Are you in a pickle, trying to figure out what to give your friends for Valentine’s Day? The best way to show a friend they mean a great dill to you, is with a little pickle piñata! Fill it with some dill-icious Valentine candy and prizes, and your friends will be dill-ighted! They will really relish it.

These would also be fun for party favors honoring a pickle enthusiast! We have one at our house for sure. You could also use them for a “pickles and ice cream” baby shower! The tag could say, “Thanks a great dill for coming!” Let’s make some pickles, shall we?

• Twisty balloons
• Balloon pump
• Newspaper strips
• 1 C flour, 1 C water
• Craft foam beads
• Folk Art Acrylic Craft Paint (alfalfa, black & white)
• Wax paper
• Tacky glue
• Clear tape
• Sponge brush
• Pouf mesh sponge
• Box Cutter
• Cooling rack
• Scissors
• White cardstock
• Baker’s twine
• Marker or printer (not pictured)
• Small hole punch

Step 1
Tie a knot in a twisty balloon, about 1.5” from the opening. Continue to tie knots in the balloon, about 1.5” from each previous knot. Use a balloon pump to blow up the first section. Tie off the end, and then cut the section off just above the first knot. Blow up the next section, tie off the end, and cut just above the knot. Continue to blow up each section, until you have several pickle-shaped balloons. Tape down the knots on each side of the balloons.

Step 2
Mix 1 C flour and 1 C water. Dip a newspaper strip in the mix, and use two fingers to “squeeze” off any excess paste. Lay the first strip across the top of the balloon. Continue to glue newspaper strips to cover the entire balloon. Glue at least two layers of newspaper to each balloon, and smooth out any lumps. Place on a cooling rack to dry overnight. Repeat with each “pickle” balloon.

Step 3
Once the paper mache is completely dry, paint the pickle white using a sponge brush. Allow to dry.

Step 4
Paint the pickle alfalfa green. Allow to dry.

Step 5
Place a small puddle of alfalfa green on a piece of wax paper, and place a dot of black in the puddle. Mix together with the end of a paintbrush. Dip your mesh pouf sponge in the paint, and dab off any excess. Use the sponge to apply splotches of paint to the pickle, and allow to dry.

Step 6
Use a box cutter to cut three sides of a small rectangle into the back of your pickle. This will be the door that will need to open enough to place small candies and prizes inside. Pull out the remaining balloon, and shake out any glue flakes. Fill the pickle with Valentine goodies, and close the small door.

Step 7
Paint several craft foam beads alfalfa green on a piece of wax paper, using a sponge brush. Once dry, glue the beads to your pickle, randomly spacing apart. Allow to dry. You may want to touch up the paint on or around the bead “warts,” using a paintbrush and alfalfa green. Allow to dry, and then you may also want to re-apply some of the darker green (made using alfalfa green and black) using the mesh pouf. Allow to dry once again.

Step 8
Write or print “You mean a great dill to me” on white cardstock. Cut a rectangle around the writing, and cut a triangle in each end of the tag. Use a small hole punch to put a hole in the end of the tag, and use baker’s twine to attach the tag to the pickle.

No big dill, right?! Your pickles are ready to go! Happy Valentine’s Day!