25 ways to decorate - tpni engagemedia.instantcustomer.com/12685/0/89_25ways_v1113.pdf · 25 ways...

25 Ways To Decorate Without Helium

Who Am IMy name is Sandi Masori, CBA (Certified

Balloon Artist). I’ve been called “The Balloon Expert,” “Hey! Balloon Lady,” and “That Balloon Girl.” Recently, the media has dubed me: America’s top balloon expert.

My love affair with balloons began in the early 90s when I was a first grade teacher. At that time I was cocktailing in a magic themed dinner theatre to make extra money to support my teaching habit.

A friend showed me some crazy balloon hats, and we started busking in the bars and nightclubs of Los Angeles. I also found that if I promised my class balloons on Friday, I could get a whole week of good behavior from them.

About that time my school went out on break and I was invited to perform in Japan. I spent the next few years going all over the world, entertaining with balloons. In 1997 I met my husband in Israel, and we started working together. I also fell into decorating when we were asked to decorate a Bar Mitzvah. Since then we have decorated and entertained at thousands of events all over the world. No matter where I have gone, one thing has been constant, balloons make people happy.

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Sandi Masori, CBA 25 Ways to Decorate Without Helium

No other medium can affect people in quite the way that balloons can. They can be elegant, or simple, or whimsical depending on how they are done. They elicit emotion in a way that nothing else really does.

What’s The Deal With Helium Anyway

I’m sure that you’ve seen helium filled balloons before- in fact most people, when they think of balloons think of helium filled balloons. This lighter than air gas is what makes the balloons in arches and bouquets float. It’s ironic that the most abundant element in the universe is currently in short supply. This is a complicated situation. What we have is a perfect storm, if you will.

Helium is an inert, non-renewable noble gas. This means that it doesn’t combine with anything, will not explode, and can’t be arti-ficially made. It’s the first gas that comes off the oil well when it’s tapped, and though abundant is difficult to capture and store.

Everyone knows that helium is used in balloons, but what most people don’t know is that the larger uses are for the medical, industrial and technological industries. Because helium doesn’t combine with anything and has a very low freezing point, it can be used in many ways. MRIs for example use helium to stay cool. Flat screen TVs and smart phones use helium as part of the manufacturing process. Welders use helium as part of the welding process. Deep sea divers use helium as part of the gas mix to help them ascend, as helium will not form bubbles in the blood—which is a problem with using nitrogen.

The helium used for balloons is not pure. We get the bottom of the barrel- the stuff that’s not pure enough for the other industries to use. And that’s fine, we don’t need pure helium. But some people think that the balloon industry is taking helium away from the other industries. That’s not the case.

So why are we in a helium crisis then? In 1925, the United States government, wanting to explore defense uses for this lighter-than-air

gas, started to collect and store massive amounts of helium. The federal helium reserve in Texas stored more than half of the helium used in the US, and one third of the helium used globally. Unfortunately they were running this reserve at a serious deficit and by 1996 had amassed a debt of $1.4 billion. So, in 1996 congress passed an act, called the Helium Privatization Act, that said the US had to get out of the helium business. So, they began selling off the helium at below market rates. According to a 2010 article in Popular Science, if the helium were sold for it’s full value, that party balloon would probably cost you about $100. Ouch!

At the same time as all of this is happening in the US, there were some plants in the Middle East and Europe that went down for maintenance and remained off-line much longer than projected. This caused more demand for American helium.

In 2013, trying not to fall off the helium cliff, congress passed the Helium Stewardship Act. This act said that the United States can continue selling helium at the current rate for one more year, but that come 2015, they need to sell it off at public auction for the highest bidder. Already people are feeling the results. At the time of this writing, some of my col-leagues have been told that they can’t get any more helium. Others have been rationed. As for me, the price that I pay for helium has increased over 500% in the past two years. I predict that it will go up another 400% or so by 2015.

Luckily, there’s another gas that we can use that will let us party on! That’s air. Yep, everyday common air. Using framing and air-filled designs, we can get better looking, longer lasting decor. Yes, air-filled decorations take longer to make, so there is a bit more in labor, but instead of only lasting 6-18 hours, like a helium filled balloon would, it will last for a week or even two!

