March 2022

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I was commissioned to make a butterfly piñata for an 8yr old girl I didn't know.

The invitation below is the only direction I got.

I had less than a week to make it and a lot of commitments in between.

I looked online for some inspiration & found this coloring page. I edited down to fit what I needed.

I gave myself a bit of a border. I knew I wanted to have the detailed pattern overlay on top.

I used a paperback to make my pattern. Because it wasn't bit enough, I had to attach another piece. I also made the body too small and made it bigger & that needed more paper.

I suggest taping down your patterns when transferring if you can.

This was my first time using an exacto knife and... it cut like butter. Such a game changer from what I was using.

After using this rope system on the Mirabel piñata... I am no longer going back to zipties. Another game changer.

On this piñata,I ended up tying the ropes together at the bottom & not just individual knots.

When you cut those ropes, carefully burn the ends so they don't unwind.

Whew, I did a much better job
photographing this rope system.

I personally lay both sides together and poke the holes with a sharp pencil. I flip it over to make sure to get both sides poked all the way through.

If you need help feeding the rope through the holes... use the pencil to push the end in the hole.

T

he cardstock (poster paper) around the candy holes should be reinforced. Wrap them around with another strip. You don't want them to rip when you put the candy in or rip when the rope rubs against them.

This is my grump cat Farruko disturbing my work.

Anyway, I folded poster paperin half and copied my pattern on to it.

Carefully I cut it out using the exacto knife.

I spray painted this.
Makesure to do thin layers.
Too much paint at once can warp it.

My mom had this wrapping paper laying around & I didn't have enough time to go buy extra tissue or anything else. (Piñata was due the next day. 😬)

I would have preferred a darker tissue to match. 🤷🏻‍♀️

This is where I ran out of tissue....

So I made a oval shaped patch for both sides and then placed the wormy middle on top.

I again didn't have black paper & had to spray the poster paper black.

Last minute, I traced the outline of the piñata with a black sharpie.

I was so worried about them liking it. It looks so different from the invitation, but...

Look at the piñata authentication party!!

It totally fits in!

💜 I'm so happy. 💜

Anyway, had I known there were gold touches I'm might have gone a more gold direction since I have a few cans of gold paint. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Oh well, I'm just glad it came out so well and fits in perfectly. 💜