This one was a bit lower budget as it was 6th form and they are having it in the local posh venue, Knebworth Barns.

However, here are my photos from today's job and I am just about to go and see if I remembered to post photos of my job 2 weeks ago with the Oscar statues. [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ] DSC03811.JPG[/attachment:48voxup2] [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ] DSC03813.JPG[/attachment:48voxup2] [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ] DSC03816.JPG[/attachment:48voxup2]

Unfortunately Graham wasn't able to get hold of the LOL I needed for next weekend so I had to resort to an eBay seller  :roll:

Well they arrived this morning and the black ones look fine but the ones that are supposed to be solid white look more ivory / silver and they also have a very pearlised appearance to them.  I have gone back to the seller saying it was the solid white I wanted but just in case they say these are the solid white and that they just look more shiney and not pure white I thought I would ask on here  

So do the proper solid white LOL actually look white and matt? or are they off white with a pearlised finish?

link a loons?  If so how do I get them and if not where can I get some from before next weekend  

They are doing their Retail Portfolio Course tomorrow which I am booked on so am hoping to see some familiar faces  

Right I am ogling the smartphones and have just discovered the HTC Wildfire.  It seems perfect for what I want but my network (O2) do not carry it.  I would love the HTC Desire or an iPhone but finances just won't allow it.  I am currently paying £15 per month on a SIM only contract but I can't even get internet with that! but I cannot afford to pay more than £20 per month which is why the Wildfire seems so good as I can get it on 3G with 500 mins and unlimited internet for £20 per month.

I am going to pop to The Carphone Warehouse to have a play with it as I have been jumping into my last 2 phones without thinking and researching things properly and if I do it again I think my hubby may just murder me!!!

As said above I can get this phone on 3G and also Vodaphone and T-mobile but I have no experience of these networks!  Are they any good or are they really rubbish.  What's the reception like where you are and how about in the middle of nowhere.  I know that when we went to centre parcs a few years ago now I was the only one on O2 and the only one who could get a signal but now I am finding my signals are not as good as they used to be.

Also has anyone any experience of getting a PAC code off O2?  I know it should be simple getting your phone number changed from one network to another but knowing what a pain O2 can be I have no idea whether they will let me have it or whether it will be a colossal pain in the arse?!

Did my order for my big balloon job on Thursday last night and have just been told they have absolutely no Gold 16" balloons left.  I haven't got time to go to Qualatex or Up Up and nor do I want to pay £10 postage on a bag of 50 balloons only to need 2 out of the whole bag!

I'm more than happy to pay next day delivery postage and for the balloons but really need them going out today.

If anyone can help me my email is mailto:yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk">yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk and my business / mobile number is 07732 390716.

P.S. I wouldn't normally leave it this late but only just had confirmation that they wanted the Oscars yesterday as the booking form / deposit has gone astray in the post whereas the booking form / deposit for all the rest of the stuff has turned up!

I am in need of metal base plates and the corregauted plastic stuff.  These are needed for balloon frames (can't get them at GO and don't have time to go to Up, Up between now and Thursday) and for a balloon sizer.

Never had to look for either before so if anyone can point me in the right direction I would be eternally grateful.

but I am learning something new each attempt!

This time I tried pre-inflating all the balloons and then assembling outside which is great in theory but I learned theory does not always work out as smoothly as hoped!

The biggest lesson I learned is that if you are going to pre-inflate various different sized balloons you need to put them all in separate bags and label the sizes up as you go!  Sounds logical but I didn't do this and managed to mix up the sizes when assembling the Oscar.  I also tried to remove a row of balloons and put them lower - unfortunately this pushed the top large row of balloons off the top and I was unable to get them back in place!

I did, however, work out a much simpler way to attach the arms and have decided that I will need larger than an 11" gold for the head as the largest size balloon in the body is 9" and I feel it still looks too small.

Enough waffling here is the pic of attempt No 3!
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I have landed my first proper balloon décor job and am now scared silly as it has turned out to be a rather large job!

Anyway, I am learning lots of lessons as I go like don't show a client a picture of something unless you absolutely know how to make it or at least have the instructions in your grubby little mitts!  Unfortunately I didn't do this and just assumed  :roll:  that the thing I had downloaded from BalloonsIT were the full SBS instructions or at least the Xpress ones but alas no it was just the visual (which for those of you that have not used the site is just a picture) shown below:
[ You are not allowed to view this attachment ] Column - Oscar.jpg[/attachment:3j86qeib]

I have today had a go at it (the job is a week Thursday) and this is my attempt:
[ You are not allowed to view this attachment ] PICT0023.JPG[/attachment:3j86qeib]

I know it is not as tidy as I would have liked but the larger balloons are Belbal and a couple in the base have already deflated.  Also the body (behind where the hands meet) should have actually been wider than the rows above and below but for some reason the Belbal have inflated shorter and rounder than the Qualatex.  Also for the real thing the two Oscars will be in gold with a black base and I will be covering the stand with 260's so the stand doesn't show through when looking too closely.

However, any constructive criticism would be most welcome as I would like to have another attempt later this week.

I have found a range of puppy party goods that are not blue for my daughter's party but now I cannot find where to get them wholesale as I really begrudge paying retail for party products.

This is the range:- http://www.woolworths.co.uk/puppy-party ... sku3644167

I have found the same products on a few different websites but no-one mentions a brand name and despite having spent hours on the old internet I am no closer to finding anything out!