Types of Decor

Most decor falls into the following categories; arches, columns, cen-terpieces, walls, sculptures and hanging stuff. I have grouped the 25 designs according to their “type”.

Arches ................................................................................. 9

Columns .............................................................................12

People .................................................................................20

Centerpieces ........................................................................21

Walls ...................................................................................26

Sculptures (unframed/non-round) .......................................28

Numbers & Letters .............................................................29

Topiary/3-D Framed ...........................................................30

Suspended ...........................................................................32

Balloon Drops .....................................................................33

Hanging ..............................................................................34

Balloon Pool .......................................................................35

Exploding Balloons .............................................................34

Decorate Your Guests .........................................................36

Contact & Resources ..........................................................37

DIY Ideas & Instructions ....................................................39

Arches

1. The Classic Arch: The classic arch is the arch as you know it best. It’s visual energy and simplicity make it ideal for when you want to create a focal point, highlight an entrance or have a simple photo backdrop. A framed air-filled arch can also handle embellishments and signs in a way that a helium arch never could. The spiral pattern is the most popular and well known, but there are many other patterns that can be used, including flowers, zig-zag, star, diamond, polka dot, etc. Ask your decorator what patterns or embellishments they recommend.

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2. The Shaped Arch: The shaped arch is anything that has a shape or form to it, but can still be walked under or through. This style of archway has always been air-filled as only with framing can you get the exact angles and nuances of design. Using this technique, your balloon artist can do anything!

3. The Whimsical Arch: These arches are a combination of styles, but add extra elements into the design. Using framing allows the balloon artist to add elements that may carry extra weight that would topple a traditional helium filled arch, but that can com-pletely change the look and feel of the design.

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25 Ways to Decorate Without Helium

Columns

4. The Standard Column: The standard column uses balloons that are all the same size, but can be “stacked” in a variety of ways to get different patterns and shapes. Usually the top of the column will either be a jumbo round or a large mylar, or shown in the photo “wild style” with modelling balloons on the top.

5. The Roman Column: The roman column uses shaping to get a different look and feel. Often it feels more elegant or upscale than the traditional column does. The main thing is that the girth of the center section is thinner than that of the top and bottom

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6. The “Awesome” column: The awesome column is based on a tube with cut-outs for the balloons on the sides. The top is made from thick modeling balloons with mylar balloons attached at the end. In the base of the column is a light, so that there is a soft illumina-tion effect. This style of column is the most elegant and will easily lend itself to even the most high end event.

7. Columns with Lights: Nothing transforms a space more than adding lights to balloons. If you use the spiral bulbs that have a 40 watt pull, but a 100 watt out-put, you can get an amazing effect. When you combine lights and balloons the end result is simply breath-tak-ing. These are perfect when you need an elegant or high-end effect.

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8. The Brazilian Column: This style of column was made popular in Brazil, and it’s unique texture allows the balloon artist to achieve a gradient effect, integrate intricate tpatterns, or use more colors than would be possible with a standard column.

9. The Shaped or Sculpted Column: By carefully varying the sizes of balloon on the column, we can get all different shapes and feels. Pictured are balloon carrots, balloon topiary columns, giant clowns, golden statuettes, palm trees and candy canes.

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10. Linear Columns: This style of column is based on a grid framework. The effect is more of a two dimensional or “flat” design. This system allows us to add graphics in ways that wouldn ‘t work with the round-ness of the regular column.

11. Twisty Columns or Spiral Columns: This style of column is special because it uses both round and non– round balloons. (Non– round balloons is what the balloon industry calls the modeling balloons). The effect can be very energetic.

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Sandi Masori, CBA

12. People: These could go under columns or sculptures. Often they are used as columns, but may require 2 base plates instead of one. These giant figures attract attention from all over the place and become a magnet for taking photos. They are the perfect comple-ment to any event. Look for a balloon artist who does “deco-twist-ing” for these types of designs.

Centerpieces13. Round arrangements: Taken from the floral industry, this is a

round shape that could be done with mylar magic, or just balloons. This type of centerpiece is short and often provides a focal point for the table itself, but doesn’t add anything to the air-space. They can be themed by adding interesting physical props or themed balloon elements into them.

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14. Pedestal style: This style uses some sort of riser or pedestal to get the arrangement up higher. Usually there will be something on the bottom to hide the mechanics and make it pretty and then something up at the top to give the focal point and provide ambiance into the air-space.

