How to Make Balloon Animals
Entertain children with some dazzling balloon creations. Creating balloon animals can be a lucrative skill at fairs, shows and entertainment events. Follow these simple instructions to become a latex veterinarian.
[edit] Steps
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Inflate most of a #260 balloon, leaving a few inches uninflated, and tie off.
Leave room for expansion.
- Starting at the knot, grab about 3 inches of balloon and twist 2 or 3 times to create the nose bubble. Hold this bubble to keep from untwisting.
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Create 2 more two-inch sections of balloon to make ear bubbles. Continue to hold all of the bubbles to prevent untwisting. The balloon should look like three bubbles and a long section, now.
Nose and ear bubbles. -
Fold between ears and twist 3 times at nose joint. This twist should hold itself. The balloon should look like a nose, two ears and a long body.
The head. - Grab enough balloon to make a neck. Twist and hold this.
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Create 2 more three-inch bubbles of balloon to make front legs. Continue to hold it all.
Front leg bubbles. - Fold between legs and twist 3 times at neck joint. The balloon should look like a head, neck, front legs and a long body.
- Grab enough balloon to make a body; twist and hold.
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Create 2 more legs using the same idea as before..
Almost done. -
Fold and twist 3 times at hip joint. You are done! The balloon should look like a dog, giraffe, horse, or dinosaur.
Dog? Dinosaur? You decide.
[edit] Tips
- Use an inexpensive balloon pump from a toy store. Some people can inflate a #260 by mouth, but not many. Hand pumps are more sanitary.
- If balloon pops, laugh, make a joke about "blowing up" some balloons for fun and start over. Children will back up a step but they won't leave.
- Carry a permanent marker and make a smiley face on your animal.
- Learn to make snakes, swords, hearts, turtles, funny hats and other balloon shapes.
- Experiment with other sizes and shapes of balloons to make apples and bumblebees.
- Store balloons in an air-tight container as latex deteriorates when exposed to air.
- A little corn starch in storage container will prevent latex from adhering to itself.
- Use new balloons rather than stored ones. Older balloons are more likely to pop when you are inflating or twisting.
- Carry balloons in your pocket to school, wedding receptions, any place where children may roam.
- Talk as you twist. Be funny and entertaining.
#260 - It helps to inflate the entire balloon until air is spread throughout, then to deflate it slightly, leaving about 3 inches at the end as mentioned in step 3.
[edit] Warnings
- Balloons are not for little children due to danger of choking. Make older children promise to throw away the balloon when it expires.
- Every child in the room will want one. Seriously. Do not send children home crying if it can be avoided.
- Do not buy cheap twisty balloons from a toy store. Look for a year round costume shop with clown supplies. Check the expiration dates on the balloons. Expect to pay quite a lot more than ordinary balloons per bag, but the price difference is well worth it.
- Balloons can be blown up by mouth. It takes practice, and patience, but can reward you by removing a need to carry a pump. If you try, start slowly and be careful to stop if you feel dizzy or light-headed. A #260 balloon is much much harder to inflate than a round one.
[edit] Sources and Citations
- Balloon Headquarters- A site with a plethora of info for all skill levels of twisters
- Balloon Articles - Instructions written by balloon entertainers
- Free Balloon Animal Instructions- A site with a free video instructions on how to make over 30 balloon creations
- Free Balloon Animal Instructions- Basic to intermediate instructions.
- - Blog about balloon entertainmentLearn about the word of balloon entertainment
