This birthday party staple became a Latin American tradition when Spanish explorers shared the custom with natives in those lands. Piñatas are easy to make by wrapping a large balloon with several layers of newspaper strips dipped into a flour-and-water paste. Once it dries, the piñata can be painted with colors representing the flags of Hispanic nations and embellished with crepe paper streamers and ribbons.
Research art styles from Latin American countries, then create a poster or stamp design that highlights a specific artistic style. Designs can include maps, landscapes, or portraits of famous Hispanic Americans.
Mexican milagro, or miracle, charms are tokens people carry to represent a particular wish or prayer. Typically made of silver, they reflect the shape of the item wished for, such as a body part when healing is desired in that part of the body. Make milagro charms by cutting layers of aluminum foil into a desired shape. Use colored pencils to emboss and decorate the charms. Cut a tiny paper tag and write the wish on it. Connect the charm and tag together with colorful string.