Balloon Chat
Uncategorized Boards => Balloon Review => Topic started by: Graham Lee on December 06, 2015, 03:14:20 PM
This will be the next DVD to make a few balloons from,
it's the back to basic's one so will have a look through and pick out three designs to show step by step.
If anyone was interested in buying we do have a special offer on for Dec, three DVD's for the price of two.
http://www.balloonartwholesale.co.uk/balloons/dvds-books/ (http://www.balloonartwholesale.co.uk/balloons/dvds-books/)
I have been having a play with a few one balloon designs today as the DVD review is back to basic's.
These are what were put onto the DVD and I will try to find a variation or two along the way.
I like the one balloon dinosaur, it's a little different to the norm so will be explaining that one first, that way I have more time to play with the swan and snake.
A little secret, I came up with a variation on the swan yesterday and I'm very pleased with it,
it's just the snake that will either be as was explained on the DVD or will I come up with a variation.
I have made 4/5 but none that I have thought yes that's the one, well not at the moment anyway.
And, as usual.............all together.
I spent a good couple of hours playing with the one balloon snake design yesterday and not sure I got anywhere,
my office come loft was a little packed with designs, those popped in the box did not even make it to photo time, they were that bad :)
Still there are one or two that might be no good for a snake head but may fit the bill for another design that we have not even thought about at the moment.
Then this morning I had a voila moment, as usual laying in bed this morning mulling over the snake design and why It did not work,
had two ideas in my head and the first one made worked a treat.
The second one was rubbish and ended up in the popped box with no picture.
So from going back and reviewing the DVD I now have a couple of new one balloon snake designs and a really nice swan that I'm rather chuffed with.
So there you go, my 24 hours in latex, he he.
PS, there is a panda design on the floor, what is it with me and panda's ;)
Moving on from the snakes,
I'm going to post the instructions for the one balloon dinosaur first as a friend is doing the premiere of the new Disney film at the weekend.
So inflate the 260 leaving approx. 6/7 fingers un-inflated,
I pre-stretch the balloon before inflating and also run the balloon through my hand once it has been inflated as you do need a lot of balloon for the one balloon dino.
Make a 3.5 finger bubble and a 2 finger bubble and tie the knot between the two bubbles securely.
Then make a 1 finger pinch twist followed by yet another one finger pinch twist.
The neck for the dinosaur is an 8 finger bubble followed by a 2.5 finger pinch twist, then make another 2.5 finger pinch twist.
You then need two 4 finger bubbles for the front legs and the two more 4 finger bubbles for the rear legs,
all going into the same point.
You could stop here and adjust the pinch twists for a finished dinosaur but I like to add the last bubble over the top of the two pinch twists.
With the two pinch twists side on I then make a 5 finger bubble and wrap this into the two pinch twists
and adjust and manipulate this bubble to sit over the two pinch twists.
Add a little artwork, both dinosaur's.
Shock twist the neck and tail for a more pleasing look.
A few of the snake designs I was playing around with, some need eyes drawn on. If anyone does make up one or two to play with then please post. Thanks.
A few more, I did make a few.
A few more snakes from the other day.
I did make a few.
More snakes from the other day.
I did say I made a few.
So which one was your favourite?
The last two.
I will post instructions later for one of the snakes, now as the DVD is back to basic's I think I should post one that is in keeping with the title of the DVD.
So which one will it be?
The snake I will be sharing is the first one, a new design rather than the snake I made for the DVD a few years back.
Here we go with the instructions for the one balloon snake, take a 260 balloon, colour of your choice.
Inflate leaving 5 fingers un-inflated, make two 1.5 fingers bubbles and tie the knot between the two bubbles to secure.
We are now going to take the knot and twist it over the centre of these two bubbles,
while doing this turn one of the bubbles over so you end up with two pinch twists.
Or you can make two singular pinch twists one at a time ;)
You then need two 4 finger bubbles twisted back to the two pinch twists.
Now make a 1.5 finger bubble followed by two 1 finger bubbles. These 1 finger bubbles are going to be the snakes eye's.
You have to twist these two 1 finger bubbles together. (So in the first picture twist one and three)
I have made a separate picture here with the winter green balloon and tied the bubbles so I could take a picture to hopefully make it a little clearer.
The rest of the long balloon is at the back of the eyes nearest the two pinch twists, you now need a 1 finger bubble for the front portion of the snake.
