Balloons and Decorating Ideas
Looking to buy
balloons? Shop by
Merchant or by
Category!
It's amazing how quickly a room can become more festive by simply adding
balloons! Balloons can be used in an arch, a column hanging from the
ceiling... use your imagination (and the unique features of the party room)
and balloons can add atmosphere to any event.
Directions for making a balloonarch...
Hang balloons in bunches for the best effect. If you plan to fill
balloons with helium, wait until the party day to ensure they float well.
Attach balloons to light fixtures and hang them in doorways or anywhere that
strikes your fancy. Use colorful ribbon to tie balloons together, and curl
the ends by pulling the ribbon between your thumb and the blade of scissors.
Hang balloons on your mailbox to mark the party spot; arrange them as a
decoration at the door; or tie them to the birthday child's chair to mark
the seat of honor. For an extra special touch, make a balloon arch by
filling balloons with helium, attaching them (several inches apart) to a
long piece of curling ribbon and anchor the ends to the floor beside the
doorway.
Garlands – Use air-filled balloons and
attach clusters to a nylon line as described above for helium-filled arches.
When garlands are desired length, string between the corners of the ceiling,
allowing garlands to drape evenly on all sides of the room.
Shapes – Aluminum rod is the best frame for
shaped balloon decorations because it is flexible. Fashion the rod into a
heart, number, or other shape before attaching clusters of air-filled
balloons.
Columns – Attach clusters of helium balloons
to a nylon line and tie down one end. Or, use balloons filled with air and
attach them to a vertical frame anchored on a sturdy base.
Helium-filled decorations
A simple table decoration is easy to make with helium balloons, either all
latex or a mixture of Mylar and latex. Anchor the bunch to the table with a
safety pin in the cloth or with a small wooden block covered in decorative
paper.
Do not forget that latex helium balloons only stay afloat for about eight
hours. So do this on the morning of the party.
For all these decorations it is best if all the balloons are the same
size. To achieve this cut out a cardboard template and check the size each
time you inflate a balloon.
The simple "paperclip" arch is easy to make with helium filled balloons.
Either latex or Mylar balloons can be used. Obtain some tough fishing line
and attach either end to a brick wrapped in silver paper or to a table leg
or stair rail if one is handy. Attach the balloons with paperclips at one
foot intervals along the line (if you are experienced you can tie them
directly onto the line as you fill them. Adjust the spacing of the balloons
and the tension in the line to get the upwards curve you require.
Still using your fishing line and paperclips you can move on to the spiral
arch. This is made of groups of four helium balloons fastened together by
paperclips and threaded onto the line like pearls on a necklace. You will
need heavy weights wrapped in paper to secure each end of the arch. Try
using a five liter plastic container filled with sand.
Pierce the necks of the inflated balloons with the end of the paperclip
until you have all four balloons hooked on, Then hook the paperclip over the
fishing line and push the cluster of balloons up against its neighbor.
alternating colors give the swirl effect.
Air-Filled decorations
These have the advantage that they can be prepared one or two days before.
Not too long before, the balloons tend to attract dust and one or two may
burst.
A simple cluster can be affixed to a lamp bracket or tied up high near
the ceiling with fishing line.
You can gather the balloons together with paperclips as described above.
Spiral garlands using air-filled balloons are made in the same way as the
helium spiral arch described above. They are of course non-floating and have
to be hung downwards from the ceiling.
A balloon heart can be made using a wire frame and five-inch air filled
balloons. The frame can be made of thin steel or aluminum wire like that
used for coat-hangers. The inflated five -inch balloons are gathered into
groups or three or four and twisted around the wire. Once they are pushed up
tight together the effect is very attractive.
Shop for Balloons by Category!
Shop for Balloons by Merchant!
back to Decorations page
| 
