Up until two weeks ago I hadn't picked up a balloon this year.  I was forced back into it when a friend that I owe big time asked my to do balloons at her daughters party. I have just spent a couple of hours making 16 parrots for my nephews party tomorrow and I think I might have the bug back.

I only do this as a hobby so probably not the best person to comment. I think one of the first things to do is to work out where 'mates rates' end. Doing balloons for friends of friends etc at discounted rates with very little profit isn't going to get you a viable business. Also, the more cheapies you do the more people will think that's the normal price and then they will think they are being ripped off when you try to charge what your work is worth/what you need to make this work.

Kim

(I charged £150 for the only paid job I have done which I thought was quite a lot but an old work colleague was happy to pay it. It was only when I found out that the woman stood next to me scooping sweets in bags had charged £180 that I thought that maybe I had undercharged)

Woke up at 3am this morning with this song in my head, took me an hour to get rid of it.

Brilliant as always.

Saw these and couldn't resist buying a packet (I actually bought 3) at 89p for 10. I added a scarf and a base to the snowman but I'm not sure what to do with the Father Christmas, any ideas? It is easy to just inflate the head if that's any use.

Almost out of white so had to use black for the trim and the gloves.

My job (apart from balloons) is to buy a santa costume for about £50 for the school christmas fayre. I have looked on the internet and there are literally 100's. Can anyone recommend a supplier or a costume?

Thanks Kim

Hi Sonia

I have done a similar thing with a guide group, so early teens really. I did the dog too, I showed them once and then did it at the same time they did. After that I either gave them a hat base or a hair band and lots of 160's and 260's and left them to it, if they wanted help they asked, but most of them were just happy to be creative. The end result was lots of happy girls who had a really good night. I also took along a prize for the best one. I used the monkey from balloon blast Sam.

Kim

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S4w2h6ttIv ... =c4-feed-u

This is the link

I used the head part from Justin Reams youtube tutorial for this. It uses three balloons and Justin uses just 3 balloons too for his version with a body.

Not doing one this year as going camping tomorrow, wouldn't be as good as yours though. I find a flashing red bike light inside ups the spookiness.

Kim

All ready to go

Still a bit of time for improvement but happy with it

I have thought about it a lot too and I would love to bite the bullet and go for it but I can't take the risk at the moment, in a few years maybe. Although with the whole of council being put under notice of possible redundancy I might get a push to take that risk.  I think the other barrier for me is having a young daughter and I want to spend as much time with her as I can.

Kim

Thanks for all the help.

Kim