Balloon Chat
Uncategorized Boards => Balloon Review => Topic started by: nippy99 on April 21, 2011, 09:45:37 PM
Please find my second balloon review. I know Tonya visits these forums but let me say my review is inpartial and honest....... If you found my review helpful please let me know and I will write some more. Equally if you want me to review your own ebook/DVD let me know!
holy wow!! thank you for the glowing review Darren! (she says blushing) :oops: :)
When I first read your post you said you were just being impartial and honest...I figured you didn't like them.
I'm glad you liked the hats and hope you get tons more use out of them. The nice thing is that it's just a concept...you can put almost any head on it to change the design and make whatever you want.
And not to worry....even if you said you didn't like them...that would be okay. I need to know what you all like and don't like so I can continue to make usable stuff that people can use.
Thanks again!
This fantastic collection of PDFs is an absolute bargain at just $15 for eleven wonderful designs. Ever made a balloon hat that is not sized correctly? Well here Tonya has solved the problem with her adjustable hats. These models are also exceptionally good as tabletop displays or gifts as the hat design allows it to stand upright on its own. The instructions are detailed with plenty of photos and easy to follow steps. Tonya has also supplied accurate measurements for each bubble and so using a measuring tape ensures the balloons are correctly sized.
Also included is a PDF with some additional ideas which can be made using the skills you have now learned. These designs use a selection of heart balloons which can be substituted with rounds instead. The star model for me is Tonya's Giraffe – I have made many people happy with this balloon. Highly recommended and incredible value for money.
Visit http://www.balloonjam.com/tonya/ (http://www.balloonjam.com/tonya/) to order your copy before the price goes up!
ELEPHANT
A cute looking elephant that uses hearts for ears. This balloon design had mixed feedback from my usual critics who were unsure of the ears and one particular child thought it was a mouse! It may well have been my interpretation of Tonya's instructions as her one looks a little more elephant like. Oh well, I liked it!
[attachment=0:3sdpvk6n][/attachment]014-elephant.JPG[/attachment:3sdpvk6n]
GIRAFFE
This giraffe is absolutely AMAZING – I cannot rate it highly enough and it looks fantastic in real-life. The brilliant use of artwork really adds character. I have made lots of these already and they really are in demand. The head design is ingenious with the white round eyes adding stability to the head section. This character is brilliant as a standalone model and is easily
adapted from a hat by just making the leg section behind the body a little shorter. I would have happily paid $15 just for this design. A few children have mentioned Geoffrey from Toys R Us – whoever he is! You are now my balloon hero Tonya!
[attachment=0:93brxrhz][/attachment]015-giraffe.JPG[/attachment:93brxrhz]
PUPPY
A nice chubby puppy with an un-inflated heart used as a tongue. This puppy was well received at a recent birthday party and is a model I will use again.
[attachment=0:1b76lu0n][/attachment]016-puppy.JPG[/attachment:1b76lu0n]
COW
I've seen many cow designs using a blush heart for the nose and mouth. Similar to the puppy design with black ears tucked behind the head.
[attachment=0:vswy8ziz][/attachment]017-cow.JPG[/attachment:vswy8ziz]
RABBIT
This rabbit is excellent and has a lovely facial shape. This is the first one I made and subsequent ones have
been visually much better. This model has been perfect for Easter and I have adapted this design to have a
small basket with mini chocolate eggs inside. A real crowd pleaser and a model that I have had repeat
demands for (and that's not because of the chocolate eggs)
[attachment=0:392d7q19][/attachment]018-rabbit.JPG[/attachment:392d7q19]
HORSE
An interesting horse design and I can't help thinking he looks a little dopey. Not instantly recognisable by my trial audience and probably not one I will make very often.
[attachment=0:37poxjs0][/attachment]019-horse.JPG[/attachment:37poxjs0]
TIGER
This tiger only really looks right when it has been covered with artwork. The paws are an effective shape and I made this example a little lop-sided. An easy design to make and an effective tiger.
[attachment=0:9sz4di8o][/attachment]020-tiger.JPG[/attachment:9sz4di8o]
KITTY
I was quite excited when I saw this design as I have been after a hello kitty style balloon for some while. I thought I had done a reasonable job but struggled to find anyone who knew what it was supposed to be!
[attachment=0:1z8sp3d8][/attachment]021-kitty.JPG[/attachment:1z8sp3d8]
BEAVER
The beaver design is really very good. An excellent cartoon style character and the face is really good. It's not visible from the photo but this beaver has a really nice tail. This model went down a storm with the local 'beavers' scout club.
[attachment=0:2vjjzpho][/attachment]022-beaver.JPG[/attachment:2vjjzpho]
TEDDY
A very similar design to the beaver. I'm not sure I made this one particularly well as I couldn't see this being a teddy bear. It would still pass as some sort of woodland critter and is cute.
[attachment=0:3sp12fhe][/attachment]023-teddy.JPG[/attachment:3sp12fhe]
MONKEY
I love this monkey design. A cheeky face and chubby body makes for a loveable character. You can even add an optional banana as well.
