Balloon Chat
Uncategorized Boards => Balloon Review => Topic started by: nippy99 on September 14, 2014, 02:45:08 PM
Balloon Review 120 : Mad Hatz & Wearables Vol 2 DVD by Buster Balloon
Available from http://shop.diamondstorm.com/index.php? ... cts_id=193 (http://shop.diamondstorm.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=193) price $49
Next up is a blast from the past and one of the DVDs containing models that I still frequently use. The video production is excellent, each model is explained in Busters whacky sense of humour and each model is fully indexed. If you haven't any of Buster's instructions in your collection it is now time to invest.
I know I am going to enjoy this one!
Let's see what we have here...
LADYBUG HAT
This hat is very popular, easy to make and perfect for line work. The use of a 350Q for the body of the bug really enhances the look meaning you can charge a higher price! The antennae move around and animate the model. You will make lots and lots of these. Really nice. Why not make Buster's ladybug bracelet to go with it?
[attachment=0:1ou9f527][/attachment]481-ladybug.jpg[/attachment:1ou9f527]
BUTTERFLY HAT
This butterfly hat has elegance that will make it suitable for adult evening events. The only difficultly here is shaping the wings to look right. I always find it a little hit and miss to get a good shape. It is quick and easy again making it perfect for the real-world.
[attachment=0:3je6gynm][/attachment]482-butterlyfhat.jpg[/attachment:3je6gynm]
FLOWER PRINCESS
This hat is basically a flower with some green stems coming from it. Not too sure about this one. In my attempt the green petals look like horns! :lol:
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Quote from: "nippy99"FLOWER PRINCESS
This hat is basically a flower with some green stems coming from it. Not too sure about this one. In my attempt the green petals look like horns! :lol:
However, with a bit of tweaking, you'd have a great Maleficent hat!
BUNNY HAT
This one is a cross between Ken's hitchhiker hat (to whom Buster credits) and his own monkey. The rabbit hat is great for line work. I am not so sure the yellow round face looks the best. It may be better to use a regular round and add some artwork. I still prefer Buster's monkey that I make ALL the time.
[attachment=0:1h9qh96r][/attachment]486-bunnyhat.jpg[/attachment:1h9qh96r]
TURTLE
I really love this turtle. The shells looks brilliant. Just a shame I didn't take a very good photo! Made with 350Qs this is a large model which can be mounted onto a hat or just left as a standalone item. This can even be used as part of an underwater display. Very nice.
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PRINCESS CROWN v1
I really like crowns and use them a lot of walkabout gigs. The girls love them. This variation uses a heart as the centre display. The biggest pain here is to stop the small gold bubbles from unravelling and to sit nicely without becoming twisted. It takes some time to get them adjusted right.
[attachment=0:v6ttcr24][/attachment]484-princess-crown-1.jpg[/attachment:v6ttcr24]
Could you do a pinch twist on the third bubble either side? I think that would help a lot to keep it from unravelling.
Love this set of DVDs
Www.twistandmake.co.uk (http://www.twistandmake.co.uk)
Www.facebook.com/twistmake (http://www.facebook.com/twistmake)
This looks like a great a DVD. Wearables and playables seem very popular with all the children I meet
PRINCESS CROWN v2
A slightly different version of the princess crown replacing the heart with a 'jewel' - whilst this crown takes a little longer I think it is the best crown of the two. It depends on how long you have to make it!
[attachment=0:3ek13khq][/attachment]485-princess-crown2.jpg[/attachment:3ek13khq]
HELLO KITTY HAT
This hat base with two twisted braids and is very fast to make, The kitty face is just a simple white heart with added artwork. Perfect for line work. Without the heart it would be good as a Ali Baba hat!
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MERMAID
I have been making this mermaid for years and it is such a big hit. It is one of those balloons that if you make it just once at a gig you will be asked for it constantly by all the mums and girls. The design is fast for line work but as it uses 350Qs it looks more impressive and you can sell it for more!
I also make this model with RED hair to match Aerial's.
The artwork is usually better than I have done and Buster shows a step by step tutorial on how to draw a really nice looking face.
Do not under-estimate the value of this model. Try it!
MONKEY TREE
The perfect compliment to Buster's famous monkey design - a tree to display the monkey. The monkey design is not taught on this DVD. You will need to purchase an earlier volume to learn this. The tree itself looks great but is really fast to make. Buster explains the importance of entertaining whilst making this. The final design forms a hat but I have stopped slightly short and just made the tree with some added bananas.
If I hadn't already purchased all this series of DVDs I guess I would be annoyed that the monkey isn't taught here.
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Quote from: "nippy99"MONKEY TREE
The perfect compliment to Buster's famous monkey design - a tree to display the monkey. The monkey design is not taught on this DVD. You will need to purchase an earlier volume to learn this. The tree itself looks great but is really fast to make. Buster explains the importance of entertaining whilst making this. The final design forms a hat but I have stopped slightly short and just made the tree with some added bananas.
If I hadn't already purchased all this series of DVDs I guess I would be annoyed that the monkey isn't taught here.
Rather than buying the DVD, you can watch his YouTube video where he teaches the monkey design.
//https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNoYmUBfZc8
Just thought you might like to know.
Lynnae - that's a top tip - thanks for sharing.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk
ELEPHANT
I first made this design many years ago and it was nice to make it again and remind myself just how good it was. Buster's original design uses mocha brown but I made my one in grey. The head design is made of grey 646qs and is easy to make. The trunk section is slightly more tricky but still fairly fast. It looks big and impressive for fairly minimal effort.
The most challenging part is shaping the ears!
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HULA MONKEY
An enhancement to Buster's famous monkey design. The monkey itself isn't taught here so you need to refer to one of his earlier DVDs. The monkey skirt using interweaved loops is very hard to learn from a DVD and it is easier if someone shows you. Care and Share days are perfect for this.
A little long for line work so I will stick to the original design which I now must have made 1000 times or more.
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SHARK
This is Buster's first shark design which I think must have formed the basis of the advanced shark model on his Big & Bad DVD collection. This one is made mostly of 646Qs. The end design is good but the teeth are hard to see under to top of the mouth.
A great design if you don't have the time to make a full set of 321Q teeth as in the more advanced model.
[attachment=0:1q8gp9v5][/attachment]784-shark.jpg[/attachment:1q8gp9v5]
There are a number of DVDs and Youtube videos that teach the troublesome flower weave (as you mention in the Hula Monkey) design. I finally found one (free) approach that works perfectly for me every time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7WRpRXaAIA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7WRpRXaAIA)