Reycle Milk Jugs Into Pinatas

Great idea to recycle milk jugs into Pinata, not just for Halloween, but this would be fun event to do at a Birthday Party or at Christmas.

The structure for the pinata is a 1-gallon water or milk jug. You will be surprised at how many different critters and creatures your kids can make with a simple jug. The design featured is a Frankie Pinata, modeled after Frankenstein. Other ideas could be witches, space monsters, ghosts, wolf creatures or even the ever-popular vampire.

Speak to your kids about what kind of recycled pinata they would like to make, cover your table with a plastic drop cloth (and loads of supplies) and watch their creativity and imagination soar.

Materials:

• Mod Podge – gloss
• FolkArt Craft Paint 479 pure black, 480 titanium white, 667 metallic gunmetal gray
• Liner paintbrush
• Medium paintbrush
• Plastic milk/water jug (1 gallon)
• Craft knife
• Candy
• Masking tape
• Scissors
• Tissue paper – lime green
• Foam paintbrush
• Tacky glue
• Black felt square
• One 2-inch Styrofoam ball
• Two googly eyes
• Egg carton
• Yarn
• Skewer
• Tape

Steps:

Make sure the milk container is clean and dry before starting. Cut a U-shaped flap in the back of the milk jug with a craft knife. (Parents, help with the knife.)

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 need to use only a little bit of tape.

Cut your tissue paper into small (roughly 2-inch) squares and paste them to the jug with Mod Podge. Put as many or as few layers of tissue paper for your desired look, but be sure to cover the opening with two to three layers. This will hold the flap down just enough so that the pinata will be able to burst open when hit. Allow the Mod Podge to dry thoroughly.

For hair, cut jagged bangs into the felt and glue to the pinata. (Use the photo for placement reference.)

Using the craft knife, slice the Styrofoam ball in half. Press your finger into the dome portion of the ball for the eyes. Glue the eyes into the wells on the balls. Glue the eyes to the pinata.

Just above the eyes, paint a scar across the forehead and a squiggle on the chin with black paint and a detail brush. Paint a squared mouth with the black paint using the larger brush. Paint teeth using the white paint.

Cut two egg sections from the egg carton. Paint them with the silver paint. Glue to the sides of the head with tacky glue.

Using the tip of the craft knife, poke a small hole in the top back of the pinata. Poke a second hole in the back of the pinata, about 1 inch down from the top. Tape a long piece of yarn to a skewer and thread through the two holes. Tie a knot in the yarn to secure and hang.

Cathie Filian is a lifestyle expert, Emmy-nominated television host, author and designer. Learn more about Cathie at www.cathiefilian.com.