Link O Loon Turtle

A little turtle with a golden shell.  Of course you could use other colors of link o loons, but I like the gold ones.

Two Balloon Airplane

A two balloon airplane.  Cute, and doesn't take long to make.

Put Any Animal On A Hat

Putting any animal on a hat is simple.  Using a pinch twist helps keep it secure.

instructions 

Simple Apple

Although at first it may not seem to be a terribly useful shape, I find myself making apples fairly regularly.  Sometimes as part of a fruit basket, other times in addition to a snow white balloon.  The shape also makes great pumpkins.

Motorcycle

A bigger motorcycle. fun to do when you have a bit more time and want to really amp up the basic motorcycle.

Simple Motorcycle

A simple motorcycle is always popular.  This version uses a pop twist on the handlebars.  Normally if I'm doing a simple one, I'll use a second color and make the handlebars from that.  No pop twists for the kids to undo and a bit more color. 

Dog with Pop Twisted Legs

Take a basic balloon dog and make it a little different with pop twisted legs!

A parrot sitting in a swing

This was one of the first balloons that I was taught.  It's easy and cute.

Basic Superhero

Superheros are fun balloons.  This is a generic shape that is easy to modify into a lot of different heros.  Change the colors or hair, add a cape or gadgets and you can make all sorts of different heros.  

directions after the break

Horse

This is a bigger horse than the basic one.  It takes a little longer and is maybe not the best choice for line work, but it's a great party balloon.  This one is a regular brown horse, but I think about half of the ones I make when working are pink and purple.  :-)

pattern after the break

Cat

Can't make dogs without cats!  There are a lot of variations on cats (and dogs for that matter) but this is the one we most commonly used.  We learned it at a balloon jam 15 years ago and it's based on the bear.  If you can do a bear, you can do a cat.

pattern after the break

Teddy Bear

The basic and much loved Teddy Bear.  Make it on it's own, give it some flowers or maybe a heart - or put it in a heart.  It's a classic that never gets old.  One of the basics that everyone should know.

Basic Giraffe

Giraffe's are always popular, even though the basic one is little more than a dog with a long neck and pinch twisted ears.  Keep a brown marker on hand for making spots.  I like to use goldenrod balloons for my giraffe and the brown really pops against that background.

Happy Flower

A simple smile can really change your day - and brighten even the simplest of balloon flowers!  

Simple Corsage

If you can make a flower, you can make a corsage.  It's a good choice for anyone who wants a balloon flower, but doesn't want to carry it around.

Hearts & Flowers

Hearts & Flowers just go together!  It's an easy enough combination, but if you're just starting out - this is one way we do it.

Heart Wand

These make great Valentine's Day giveaways for class parties.  The heart wand isn't just for Feb. 14th though, it's very popular all year long.  

Large Flower made with 350s

I love 350 and 646 balloons.  They take a little practice to get used to, but the result is worth it.

This flower is made with 2 350s for the flower, a round for the center and a 350 for the stem.  In some ways it's much easier than the normal 6 petal flower - just have to get over your fear of big balloons.  

Getting Started with Balloons

As you read through the patterns on this blog please remember that balloon sculpting is not an exact science.  We've made every effort to keep the instructions as simple and as accurate as possible.  Still, there are a few things that may keep your sculpture from looking like the one in the picture.  

1.Not all balloons are the same.  Nearly all are usable, but there are some major differences to be aware of.  (all of the balloons pictured here were primarily made with 260 balloons from Qualatex, a readily available brand)

a.  Different brands are different lengths.  All 260s are supposed to be 2 inches wide and 60 inches long.  They're not.  Some brands are a bit wider or narrower and it's pretty rare for them to be 60 inches long.  In our experience they range from 45 inches to 58 inches.

        b.  Different types of balloons can be harder to twist.  Metallic and neon balloons  both shorter than the other types.  Metallic balloons are often a bit narrower.  The same stuff that makes them glitter keeps the latex from expanding as much and also makes them a bit more difficult to twist.  Cool? Very.  For beginners?  If you can be patient and don’t let yourself get frustrated.  Neon balloons have a tendency to slip when you make certain types of twists.  They're great when you're using a black light, they're just not so great to learn on.

2.Not all hands are the same either.  Each of the artists at Oh Wow!! has a different way of holding and squeezing the balloons.  Some prefer to work with harder bubbles, some with softer.  It's not important that you do things in exactly the same way we do.  It is important that you do them in a way that's comfortable for you.  If looking at the bubble sizes in inches makes you crazy, try looking at them as small, medium, large and so on.  A half inch bubble would be very small and 6 inch one would be extra large.

3. Relax.  We can guarantee that you will pop balloons.  That's what balloons do, they pop.  The more you fear the popping, the more it will happen.  Buy a big bag of balloons and say “So what?” next time one pops.  There's more where that one came from.

4.Don't expect perfection the first time you try a new design.  Practice makes perfect and even imperfect creations are amazing to someone who has never made them.  

As you read the instructions you will notice that bubble sizes are in parentheses.  3 (1/2 inch) bubbles is much easier to read than 3 1/2 inch bubbles.  If you find you need to vary bubble sizes to make your sculpture look the way you want it to, vary the number inside the parentheses, not the one outside them.

Some Basics

Types of Balloons  - There are many types of balloons.  For this book the balloons used will be 260 or "twisting" balloons.   These are the standard long skinny balloons you see in kits and at party stores.

Buying and Storing Balloons - Balloons are a natural, biodegradable product.  You will get the best results when you purchase the freshest balloons possible.  Order from a balloon supplier or buy from a store with a quick turnover.  To keep your balloons fresh, store them away from light and heat.  A ziplock bag in the fridge can make your balloons last a very long time.

Other things to have on hand - For drawing on the balloons a permanent marker or dry erase marker works well.  A pair of scissors is good to keep around for the times you need to get rid of excess balloons.  (or just to get rid of the evidence when you make a mistake) They're also handy to have when you are learning to make pop twists.

Inflating and Burping Balloons - It is certainly possible to inflate 260 balloons by mouth, but for many people it is much easier to use a pump.   Hand pumps are cheap and readily available.  A two way pump will cut your work in half, so be sure to choose a pump that inflates on both the up and the down stroke.  

Most balloon sculptures will not require the balloon to be fully inflated.  It is important that you leave enough of a "tail"  for your sculpture.  As you twist the balloon air will move into this tail.  Too little space and you won't be able to finish your sculpture.

Before you tie your balloons be sure to "burp" them a bit.  Burping is the process of letting out a small amount of air before you tie the knot.  Doing this will keep your balloons soft enough to work with and reduce popping.  It also makes the balloon much easier to tie.  Try not to overdo it unless the directions call for a very soft balloon.  

Before You Twist - Always start twisting from the knot end.  Air will move towards the tail as you make each twist.  Start from the wrong end and it won't be long before you run out of room and your balloon will pop.

It doesn't matter which way you turn the balloon when you twist it as long as you do it the same way every time.  If you switch directions you will untwist previous bubbles as you make the new ones.  It's also important to turn each twist at least 3 full turns.  

Safety - Balloons can be a choking hazard for children so always keep them out of the hands (and mouths) of babies.  It's a good idea to keep them out of your mouth too. Accidents can happen and a balloon scrap in your windpipe may be impossible to dislodge.