If anyone has seen any of these products anywhere other than on-line retail stores please can you let me know or if you know the brand name.  Otherwise I am going to have to bankrupt myself on buying enough of everything for 30+ kids.

P.S. I already know I can get the latex with paw prints on from Qualatex though  

I have been working hard to get my portfolio off the ground and ended up resorting to hiring a hall for a day and getting a friend who is a pro photographer to take some pics.  Not got them yet as I only did the shoot on Friday but am really excited about seeing them as the glimpses I got on her laptop looked really good.

Inspired by that and with a weekend off work I was going to do some arches in the garden yesterday but the rain came down  :roll:  Instead I played inside and came up with these:- [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ] Topiary 05.06.10 - 0102.JPG[/attachment:zwn558wq] [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ] Topiary 05.06.10 - 0118.JPG[/attachment:zwn558wq] [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ] Topiary 05.06.10 - 0137.JPG[/attachment:zwn558wq]

Not been on much lately as I have been trying to get my décor portfolio off the ground and trying to work a camera properly!  However, I did a party last weekend that was a delight.  I had been booked for face painting and twisting and always get worried that a client has lied to me regarding numbers (I am pretty certain it has happened on a few occasions) but I turned up to discover there was only going to be 6 children so I was able to paint all of them and do them a couple of decent models each.

The birthday girl liked horses but not pink and her favourite colour was blue so this is what I made for her:-
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It is a mixture of David Grist's ride in horse and Patricia Bunnell's and I am really quite pleased with how it turned out ... as was the birthday girl!

Right onto the next quest.  My little girl will be 6 in July and wants a 101 Dalmatian themed birthday party.  Obviously I intend to sort some balloons out for her but I am struggling to find any 101 Dalmatian foils.  Does anyone know if I am able to get any anywhere.

I have seen the walking dog but in all honesty I don't like it and don't think it looks like a dalmatian anyway.  Ideally I would like to get my hands on some 18" round foils with images from the Disney 101 Dalmatians on.

Is it something that might be available in the USA only?

a recipe for an full sized Oscar?  I have got the one off BalloonsIT but it is only the picture.  I really wanted the measurements and inflation sizes etc as I am not quite up to looking at a picture like that and getting it right!

I did it!  I was so pleased with myself.  I made him up Friday evening and stuck him in a balloon delivery bag ready to go and covered him in a white bed sheet (brand new I hasten to add) all morning whilst I was at the Police Station.  He arrived safely in once piece and best of all the birthday boy loved him!

Credit to Wayne but I was also impressed that I was able to look at a picture and replicate something and end up with a similar model at the end   [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ] Yoda 1.JPG[/attachment:8ejyvms9] [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ] Yoda 2.JPG[/attachment:8ejyvms9]

I am typing up my very first decor contract/booking form/invoice at present and am using NABAS' template as a guide.  

One of the terms is to do with payment and methods thereof.  I don't technically accept credit cards straight from a client but will accept paypal payments and without having seen the NABAS contract it would never have occurred to me to charge a service charge to cover my paypal fees.  However, having had a quick look at the paypal site I cannot see how much I would get charged for accepting payment this way.

Does anyone else accept payment via paypal and if so do you charge a service charge or do you just swallow that cost?  If you do charge it what percentage do you charge?

I have a party on Saturday and the little boy loves Star Wars and as I know his Mum I would like to make something a little more special for him.  However, the big catch is that it will also need to be easily repairable as it will be going in the car at 8am and staying there until 12.45pm!

So any tips on keeping it in one piece in the car would also be a huge help.

I have just got my first couple of decor jobs in    but I have a couple of questions just to make sure I don't misjudge timings etc.

Both jobs are simple inflation jobs of about 100 balloons.  The first is this Saturday and I am then face painting for 2 hours and heading off for a 2 hour twisting party too.  I am guessing it will take me about 30 mins to inflate 50-100 balloons?  Also they are providing the balloons and most have the plastic widgets in them with the ribbon attached - I assume they can be inflated with a standard tilt or push valve?

The other job they want 100 red balloons on sticks on 2 separate days to both advertise a launch of a new shop and then on launch day as a give away.  I really need to speak to the lady to discuss things with her properly as I think helium filled on ribbon would be better for wandering around the town with when publicising the launch as they can carry bunches of balloons on ribbons much more easily than if they were on sticks.  However for the actual launch they have asked if I can come in the day before to inflate them which will be a pain and considering the official opening is not until 11am on the Saturday I personally would prefer to come in on the morning of the launch and I may try to encourage her to go for helium then too as again it will be easier to use as a give away.  Am I right or would I be better off going for the sticks?  Also again how long would you say this should take me to do considering I will not be able to air inflate on my Heidi so will have to use my cool air instead.

They are doing a wedding décor day with Sue Bowler and just wondering if anyone else was heading across?

Nosey aren't I?  :lol:

As you may be able to tell I am forging on in my marketing campaign!

This time it is the turn of the humble postcard   [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ] Loony_Balloony_Postcards_front.jpg[/attachment:58kewp9u] [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ] Loony_Balloony_Postcards_front2.jpg[/attachment:58kewp9u] [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ] Loony_Balloony_Postcards_front3.jpg[/attachment:58kewp9u]

These are 3 slightly different variations for the front of the postcard although for some reason the first one has not come out the right size (seems to have removed the white background but needless to say it is the same size and shape as the other 2.