15. Spiral Topiary: This type of arrangement is one of the longest lasting- up to two weeks or more. Adding other elements can change the look and theme. The movement and height in these arrangements make them perfect for anything from whimsical to elegant events.

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16. Awesome Bouquet

This arrangement is actually better as a buffet piece than a center-piece as there is little negative space in it, and so it could be hard to see across. They have beautiful lines and use balloons in ways that people don’t expect. They always get a huge reaction.

17. Fantasy Flowers/People

These can be arranged in any of the previous styles, but what’s notable about them is that they are made from uninflated balloons with wires inside. These designs will last months! They also get a huge reaction because people don’t know that they’re made from balloons until they touch them or get up close. They are very time consuming though.

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Walls

Walls can be done in many ways, with and without a framework. They are great for stage and photo backdrops, or to define a space.

18. Unframed Walls: The castle walls are made of very light framing, basically just a simple baseplate/pole for stability. The “curtain” of balloons can be either hung like beads or put on baseplates and poles. The castle picture is actually a series of columns that are placed close to each other to form a backdrop and a “wall” effect.

19. Framed Walls: Most of the walls picture below are framed. If you look closely you will see they are based on a grid system. Using this grid system, it’s very easy to add artwork, logos and embel-lishments. This is perfect for stage backdrops, photo ops, hehitzas, dividers or backdrops.

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Sculptures

Sculptures are where the artist really gets to strut their stuff. There are many techniques to making sculptures, depending on the size and shape. Some sculptures are relatively simple, using a simple frame-work, or no framework, while others are more like building a float. In the float style, there is a 3-d framework underneath, and a balloon skin on top. In the “flat” or linear style, simple line frameworks are created and then covered with balloon garland. Numbers and letters would fall into this category. 20. Un-framed/ non-roundIn the balloon world, we often refer to our balloons as “round” and “non-round.” “Non-round” refers to any variety of the long skinny balloons typically used in bal-loon entertainment

21. Numbers and Letters Often created from a lightweight frame of emt or aluminum rod and packed with balloon garland, much in the same way a column is.

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22. Topiary/3-d framed sculptureThis is the most time consuming and complicated type of sculpture. It’s much like building a float. Using this technique, a good balloon artist can get an exact likeness to any shape or image.

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Suspended

23. There are many ways to hang or rig decor. It can either be tied into rig points along the ceiling or wall, attached to drop ceilings with magnets, or even tied to a false ceiling created from a net.

• Hanging by Tying to Pole: works great for tent legs

• Hanging by Magnet: perfect for a room with a drop ceiling

• Hanging by Net: when you need to attach a lot of decor, but have very few rig points

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24. Balloon DropsBalloon drops show that something fun, important or exciting

is happening. They’re widely used for New Year’s Eve and for the political conventions. A fun thing to do with drops is to have multiple sizes in the bag so that the balloons fall at different rates. Another popular way to use drops is to stuff notes or prizes into each or some of the balloons and let your guests find the winning ticket

24. Exploding BalloonsExploding balloons are a great alternative to the balloon drop. Unlike

drops, which are visible and recognizable as soon as your guests walk into the room, exploding balloons are taken for-granted as part of the overall room décor, so when the cue is given and the balloons pop, releasing the smaller balloons inside, it’s a big surprise. It always turns into a fun balloon stomp activity too.

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25. Balloon Pools/Pit

Don’t underestimate the fun that comes from a balloon pool! Kids and adults alike will want to stay in there and play all day. For added fun, use some giant 36” balloons along with the regular sized ones.

26. Decorate Your Guests

Bring a balloon artist to your party and have them make hats and animals for all the guests. Hats especially can be lots of fun as they turn all your guests into walking billboards in a kaleidoscope of moving decor.

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Balloons are great for kids or adults! Contact meSandi Masori, CBA

[email protected] 619 339 8024

www.balloonutopia.com

How To Get More

Video Series: Free video series with “how to” videos at www.balloonutopia.com/video

ResourcesFind your local balloon artists & resources www.balloonutopia.com/resources

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DIY

Spider Instructions• Need: Balloon Pump, 2 Round Balloons, 4-260 Balloons (long

skinny modeling balloons).

