Failure IS an Option

Well, I am done with my project.  It did not turn out the way that I wanted it to, but I am still really proud of myself for getting it done.  My project was a pinata, but not in the traditional sense.  Instead of making a paper mache base for my pinata, I used cardboard and tape to create a Semi Truck base.
My pinata did not turn out the way I envisioned it would, but that is OK.
Over the past couple of months, I have learned a lot about myself.
One, I am horrible at time management.  I did not take into account exactly how much time I would need to devote to this project to make it work.  Nor did I expect the amount of time I would be away from school on 20 Time days.
Two, I don 't really do well with the prospect of failure. I was so mad at myself for not getting exactly what I wanted accomplished.  But I still worked through, and I never gave up on my project.
Three, I am proud of myself.  For so long, all I have focused on was my academics, and what I had to do to get a good grade.  This project was my choice, my own thoughts were put to the test here, and I did something with them.
I believe that this was a wonderful learning process, not only did I learn about the pinata, but I also learned about myself.  I think that when you are able to take a project, and basically teach it to yourself, you are reaching one of the best places you can be.  I was so proud of myself for even getting part of my pinata done, that I am OK with whatever grade I may get on my project.
My pinata may not look like the best thing ever, and I may have failed in that sense.  But I am proud of my failure, and my ability to accept that I can fail.  My pinata is a cardboard Semi Truck with a white cab, and a blue trailer, and I am extremely happy with that.
I really want to do another 20 Time project, as I already have something in mind.  I loved the idea of 20 Time, and I believe that it can help me become a better student in the future.  Having 20 Time gave me a break from the rigidity of school, it gave me a chance to work on a something that I wanted to work on, not just something I had to.  There had been other projects similar to this, but this one was by far the most important to me.

Time Tables

So, I may have overestimated the amount of time I have had to make this pinata.  I tend to have this problem on big projects, mostly by forgetting to take it home with me.  Over the past couple months,  I have learned that making the pinata is not hard at all, it is just time consuming.

I had decided that instead of making paper mache paste to use on my pinata, I was going to use crumpled up bits of tissue paper.  This is a very long process, and it is extremely tedious on a pinata over a foot long.   My cab didn't take that long, but I may have to improvise on my trailer itself.

Another issue I have had is time management.  I keep forgetting that I am allowed to take this project home.  Also, I did not account for the amount of Fridays, our 20 Time days, that I would be out of school.

My hope is that over the course of this next week, that I will at least be able to cover my pinata all the way.  I will take it home to work on it, as well as working on it in advisory.  It may not be the ideal solution, but hopefully it will make it to where the pinata is not cardboard and tape colors.

Decorating!!!

I finished the base for my pinata! So now, I can start on decorating the cab!  Instead of using the paper mache strips and paste, I am using a different method to decorate my pinata.  I am using tissue paper and glue.  What you do is, you crumple up the tissue paper into little balls and then you glue them onto your pinata.  This gives the pinata a textured look.

Anyways, the cab is going to be white, but I am going to put construction paper, or grey tissue paper, where the windows would be.  The wheel (yes I made wheel) are going to be fully black.  The hitch part of the cab is also going to be grey.  I am going to make the trailer a light greenish blue as that is the color of my dad's old trailer he had.  

Overall, this project is going easier than I expected.  I am really enjoying working on my pinata because it is something I made, without any help from my parents or others.

Run the Bases

I have made my base!  Surprisingly, it actually looks really good!  The base is the cab and trailer of a semi truck; proportional, I might add.  I have secured the cardboard that I used to make the base with masking tape.  I am currently adding wheels to the base to hold it up.  After I finish adding the wheels, I am going to start adding the tissue paper to make it look somewhat festive.  I want the cab to be white or grey, and the trailer to be blue or grey.  The tires will be black. The tissue paper will be secured with a wet glue, and they will be small, crumpled bits of tissue paper.

Gearing Up

Well, this weekend I am going to get the materials needed to construct a Semi Truck Pinata.  My friend decided that he needs to be difficult, and give me a  hard project from the get go.
Now, I really don't need that much to make this pinata, as most of it I have at home.  I need some cardboard boxes, maybe two or three; tissue paper in whatever color I decide to use (it will probably be grey); masking tape; wire to make the hooks; and glue to hold it all together.
The cardboard boxes, or scraps, will make up the base of the truck.  I can put two together, and add a little more cardboard to the front end to make it look like the cab of a Semi.  The tissue paper will obviously be the outside of the truck.  The masking tape will be used to hold the boxes together, while the glue will be for the tissue paper.  The wire has to be put in when I make the base, otherwise, there will be no way to hold the pinata come party time!
Hopefully, this will all work together smoothly, and I am able to give my friend a decent looking pinata.

Starting Off

Every once in a while, I can have a great idea.  Not often, but sometimes the inspiration will hit me.  This quarter, the inspiration was my Spanish teacher.  Mrs. Walker challenged us Spanish 3 student to come up with a 20% Time project.  A 20% Time project is when a student or worker applies 20% of their time to a "pet" project, something that they are interested in personally.

My personal 20% Time project will be the process of making a pinata.  When I was six-years-old, one of my relatives made me a Dora the Explorer pinata, and ever since then, I thought that it would be cool to make one myself. Another reason I chose this project was that my best friend's birthday is in October, which is when our project will be done.

 I would like to say that I am going to be the best at this, but honestly, I have never made a pinata in my life.  I like making things, so I believe that this project is going to be good for me. Hopefully, my final product won't be an absolute failure!