Make it: Recycled Milk Jug Pinatas

Make it: Recycled Milk Jug Piñata

Kids can take a swing at making your their own piñata. These colorful creations are a hit every time and are made with recycled milk jugs.

Supplies:
Plastic milk jug (1 gallon)
Craft knife
Candy
Masking tape
Scissors
Tissue paper in various colors
Mod Podge
Foam paint brush
Orange craft foam
Feathers
Hot glue gun
Colored tape
Pipe cleaners – pink and brown
Round nose pliers
Two 2” styrofoam balls
Two googly eyes

Steps:
1. Make sure the milk container is clean and dry before starting. Cut a U-shaped flap in the bottom of the milk jug with a craft knife. (Parents help with the knife) You will be hanging the jug from the handle, so cut the flap so that the opening will point downward when the piñata is hung up.

2. Fill the jug with candy and tape the flap closed with a small piece of masking tape. This is just to hold the flap down as you add tissue paper, so you only need to use a little bit of tape.

3. Cut your tissue paper into small (roughly 2”) squares and paste them to the jug with Mod Podge. Put as many or as few layers of tissue paper as you want, but be sure to cover the opening on the bottom with two to three layers – this will hold the flap down just enough so that the piñata will be able to burst open when hit. Allow the Mod Podge to dry thoroughly.

4. Add embellishments to your piñata. Use hot glue to attach feathers to the sides and back of the jug. Use colored tape to attach feathers to the handle of the jug.

5. Use the palm of your hand to flatten one side of the styrofoam balls by pressing the ball onto a flat surface. Hot glue the styrofoam balls onto either side of the jug’s handle, and then hot glue a googly eye to each of the styrofoam balls. (Parents help with glue if needed)

6. To make your piñata into a bird, cut out two triangular pieces of craft foam and use hot glue to attach them around the spout of the jug, forming a beak.

7. Shape pink pipe cleaners into legs for the bird, and use a brown pipe cleaner to make a worm to put in the bird’s beak. Before attaching the pipe cleaners to the bird, use the round nose pliers to curl the sharp ends of the pipe cleaners under so that they won’t hurt anyone if they come off of the piñata while it is in use.

8. Place the worm in the bird’s beak, using hot glue to secure if necessary, and attach the legs to the underside of the jug with hot glue. You can really use your imagination when embellishing your piñata, but remember to use soft, light items that won’t hurt anyone if they fall off when playing with the finished piñata!