A reel catch: DIY goldfish piñata

11 Sep 2024

Dive into your creativity side with this DIY goldfish piñata, perfect for you or the kids’ next party. This fin-tastic craft is brought to life with a vibrant coat of Resene golds and oranges – making it as colourful as it is fun to smash!  

You will need: 

• Medium sized cardboard box 
• Scissors or craft knife 
• Lollies or other treats (for inside) 
• Hot glue gun 
• Tissue paper 
• PVA 
• Paintbrush 
• Small length of wire 
• Rope 
• Resene testpots in your chosen shades. Fleur used Resene Fire, Resene Roxy, Resene Rice Cake and Resene Black 

Step 1: Start by cutting two fish body shapes out of the sides of a cardboard box.   

Step 2: Cut some wide strips from the box and use masking tape to attach these to the fish body to make a 3D shape. Remember to add your lollies and/or treats in before you finish taping up the body. 

Step 3: Cut some skinny fin and tail shapes out and hot glue these in place. 

Step 4: Cover the body in tissue paper, gluing it with some watered down PVA glue and a paintbrush. Take care as the tissue paper tears easily when wet. Add scrunched up tissue paper to each of the fins and tail. Once all the glue has dried, paint the fish with your chosen colour – Fleur used Resene Fire, and left the ends of the fins and tail white. 

Step 5: Finish painting the fish by adding the details in your other chosen shades – Fleur used Resene Rice Cake and Resene Black for the eyes, and Resene Roxy for some highlights and shading. 

Step 6: Insert a length of wire into the top and twist it together, and then hang the fish to a tree or pergola with a strong rope. 

project and images Fleur Thorpe 

Published: 11 Sep 2024