I don’t want to cut an 8 out of cardboard, since cardboard is hard to break. Could I use balloons? Thank you!
Answer from Piñata Boy
The easiest way to make a piñata in the shape of a number 8 is to go buy a Mylar balloon in the shape of a number 8 and cover that with papier mâché. The bigger challenge will be installing the hanging hook. Because the loops of the 8 are fairly thin and vulnerable, there’s a good chance that they could be broken all the way through during the whacking. If you put the hook at the top of the piñata like we normally would, it’s possible that the top loops could be severed and the entire piñata fall to the floor with all the candy still inside.
One way to prevent this from happening is to fill in the holes of the 8, so the piñata is a solid figure rather than having two open holes. Another option is to install the hanging hook in the top of the bottom circle, and run a wire up through the top of the piñata. This way the weight of the piñata is supported in the middle instead of at the top, but the hanging hook is still at the top where it needs to be. The obvious drawback to this approach is the wire running visibly through the top circle of the 8.
A third option is to apply more layers of papier mâché to the top half of the number 8 piñata so that the walls of the top loop can withstand a greater beating. This makes it more likely that the bottom of the piñata will be broken open before the top can be severed from the hanging hook.
Another way to strengthen the walls of the top half of the 8 is to let the first few layers of papier mâché dry, then wind some tape around the top half like a snake coiling around the piñata. I wouldn’t cover the loop completely with tape, but just spiral it around like the colors on a candy cane or a barber pole. This will help prevent the loop from breaking apart completely even if the papier mâché is broken through. Masking tape will provide some support but will still be breakable in the whacking. Duct tape will be much harder to tear through in the whacking. Duct tape won’t stick well to the papier mâché, but in either case you’ll want to apply another layer or two of papier mâché over the tape to fully cement it down.
Good luck!