Balloon Resource Center

Home

Jan's Journal

Manufacturers

Instructions for the

“Butterflies & Flowers For Mom”
Bouquet
By Cam Woody, CBA

Labor: About 10 Minutes
Helium: About 1.6 cu. ft.

Materials:
• 31" “Mother’s Day Tulip & Butterflies” Microfoil® Balloon
• 4 - 5" Latex Balloons
• 6 - 160Q Latex Balloons
• #9 Lime Green Qualatex MasterBow® Poly Ribbon
• Qualatex® BalloonRibbon™
• Flowerpot
• Foam
• Shred
• Silk Flowers
• Floral Wire
• Cool Glue
Instructions:
1. Glue the foam into the flowerpot and let dry. Shape the floral wire to make an anchor with a tie point on top. Insert the anchor into the foam, leaving the tie point out to attach ribbon to.

2. Helium inflate the 31" Microfoil balloon and tie to BalloonRibbon. Tie the other end of the BalloonRibbon to the anchor tie point.

3. Reinforce the BalloonRibbon by tying a length of MasterBow Ribbon to the anchor tie point and balloon neck.

4. Make a 4-balloon cluster using 5" balloons. To do this, air inflate two 5" balloons to 4", and tie their necks together to make a pair. Repeat to make a second pair. Twist the two pairs together, making sure the balloons intersect at the knots.

5. Separate two balloons in the cluster, push onto the neck of the 31" balloon, and twist the two separated balloons together to secure.

6. Insert the flowers into the foam, then add shred as desired.

7. To make the balloon butterflies, inflate a 160Q, leaving 1" uninflated, and tie the ends together. Twist the 160Q at least three times in one direction about 1/3 of the way around the balloon from the knot and hold that point. Twist the point you’re holding with the knot to make two loops in the shape of a figure 8. Bring the center of both loops toward the twist and twist all together to make four loops. Arrange the loops so the larger are on top and the smaller are on bottom to make “wings.”

8. To make the “body,” inflate a Yellow 160Q and let out a little air before tying. Make a pinch twist at the knotted end. To do this, make a twist 1" from the balloon neck to create a bubble, then tie the neck of the balloon around that twist. Position the pinch twist between the two larger wings, then wrap the remainder around the center of the wings. Locate where the remainder meets the base of the pinch twist and twist them together.

9. Deflate the remainder and trim. Glue to attach butterflies.

Cam Woody, CBA, is the Executive Art Director of Publications & Web Master. Her sellable ideas and unique designs can be found in Balloon Images magazine and on qualatex.com. Cam has 14 years of experience in balloon design and has been a Certified Balloon Artist since 1994. She earned her BFA from Fort Hays State University. Cam enjoys working in an industry filled with so many creative people.

Advertise