Our Happy Medium

Spider Party Pinata

Your little ones will go berserk over this bigger-than-life spider pinata!

From the book, Halloween Fun: 101 Ideas to Get in the Spirit

Paper bowls are hidden in this
spider's paper fur to create a
space for Halloween treats.

What You Need:
Yogurt-size plastic lid
Sharp pencil
Ruler
String
Two 12-oz. or larger sturdy paper bowls
Tracing paper
Scissors
1 sheet of black poster board
Stapler
2 handfuls of wrapped candy or small plastic toys, such as plastic spider rings
Thick white crafts glue
Black crimped, shredded paper
Black crepe paper
Green and black crafting foam scraps, such as Fun Foam, for eyes and mouth

Instructions:

1. Download the free pattern for this project. (Downloading requires Adobe Acrobat software.)

Spider leg pattern

Download Adobe Acrobat

2. Use a pencil to carefully poke two holes an inch apart in the center of the plastic lid. Thread the string end down one hole and back up the other hole. Knot the string end to the length of string just above the lid. Poke another hole in the center of one bowl and pull the other end of the string up through this hole. The lid will sit inside the bottom of the bowl and prevent the string end from coming loose when kids strike the pinata. Set this top half aside while you prepare the spider base.

Step 3.

3. Trace the leg pattern onto tracing paper and cut out. Trace around the pattern on poster board four times; then turn the pattern over and trace it four more times. Cut out the eight legs. Position each grouping of four legs on opposite sides of the second bowl. Staple each leg to the rim.

Step 4.

4. Fill the base bowl with candy and/or toys. Position the top bowl over the base bowl. Glue the rims of the bowls together.

Step 5.

5. Glue the shredded paper over the top and bottom of the spider. Cut 4-inch lengths of black crepe paper and glue them to the two joints on each leg.

6. Cut out eyes and a mouth. Glue them to the top of the spider. Hang the spider at striking height in an open space.