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Make an Emergency Halloween Pinata

Make an Emergency Halloween Pinata
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OK, so we got invited to a Hallowe'en party, one of those where people bring contributions to the buffet.

"Of course we'd like to come - what shall we bring?"


"Could you manage a Hallowe'en-themed piñata?"

Er, OK...

...and here we go.

(Oh, and the emergency? Version one, a papier mache construction failed. Four days of pasting and gluing, and it all went wrong. I didn't have four days left to make another that way.)

So, to the cardboard!
 
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Step 1The template

The template
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I didn't have time to make another frame and cover it in a stiff shell, so I decided to go straight for a stiff shell.

I had some thick corrugated card*, too thick for smooth curves, so I decided to go geometric, and make a truncated cuboid - six octahedra, in the planes of the faces of a cube, with equilateral triangles filling in the corners.

I used the largest handy sheet of paper (a page of newsprint) to make a square.

Folding into four, then a triangle, and cutting off one point makes a nice octahedron when opened.

I cut two "proper" octahedrons out of the card, then folded the template across the middle to make it narrower - I wanted the piñata to be slightly flatter than a cube.


*Saved from the box that a garden bench came in - Kitewife got fed up with waiting for me to get round to making her one.


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34 comments
Dec 9, 2009. 4:50 AMGoodhart says:
Interesting (co-incidence? ),  in step #1, the first picture, you outlined a triangle containing the words: Pumpkin Prices Slashed!
and then comment that this should be Cut Off !   

;-) 
 
Jul 22, 2010. 9:21 PMWafflicious says:
Lol
Jul 23, 2010. 11:14 AMGoodhart says:
I notice these weird things :-)
Jul 23, 2010. 12:22 PMWafflicious says:
Also I like your smiley faces :?)
Jun 19, 2010. 11:45 PMsuperMacaroni says:
What about using a real pumpkin?
Dec 16, 2009. 4:15 PMthestyrofoampeanut says:
 i love you kiteman!!!
youre paper outlines for catapults are great, and now you saved me
tomorow i need a pinata for a school party
THANK YOU
Nov 12, 2009. 10:14 AMThe Jamalam says:
Voted!
Nov 5, 2009. 9:56 AMaj01-01 says:
awesome piñata
Nov 3, 2009. 6:49 PMZaphod Beeblebrox says:
#2 son looks alot like the kids who live across the street............
Nov 4, 2009. 2:40 PMZaphod Beeblebrox says:
lol
Nov 1, 2009. 5:03 PMGjdj3 says:
Instructable number 99! This is really cool, and now I'm excited for #100.
Oct 30, 2009. 1:03 AMKryptonite says:
I've promised myself every Instructable Kiteman does, I have to make one. Looks like I'm staying up late tonight.
Oct 31, 2009. 3:36 AMKryptonite says:
Oh?

Everything I seem to make seems to be inferior and I don't feel like posting because it feels stupid, even if I should.

I built a "candy bottle" which is a shortened 2 L bottle for Smarties and stuff because my step brother has far too many loose lollies around the place.

I did extremely simple sewing to make my backdrop for picture taking, but it sits well on a curtain rod.

I did a 2 minute gutter cap for our hot house because the gutters had no ends and it just ran off, so I capped one side so we can get a tank and lead the water into it.

I made a motivational background / desktop image, looks great, but I normally I have Instructables up so the motivational side of it gets lost in talking to every one on here.


At least I'm still fairly young so I have a little while to build up to your standards.
Nov 1, 2009. 5:04 PMGjdj3 says:
I don't think he's trying to insult you. I'm sure the project would be unusually difficult for anyone.
Nov 1, 2009. 8:40 PMKryptonite says:
I know he wasn't trying to make me feel bad, but thanks any way. He's showed me what he's working on and.... it's impressive.

The rest of the comment is more of a rant.
Oct 29, 2009. 8:32 AMMolten Boron says:
Yay for saving the day!
You should have gone with the rhombicosidodecahedron.
Oct 28, 2009. 1:37 PMlemonie says:
The Mirror?
What did you / will you fill it with?

L
Oct 28, 2009. 2:46 PMlemonie says:
Well, I did not know that. Is there anything worth reading in it?

L
Oct 28, 2009. 3:04 PMlemonie says:
Well remember that you've contributed to the official sales figures for that publication - they'll be glad of your support.

L
Oct 28, 2009. 3:21 PMlemonie says:
It's a boon!

Mrs B, Essex
Oct 28, 2009. 3:48 PMlemonie says:
I never think of that publication without thinking of "Daily Mail Island" (esp with Fred Basset) - but I remember that you've seen that too.

L
Oct 28, 2009. 10:17 AMxproplayer says:
just like to say WOW i commented like 2 hrs form posting lol i hope to see those other instructables that you have planned!

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Author:Kiteman(The Complete Kiteman Shop)
"Happiness is a shed full of power tools." If you need help around the site, or with a project, feel free to contact me.