Make a Death Star Piñata

It isn't easy building a space station, and the Death Star Piñata is no exception. Still, you'll have more fun building your own piñata, and even more fun destroying it in the fine company of fellow Rebels! Hang the finished piñata in a large area. Rebel fighters must face the Death Star blindfolded, armed only with a plastic bat and the Force. Get this craft, as well as recipes and other party ideas, in The Star Wars Party Book: Recipes and Ideas for Galactic Occasions by Mikyla Bruder from Chronicle Books.

YOU WILL NEED:

1 12-foot length of strong string or kitchen twin
1 latex balloon (such as a punch balloon, available at toy stores), inflated to 12 inches in diameter
1 1/4 cups flour
6 full sheets newspaper, cut into 1-inch strips
1 pinhead nail, 1 inch long
X-acto knife (ask an adult to use this)
Clear tape
2 sheets silver tissue paper, each 20 by 28 inches, cut into 1-inch strips
Clean-release masking tape, 1 inch wide
Spray adhesive
Gray and black glitter
White glue
Clear satin acrylic spray
1 pound assorted candy

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STEP ONE

Use the string to tie the inflated balloon closed and hang it over a well-protected work surface. Place 1 cup of the flour in a large shallow bowl and add approximately 1 cup water, or enough to reach the consistency of too-wet pancake batter.

STEP TWO

Pass a newspaper strip through the paste and wipe off the excess. Lay the strip over the balloon and smooth down. Repeat until the ball is completely covered, leaving an opening at the tied end. This opening, the access hole, should be large enough to accommodate a piece of candy. Allow to dry.

STEP THREE

Repeat Step 1 to cover the piñata with another layer of newspaper, adding more water to your paste if it is too sticky. Allow to dry.

STEP FOUR

Once dry, take down your piñata and use a pin to make a small hole in the balloon through the access hole, letting the air out slowly. Remove the balloon and discard it, reserving the string. Use the pinhead nail to make a small hole in the piñata, about 10 inches away from the access hole. This will be the top of your piñata.

STEP FIVE

Tie the reserved string to the nail and thread the nail into the piñata through the access hole. Untie the nail and in its place, securely tie a finger-size roll of dry newspaper to the end of the string. Pull the roll back into the piñata though the access hole and pull the string taut.

STEP SIX

Use a pencil to mark the equator of your piñata. To make the Superlaser Cannon Well, mark a 4-inch circle above the equator on the side opposite to the access hole. Have an adult help cut out the circle with the X-acto knife. Invert the circle and replace it, securing it with several small pieces of tape. Hang your piñata.

STEP SEVEN

Place 1/4 cup flour in a medium-size shallow bowl and add approximately 1/2 cup water, or enough water to make a thin paste. Pass a strip of tissue paper through the mixture and then between two fingers remove the excess.

STEP EIGHT

Lay the strip over the piñata and smooth it down. Wipe any excess flour-and-water mixture from the surface with a paper towel. Continue in this manner until half of the piñata is covered. Allow to dry. Cover the other half and let dry.

STEP NINE

To decorate your piñata, lightly apply strips of masking tape to simulate the light lines as seen in the picture. Take the piñata outside. Working over newspaper, quickly cover the piñata with a light, even coat of spray adhesive.

STEP TEN

Immediately sprinkle gray glitter over the entire surface of the piñata, shaking it gentle to remove the excess glitter. Carefully remove the masking tape. Allow to dry completely. Apply a line of white glue around the equator of your piñata and sprinkle with black glitter, shaking it to remove the excess. Allow to dry.

STEP ELEVEN

Push the candy through the access hole. Close the access hole securely with several pieces of clear tape. Paint the tape with some glue and shake gray glitter over it to camouflage. Allow to dry.