This twist goes to the centre of the two 4 finger bubbles.
To make the head section more rounder twist a 3 finger bubble that goes under the head and pull this twist back to the two pinch twists.
This 3 finger bubble sticks up as in the picture so you need to slightly ease this bubble into the centre of the two 4 finger bubbles.
I expect you will need to adjust the eyes centrally at the top of the head.
To shape the snake shock twist the balloon, this is pinching the balloon and pushing the air out of the section you pinch and letting it back quickly when letting go.
Further instructions are here, friction-twist-shaping-t1092.html (http://balloonchat.co.uk/friction-twist-shaping-t1092.html)
Add a little bit of artwork.
You can add a little piece of scrap balloon for the snakes tongue, the only thing is the snake is then not a one balloon model, he he!
A variation on the snake suggested by Thomas James Ryan who posted his idea on facebook.
I did mention he could join balloon chat F.O.C but like others, oh well never mind, it is what it is :)
So I now have variation? well not quite sure but definitely a few one balloon snakes, thanks.
All three green snakes were made slightly differently till I got the head sitting nicely and fairly easily to put together so it would hold in place.
Well it's time to post the instruction for the last model from DVD 4, and like before with the snake I'm going to post an updated version.
So the only original model explained from the DVD was the one balloon dinosaur, the snake was new and the swan will be new as well.
I was rather excited and chuffed about the swan when I came up with it, very chuffed in fact, one of those moments :)
It started with Dale Campbell posting a swan on facebook which inspired me, I started a thread about it here.
swan-t10258.html (http://balloonchat.co.uk/swan-t10258.html)
The swans on the thread were made from just one 160 balloon, the one I'm explaining here will be from just one 260.
I was making some swans tonight, deciding which one to make and explain.
They are all slightly different and the front two are 160's, the rest form 260's.
So I narrowed it down a little, still not sure what one to go with for the explanation.
A few more.
And two from 160 balloons.
I have decided to go with this design to explain. It uses one 260 modelling balloon.
I pre-stretched mine and then once inflated stretched it again.
Pull the 260 up between your finger and thumb before inflating, then leave between a 6 and 7 fingers of the balloon un-inflated.
then pull the balloon through your fist once the balloon is inflated as you do need a lot of balloon for this one balloon swan.
If you are having problems then see me on my travels next year and I will explain this design in the basic sessions in the morning.
I should mention I make the swan form the tail first,
doing it this way is more of a guesstimate to having the correct amount of balloon left for the neck.
So I have gone to plan "B" for the explanation as you will always end up with a 6/7 finger bubble for the neck which is what is required.
Once the balloon is inflated, after the stretching of the balloon you will have approx. 6 fingers un-inflated.
Make a 7 finger bubble and a 2 finger pinch twist.
Then make another 7 finger bubble and another 2 finger pinch twist.
Tie the knot of the balloon into the second pinch twist, these bubbles are the underneath of the swan.
Then make a 5 finger bubble and wrap around the pinch twist,
then one more 5 finger bubble and wrap around the other pinch twist, these two bubble will be the top of the swan.
You then need to push the air along the remainder of the 260 so you have a 3 finger un-inflated section that will be the beak.
Make a 7 finger bubble for the neck, I have tied this just for taking a photo.
Then you need a 4 finger bubble that will sit in between the two 7 finger bubbles that will be the underneath of the swan.
It pushes these 7 finger bubbles outwards to give a more rounded look for the swan.
The twist nearest to the body is wrapped around the pinch twist for the tail of the swan.
You can leave the tail like this or split it into three later.
The 4 finger bubble is now stretch to the front of the swan and wrapped around the pinch twist,
you do have to push the two pinch twists together a little to achieve this.
The tail of the swan is then divided into three.
For the neck shaping on the swan, pull the un-inflate balloon down, stretching it slightly and hold this against the neck.
Squeeze the bottom of the neck of the swan and this forces the air up over the inflated and un-inflated part of the head of the swan to form the shaping.
Push the neck back into the body.
A little difficult to type but fingers crossed you get the idea?
Perhaps this picture will explain it a little clearer?
You squeeze the air sharply from below my fingers and thumb to shape the top of the head.
Sometimes you do have to massage the front section of the neck and the top of the head to get the desired look of the swan.
The neck here is just slightly pushed between the top body section, not all the way as in the other pictures above.
Again it gives a different look.