Balloons

Having recently discovered ballooning I have quickly increased the types of models. The potential of balloon modelling has proved to be greater than I first anticipated. When I started out I had only heard of balloon animals but I have found that alomst anything can be created. Being a bit of a sci-fi fan I have of course worked out how to create an Enterprise star ship.

Balloon models can be a prop or catalyst for story telling, clown skits, illustrations, puppet skits or entertainment in it's own right. A balloon flower can put a smile on a sad little girls face or even draw out a shy one and a dragon or dinosaur is cool enough for most boys. Even the adults are often impressed when they see you can produce a variety of animals.

Ballooning looks harder than it really is. All you need is a balloon pump, permanent marker pen and some modelling balloons. Once you have mastered a few simple balloon twists, you can produce almost anything. The easiest place to start is with the dog pattern. With slight modifications this same pattern can become a cat, sausage dog, poodle, standard dog, rabbit, mouse, elephant, giraffe, horse, tiger, leopard, lioness, Kangaroo or even a T-Rex! Some are exactly the same model such as the standard dog/horse and kangaroo/T-rex in which it is only the markings that change. That is in their simplest form. More complex forms of these animals can be created when you have built more experience.

The simple dog pattern makes use of the simple lock twist to create the ears and legs. Once you have mastered the dog and it's common variations, you are ready to learn some more basic patterns such as the swan, the swan hat, the standard hat and the animal hat. which can be any head and ears of the standard dog variations! Add some more twists such as the parrot beak and the ear twist and you will be able to create lots more things. There are more twists available such but I expect you get the idea.

Add multiple balloons and the projects get more exciting. I have just started using two or three balloons to create flowers, flower hats, Enterprise and even an Enterprise hat. My Auguste character often wears his Enterprise hat. That is until it is re-posessed by a child, parent or member of staff!

There are also different types of modelling balloon available. The above patterns rely on the standard 260 balloons which are about 2 inches in diameter and 60 inches in length. However 160 (1 inch diameter and 60 inches in length) and 350 (3 inches diameter and 50 inches in length) are also available. Unless you happen to have a fear of balloons or an alargy to latex, balloon modelling should prove itself to be a useful tool. It is easily portable and effective wherever kids (of all ages) abound. I have found it to be a great deal of fun as well.