.

To make the rays, use a measuring tape or string to measure
the circumference of the piñata along the hanging string
line. Divide that measurement into 10 or 11 sections to find your
ray width. Ours were 3 1/4 inches wide and 6 inches tall,
including a 1/2-inch tab along the bottom, as shown. Cut one ray
out of orange card stock, then trace and cut out the rest. Line
them up along your measuring tape or string to check that you
have enough.
Cut four evenly spaced 1/2-inch slits into the tab of each
ray. Attach each ray with tape, following the line of the hanging
string.
Fold the tissue in half lengthwise, then make accordion
folds about 2 inches wide by 10 inches long and cut oblong
pieces.
Use the paintbrush to cover the ball with
papier-mâché paste. Apply overlapping oblong pieces, as
shown. Gently brush paste on top to completely saturate the
tissue. Let this layer dry.
To make the shades, cut a 32-inch-long sunglasses shape
from poster board. The frames, minus the earpieces, should be
about 11 inches wide and 4 inches high. Cut out the centers of
the glasses, leaving a 3/4-inch frame. Cut lenses from the report
cover and attach them to the back of the glasses with tape or a
glue stick.
Glue or tape the earpieces to the back of the sun.
Draw a big toothy grin on white paper with black marker, as
shown, cut it out, and tape or glue it in place.


