Distractions.

I was sore today from yesterday's fall, but I'm very thankful it wasn't worse. I tried taking it easy and tried to rest up today, but I'm not so good at resting anymore. So I decided to work on the pinata, since I hadn't done anything with it for a few days.


I made some fresh wall paper paste out of cornstarch and water and waited for it to cool a little. While it was cooling, I sat down to tear some paper. Instead of tearing large pieces of paper into small strips, I grabbed 2 of the rolls of adding machine tape that I came across while sorting boxes in the basement. Mom had gotten it for Bugster to draw on when she was little, and she did use an entire roll, but there were 5 left. 


Instead of throwing them away or donating them, I realized they would make the perfect strips for doing the paper mache on the pinatas. So I tore about half a roll into strips 3" to 4" long. By the time I was done tearing the strips, the paste was cool enough to use, so I set out to put another layer on the pinata. However, there was a problem


Every pinata I've ever made has started off with a rather large balloon. I typically put several layers of paper strips on said balloon until it's ready to add the strings. I've found, if I add the strings followed by a few more layers of paper strips, it balances well, and it hangs much more steadily than, if you try to tie it up when it's all been decorated, and the strings don't break. It's a win/win.


As things dry, the paper becomes hard almost like cardboard. It's amazing how strong it can be. At some point, the balloon needs to be popped, but because the paper strips are pasted directly to the balloon, when the balloon is popped, there is a chance of the balloon deflating too quickly and pulling the paper along with it into the center of the pinata. It's really frustrating when this happens, as I usually have to start over.


So when I started applying the new layers to the balloon today, I was so frustrated when I noticed that the balloon had shrunk since I put the first layers of paper on it a few days ago. I had not gotten enough layers on it the other day, so the pinata started to collapse in on itself as soon as I started adding strips of paper to it, which meant only one thing. 


I needed to start over.


So I went downstairs to get another balloon. I blew it up and set it down while I checked on something else. Several hours and several boxes later, the balloon still sits, inflated, where I set it. 


The good news is that I got several more boxes of craft stuff sorted and put away. 


The bad news is that I have to start over on the pinata. 


Hopefully, I won't get distracted quite as easily tomorrow.