Balloon Animals
The balloon maker is the life of the party, our eyes often riveted on their fast hands and swift moves. A twist and flip of the balloon results into a wondrous wiener dog or giraffe. What child doesn't like balloon animals? The good news, balloon animals are both easy to make as well as affordable. In fact, it is the least expensive art project we will make. The supplies cost less than three dollars and there isn't a learning curve to this making the animals either. A quick twist of the balloon and a snake appears. Two or three twists a dog or cat. Children squeal with delight, excitement and, pride as they make their own balloon animals. No twist is a wrong and no matter what is made it looks like an animal.
The materials can be found at most discount stores in the party area, craft stores, party stores and bigger chain bookstores like Barnes and Noble or Borders who often has them packaged in a kit, that includes book and supplies. All that you need to make simple to the complex. But for our project a hand air pump and a pack of elongated balloons, narrow and about 8 inches long empty.
Once you have all of the supplies, take out one of the balloons and a pump. Begin by stretching the balloon out of shape, two inches or more both directions. This will help the balloon by expand with air without causing immediate stress resulting from the air pump. Insert the rolled tip over the end of the pump and begin to pump, leave a two inch tip at the end. This will insure that the air pushed around from twisting will not cause the balloon to pop. Tie the end. (Do not overfill, the latex is thin and it will cause the balloon to pop.) The balloon will reach between 30-33 inches when filled.
Now lets make a Dog
The basic balloon animal is the dog. There are many ways to work the balloon animal. The best way to shape the balloon is to start from the tie end and work your way to the tip. The animal is worked in three eight or more inch sections, each break creates a part of the animal. The first is the back legs, the second portion is the front leg and the third will make the head and ears. There is no wrong way to do an animal. If the first animal isn't spaced correctly, no problem. Experiment until the animal is in the specific portions.
Start eight inches from the tied end (knot) and fold over in a upside down U shape, leave about one inch tip on the end and begin to twist clockwise until balloon stays into place. Leave a two inches space then fold over eight inches section twisting until it stays into place. Now leave a seven inch section then fold over eight inch of balloon and twist, this finishes the animal.
Once the basics are learned there is no end to the imaginative animals and creatures that could be made with balloons. Animals are the beginning, with a little bit of patience and visual creativity, anything is possible.
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