I use edding 750`s ..................... used for teeth , eyes,mouths.
and usually overlap with sharpies.(takes about 3o sec to dry)

Add a great look to the balloon.

Norm

Quote from: "Billy  Balloonman"Hi BW,

I get my Glow sticks from

 http://www.glow-sticks.org, i use the small 1.5 inch stick they work great for aliens
eye balls and lights in cars,masks  i think you have Don c`s wearables so plenty of great pieces to use them on..................

Hope this helps

Norm

Great, thanks Norm, I'll have a look now.

Have just posted some comments about mini glowsticks in the other post magicseb started

http://www.balloonchat.co.uk/viewtopic. ... &sk=t&sd=a

I have a couple of questions for the people that are using paint pens, i have had trouble sourcing the Edding 750s but my local hobby craft stock a range called Uni Paint.

Having looked into it the Uni Paints appear to be available in more colours and nib sizes, and as they were available i bought a couple. So far i have had no trouble

However i have just read a post on MagicBunny saying people have had trouble with the Uni Paints Popping Balloons (More common on certain colours the others). Has anyone else used this brand and had trouble?

Are there problems with the Eddings? Where do you get them? My local hobby craft and staples dont stock them.

Pete

Hi Pete,

I find the uni pens take too long to dry and are a little watery.

You can get the edding 750 from Viking direct about 2.95 but have to buy 10!!

Billy wiz uses a different type?

Perhaps someone on here may be able to send you a pen or suggest a retailer that sells in singles

Good Luck

Norm

Hi Norm, thanks for your comments.

Viking Direct are currently showing no stock, but I have come across this company

http://www.cultpens.com/acatalog/edding ... arker.html

They offer 14 colours of Edding, a good price on singles, an amazing price on 10 packs, and free delivery over £10.

I have no idea what their service is like but i will be doing an order within the next week or so (downside of online ordering is you need money on a card!), will let you know how i get on.

Pete

quote="P_Outen"]Simple question really.
...Ive seen people that use balloon scraps, stickers, pens etc but what do you recommend and why?
Besides all the items already listed, I also use gum balls, dried beans, and chenille stems (pipe cleaners).
I use gum balls instead of bouncy balls because 1) they are cheaper 2) they are biodegradable, and 3) are not a choking hazard.   There are a couple of hats I use them in all the time. One is a simple baseball cap
http://www.balloonhq.com/photos/db/comp ... 33979&pics

Dried beans: Used for the 'rattle' in rattlesnakes and the 'dirt' in my tiny vacuum cleaner. http://www.balloonhq.com/photos/db/comp ... 42335&pics


Chenille stems: Bend the ends back so that they are no longer pointy and sharp, stuff them into a 260 with just a puff of air, and tie off the balloon.  Can be used for making eye glasses, insect legs, and stems for small flowers.
http://www.balloonhq.com/photos/db/comp ... 49957&pics

Another question, its been suggested to move from permenant markers to paint pens, as they do not turn wet again when the balloon deflates, is this really the case?
Yes, this really is the case, but I have yet to have any major issues with my sharpie use.

If this is the case, i then wonder if i used a white paint pen, and draw over it with a permenant marker, does it stay dry when the balloon deflates? No, it doesn't stay dry.  If you have the time to wait for the white paint to dry enough so that you can color over it you might as well use colored paint pens to begin with.  I use Painters brand paint pens.  Mainly the white one.  It dries in about a minute and has pretty good coverage, as good or better than the Galaxy pens.  Once it's completely dry, I can color over it with a sharpie if needed.  But the main reason I use it instead of a Galazy marker is that the Painters brand can be wiped off as long as it's still wet.  It also liquefies the sharpie ink.  So for those times when my sharpies take on a life of their own and color where I don't want them to, I just scribble over the ink with my paint pen, then wipe the whole mess off.  

As for stickers, I know of several twisters that use them all the time and are quite glad to do so.  I guess this is one of those things where it's purely personal preference.

Glow sticks: Glow sticks are a lot of fun to add to your balloons but unless you are working a venue that has at least subdued lighting, they just aren't effective. In addition to glow sticks, there are some mini blinky lights (body lights) out that are pretty cool.  They flash 1, 2, or 3 colors.  Makes your alien ships come to life but are a bit pricey unless you are being paid well for the gig.  

Happy twisting,
Bonnie, The Balloon Lady

Im hoping some of you guys have tried this yourselves over the years, instead of buying pens, stickers, etc and finding they arent right for me or general use.

Any suggestions?

Pete[/quote]

I only do add ones if time permits. It's all a matter of what the length of a line looks like. At a party I'll normally use my Sharpie pen to put eyes, stripes, or other simple details, or even the kids name, but most corporate gigs, store fun days it takes up to much time, so it's plan as Jane that goes. I think if you use the balloon colours right, and your creation looks like what you are trying to make, then adding all these other bits and bobs to the detail isn't necessary. I have used in times past those pre-printed stick on eyes and in some ways they do give a cleaner look to the animal, but then again you have to sit there and peel them off the paper, stick them on and that consumes time, enough time that I could almost make another 1 balloon creation, but they do look good.

I asked this of another some other balloon modeller (Mark Byrne) so now I use the same. Oh yes maybe I should mention them........but 1st I'll tell you what they are like.......brilliant. No turning to liquid, weather proof etc.

They are called Mean Streak they are a permanent marking stick, waterproof. I have black for eye I also use white as well, I've been using it mainly for one of Marks hats.

The website I got them from is //http://www.durablesupply.com Also they have //http://www.markersupply.com

Hope this helps
Stevie_babe

However i have just read a post on MagicBunny saying people have had trouble with the Uni Paints Popping Balloons (More common on certain colours the others). Has anyone else used this brand and had trouble?

Pete,

I have had this problem with the Uni white pen. Coverage I found poor and after a short while the balloons poped.  Really annoying when you have spent a good while on a model and just finishing it off:(

Quote from: "Graham Lee"

Quote from: "Thelma Levett"If the penis as good as it seems I think I will be spending a lot of money to get a good collection of them.

Thelma, This made me Laugh out load    :lol:  :lol:

I recommend watching the whole thing, but the relevance to this thread starts at 2:45 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSvW2-XmJN4


ps. Hi everyone, my first post.

Hi Sean! Glad to see you over here. I tried that link -

"This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by NBC Universal"

Darn - I hate that! Now I really want to see it. What was it about?

Cheers,
Kath 8-)

MAN!! I just found it there last night!!

Here is the direct download link - http://www.mrt300.com/snl/jeopardy/SNL_ ... 9-03-20.rm
You need RealPlayer to watch it.

Here is the page from which that link is taken: http://mrt300.ods.org/snl/view.php?jeopardy
It's the Saturday Night Live skit Celebrity Jeopardy from 03-20-99 with Sean Connery, Calista Flockheart, and Nicholas Cage

:lol:  :lol: Oh, that was good, Sean! Funny!

Cheers,
Kath 8-)

Recently discovered these for less than a pound each at ASDA & they are great to slip into any pocket.
They do a fine job of sticking balloons together or to walls for decoration.

Daniel M[attachment=0:2lgwq9no][/attachment]Glue-dots.jpg[/attachment:2lgwq9no]

Elmers now makes an acid free rubber cement. The label says 'photo safe' so perhaps it can be found at photo shops - I found mine at a craft store.

For a portable version, try putting some into an eyeliner tube. It doesn't take much and it works like magic.