[attachment=0:3jt7njwj][/attachment]024-monkey.JPG[/attachment:3jt7njwj]
Thanks Nippy...they all look great! Thanks for the review :-)
Hi Tonya
Great to see you back on the forums - this is just an updated version of an old review now I have been given my own section on balloonchat :lol:
Are you planning any PDF or DVD releases in the future? And are you coming to Europe for a tour?
Best wishes
Darren
I'm glad to see you have your own 'review' section now...that's awesome. I'm sure it will keep you very busy :-)
I hope to be getting back on the forum more soon. I am going to be moving soon, and am planning on getting back into balloons
a bunch more in the new town. (yay!)
Nothing new at the moment, but am planning on a couple after the move (probably in June or July).
I am supposed to be coming to the Netherlands in June for a lecture, and hope to be able to at least visit you all in the UK at that time. Last I heard, I was flying over that direction on June 16th and I think I will be out that way until about the 25th or 26th. Not for sure yet.
I will let you know details as soon as I have them all.
Hope to meet you then :-)
Love the review.... love the designs... love Tonya. She is an amazing artist who is as nice in person as her designs are! Looking forward to getting these designs.
And Thank you for the reviews, they are very well done and helpful.
aww...thanks Rose :oops:
Just bought it :D
Hey I should be on commission ;-)
LOL...I agree! How about I give the next next CD free? Or if you want to be my 'editor' and review them before I release them for sale I will just send them to you all for free. What do you think?
Hi Tonya - i've PM'd you :lol:
Thanks Darren,
And just so everyone knows, I am not trying to bribe Darren into giving a good review. That's not why I offered him what I did.
I fully expect him to be honest and if he doesn't like a figure for whatever reason, I expect that he puts it on the review. I think it's important for others to know, as well as for me to know what figures work, and what doesn't on my work.
I very much appreciate the reviews in general. There are so many CDs and DVDs out there, it's hard to choose which one's I would find most useful for the events and such I do.
Thanks Darren for taking on this task. :-)
And just to echo Tonya's message, any items supplied to me free of charge will be reviewed in the same open and honest fashion as all my reviews to date. The only guarantee is I will commit to posting a review. Any item supplied to be free of charge will be declared at the start of each review but the outcome will be no different.
As you can imagine I spend a small fortune on purchasing material, time to make each model and stocking up on balloons to make them so I don't feel bad accepting offers of this nature.
If anyone has an issue with this then please speak out. Tonya, i didn't see it as bribery - I'm not that easily bought! :lol:
Your roving reporter...
Darren
These reviews are awesome, so helpful !
But now my balloon dvd wish list is...inflating !
I doubt very much that anyone would have an issue with your receiving free dvds etc in order to review them. This is a great idea for everyone and I will be reading your reviews before purchasing any more material. Thank you nippy99 for the reviews and to all the artists who will help with the process by supplying their dvd's to you.
Completely in agreement with funat60, thank you! :D
I just got the email cd, can't wait to get at it! Wouldn't have ordered this without your review so I thank you again nippy99. Since I was ordering one I figured I might just as well get the 2nd one as well. I think I better start charging for twisting to cover my costs at least! LOLOL
Thanks for ordering them Millie, hope you a tons of fun with them! All you need to do is sell 2 bouquets to make the money back for both CDs. Easy peasy ;)
Hi Millie,
Which 2nd disc did you buy? Tonya's instructions are excellent and you will certainly get a return on your investment just in satisfaction and happiness. Feel free to post your creations so we can all see.
Best wishes
Darren
I got the two adjustable hats ones. I really love the leprechaun and the clown and if what I make in any way resembles them I will post pictures. (maybe not the first or second try though lol)
Start with some of the easier ones to get used to the hat design. Both the rabbit and giraffe are both excellent.
Well I took your advice and did the bunny. I think the hearts I have are the wrong size and definately not the right yellow either for that matter. Didn't have any pink hearts so I had to ad lib. My problem is always the same, the heads tilt back on everything I ever make. This is my first attempt so really I think its pretty darn good! Thank you nippy99 and a very big thanks to Tonya!
It's super cute !
It looks adorable Millie! Great job!
There are instructions (better version than on the first cd) on using rounds instead in the 2nd CD I believe...that way if you don't have hearts...you can substitute rounds.
If you have issues with the head tilting back...add another small pinch twist to the back of the head, that way it should stabalize it a little better.
Glad you're having fun!
Hi all,
a while ago I purchased both Tonya's CDs (fantastic Tonya!) and this is what I made so far
I'm aware that there are some faults, I'll try and do them better next time but thank you very much!!! Children in the hospital loved them so much!! :D :D
Using the same method I came up with a Super Mario hat, needs some improvements but all in all I thins it can work. :P
Very, very cool Anna! Way to make it your own ~ I love it! :-)
Thanks Tonya! :D :D
I liked the hats soooo much I made 16 of them for a party my daughter was having for her moms and tots group. The problem was how to deliver them so I stacked them on a topiary pole and they all nestled in nicely together.
very cool...what a great idea! I'll have to remember that next time I need to deliver some. :-) thanks!
Tonya, :) very cool...what a great idea! thanks!!
Tonya, "necessity is the mother of invention"! The kids loved the hats and my daughter loved the fact that they added some decor until she gave them out! Thanks again for your wonderful instructions!