• Inflate the 2 round balloons to 2 different sizes and tie them together.

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• Inflate the 260 balloons almost all the way, giving them a good burp (let a little air out).

• Take all 4 of them and twist them together in the center.

• Take the round balloons and twist them into the same twist that you connected the 260s with.

• Gently give each of the legs a “Z” twist (a “Z” twist is where you fold the balloon into the letter “z” and gently put pressure on the folds, shaping the balloon).

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How to make a balloon column:You will need a base plate and a pole.

• Inflate balloons so that all of them are the same size, this is very important for a consistent look and feel.

• Tie the balloons together in groups of two.

• Twist those duplets together to make a quad.

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• Wrap the quad around the pole.

• Stack the next quad on top so that the balloons nestle into the

crevice of the balloons under them.

• Do it again, and again until you have covered the whole pole.

• Attach your topper- this can be a jumbo mylar, jumbo latex or a bunch of long skinny balloons.

How To Make a Balloon Topiary Ball• Inflate balloons so that they are all the same size. You will need 12.

• Tie the balloons together into duplets.

• Take another set of duplets and twist them around the first set of duplets.

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• Keep adding in duplets until you have twisted all 6 duplets (12 balloons) together.

How To Make a Balloon Abstract Chihuly-esque Design • Inflate 6 260 balloons fully (the long skinny animal balloons).

• Give them a good burp to release the pressure.

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• Tie the nozzle end to the nipple end, so that it makes a circle.

• Find the center opposite the side tied, pinch it and twist one side.

• Now collapse the tied end to the newly twisted end and twist together to make a figure 8.

• Do this to all 6 balloons.

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• Next take one figure 8 and twist it to another figure 8 at the center. Do this for all 5 sets.

• Let the loops fall where they may for a more abstract look, or arrange them by color in place for a more “flower” like look.

Complete!

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Braided Heart Frame • Need: 6 - 260 balloons (long skinny balloons), balloon pump

• Fully inflate all 6 balloons, giving them a good burp before tying off.

• Take the first 3 balloons and twist together with a small bubble on the nozzle end of each balloon

• Braid the balloons (just like hair)

• When you come to the end of the braid, squeeze and twist the ends together with small bubbles

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• Coil the braid so that it forms half a heart

• Take the second set of 3 balloons and repeat the same process

• Twist together all 6 of the bubbles from the nozzle end of the balloons

• Do the same on the other end

• Position all the bubbles from the top so that they are pointing down. This will force the balloon into a heart shape

• Give it to someone you love

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Present • Need: 8 round balloons and 2 - 260 balloons (long skinny balloons),

balloon pump

• Inflate all 8 round balloons to the same size

• Tie them (the round balloons) into sets of 2 balloons each

• Twist together two set of two balloons each to form a quad

• Repeat with the other round balloons

• Stack one quad on top of the other one. Use the nozzle of the balloon or a 260 to secure the quads to each other. Be sure to keep them stacked and not squished together

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• Inflate the 260 balloons almost all the way and tie off

• Tie both of the 260s together from the nozzle

• Put the tied part of the 260s under the two quads of round balloons

• Bring the 260s up to the top of the quads on opposite sides

• At the top of the quad (right on top of it), twist the 2 - 260s together

• Make a loop in each of the 260s right on top of where they are con-necting (twist into the same point)

• Put the presents anywhere you need a spot of color and holiday cheer

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Balloon Centerpiece Recipe• What you need: 10 round balloons, 1 mylar balloon

• Take 2 of the latex balloons and put one inside of the other (called double-stuffing).

• Make a water weight out of the double stuffed balloon by filling with water until the bowl of the balloon puffs out. Tie it off.

• Inflate (with air) the remaining 8 balloons, being sure that they are all the same size

• Tie the inflated balloons together in pairs.

• Take the first pair (called a duplet) and twist it to the second duplet.

• Continue adding in the rest of the balloons until you have made a little ball from all 4 duplets

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• Wrap the mylar balloon and weight into the centerpiece so that the weight is on the bottom and the mylar balloon on the top

• Set it out and have a great party!

• Flatten the ball so that you have 2 sets of 4 balloons, one on top of the other

• Take your mylar balloon and inflate it with air

• Tie the mylar balloon to the weight

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