When I am old I shall wear purple… and make balloon animals!!! I've fulfilled all three of those..... I'm old, I wear purple, and now.... drum roll........I make balloon animals!!!
It all started when I bought a cheap little package of balloons that came with a little balloon pump. Being the ever inquisitive grandson that he is, JJ wanted me to blow up some balloons and try the few examples on the package. And so it began.....
I made a dog. I WAS HOOKED! Then a giraffe (just a dog with a long neck). JJ was impressed, but surely there were more exciting, advanced animals I could try. I began to search the internet.
What I found was a wealth of information on how to "twist". There is a whole world of "balloon artists" out there that most of us have never heard about! I began to enter their world. I watched TONS of tutorials on You Tube. I learned about the "pinch twist", the "split twist", the proper amount of the balloon to inflate and the proper amount to leave un-inflated. When you twist, the air keeps moving towards the end of the balloon so you need to leave a portion of the balloon un-inflated so the air has somewhere to go.
I learned from the “pros” that you need to use pro-quality balloons (they don’t pop as easily!) and a pro pump, so I placed an order. When they arrived, I started following all of the You Tube tutorials and learned so much! Then, eventually, I began to design some of my own versions of animals and cartoon characters.
Through trial and much error, I have become a Balloon Artist!!! I still have much to learn, but it's sure fun doing so! From all the advice on the internet, I found the perfect bag for holding my balloons, decorated it and gave myself a name….The Balloon Queen! I have loved crowns and tiaras all my life and I’ve always wanted to be Queen of something! So, this name was a natural, I have finally achieved Queen status!!!
I have found that it is more fun than I can possibly imagine to be a Balloon Artist! Kids and adults alike get big smiles on their faces when you make them a balloon animal or a ‘silly hat. They also love bouquets of balloon flowers! I’ve brought bouquets to friends who are in the hospital or who are sick at home, or for birthdays.
My grandkids are almost getting OD’d on balloon animals! After a while, I think the novelty wears off when Nana is bringing over balloon creations every other day!
But JJ, that little guy….he is amazing! He LOVES to make balloon animals, he is going to be quite the Balloon Artist someday! I was sitting on the computer, “Skyping” my niece Jill who lives in NY. I was demonstrating how to make a balloon animal for her and all of a sudden I look up and there is JJ, just smiling and holding a perfect balloon dog that he had made.
Mind you, I had NEVER taught him how to make a dog yet, he has just watched me and then made one on his own! He has ventured into his own “artistic license” with wild two headed dogs, etc., since that first dog!
Here are JJ's creations:
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| His first creation...all by himself, no instruction! |
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| He's branching out now, literally! Notice his Octopus even has a hat! |
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| Busy putting fangs on his snake! |
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| His hat and "mouse" creation! |
Ok, now here are my balloon
creations so far:
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| My Little Kitty wand |
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| Elmo on a stick, great for bonking your brother on the head! |
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| Another version of Elmo |
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| The lovely Benny models a crown! |
That's all for now!!!!!
More to come I'm sure!
Your creations are amazing! I can't even pick out my favorite because each time I see a new one, I like it as much as the one before. :) I love that you have a little protege, too. Your grandboys have your creative spark - that is awesome!
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