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Instructions
for
Stretch & Company's
"Turtle"
By Stretch The Balloon
Dude
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This is a cute
turtle that takes 4 balloons and is fairly quick, but
makes a big impression.
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| 1.
You'll need a green 360, a green 260, a brown 260 and
a white 5" round. Inflate both greens leaving about
a 4 inch tail uninflated. Inflate the brown 260 leaving
about a 5 inch tail and inflate the 5 inch round to about
1 to 1 1/2 inches and tie the knot close to the inflated
portion. |
2.
Start with the green 360 and twist 2 bubbles about 3 1/2
inches long and then twist the nozzle into the end of
the second bubble forming a lock twist.
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| 3.
Twist another 3 1/2 inch bubble making sure that it's
soft and then form it into a fold twist forming one of
your turtle's cheeks. Repeat this process to make a second
cheek. |
4.
Twist a 1 inch bubble for the neck followed by a small
round bubble. Twist the small round bubble into a pinch
twist and then twist a 3 inch bubble for the body followed
by another small round bubble. Make this second small
round buble into a pinch twist. |
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| 5.
Twist another 3 inch bubble and thing bring the end of
the bubble up and twist it into the pinch bubble at the
base of the turtle's neck. Pop off and discard any excess
360. |
6.
Take the 5 inch round, trim off the excess un-inflated
balloon and then divide it into 2 equal bubbles to form
the eyes. Twist the eyes onto your turtle's head and position
them on top of the 2 fold twists. |
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Take the green 260 and twist a 1 inch bubble on the nozzle
end and then twist this bubble into the pinch twist at
the back of your turtle's body forming its tail. Make
two 2 inch bubbles in the 260 and then bring the end of
the second bubble up and twist it into the pinch twist
where you started forming the turtle's back legs. |
8.
Lay the 260 along the turtles back until it reaches the
pinch twist at the base of the neck and twist it into
the pinch twist. Make two 2 inch bubbles in the 260 and
then bring the end of the second bubble up and twist it
into the pinch twist at the base of its neck forming the
turtle's front legs. Pop off and remove any excess 260. |
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Twist the nozzle of the brown 260 into the pinch twist
at the base of the turtle's neck and then lay it along
the turtle's back until it meets up with the pinch twist
at the back of turtle and then twist it into the pinch
twist forming part of the turtle's shell. Repeat this
process 2 more times by going back to the front pinch
twist and then back to the tail again. |
10.
Make a series of of 4 or 5 small round bubbles in the
brown 260 forming a string of pearls that reaches the
pinch twist at the base of the turtle's neck and then
twist the end of the last bubble into the pinch twist.
Repeat this process on the other side of the turtle's
shell and lock this string of bubbles into the pinch twist
at the back of the turtle. Pop off and remove any excess
brown 260. |
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| 11.
Add artwork and your turtle is complete. |
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Wendell Clendennen,
a.k.a. Stretch the Balloon Dude, has been twisting tubes
of latex into fun and zany shapes since 1989. Since then
he has developed a unique style that combines a slightly
twisted view of life with an eye for detail. Stretch has
taught at conventions and seminars across the US, including
being the featured lecturer for T Jam on the Road 2006
and repeat appearances at Summer Balloon Camp and |
| Twist
and Shout. Together, Stretch and Mrs. Stretch host G.O.T.
Balloons, the monthly balloon jam in the Dallas-Fort Worth
area of Texas that has been meeting regularly since April
of 2003. www.stretchc.com |
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ALWAYS
CLOWNING |
Instructions
for
"Link-O-Loony Caterpillar"
By Jane Driscoll
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A simple, yet,
impressive caterpillar.
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2 - eyeball balloons or two white 6” balloons
• 2 - 12” long
chenille stems (to stabilize the antennas)
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2 - 260s un-inflated (white for antennas)
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1 - 160 inflated six inches (pink for mouth and nose)
• 6 - 260s with a 2-1/2”
to 3” tip (rainbow colors)
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4 - 260s with “poufs” on each end (for tail
tassel)
• 7 - 6”
link-o-loons (white or the colors of your choice) |
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1. Using any
color of your choice, start by making a 1” bubble
followed by a 10” loop. |
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2. Lock twist
them together. Ear twist the 1” bubble. Next, measure
a 10” bubble, followed by another 10” loop
fold lock twist the loop. Make another 1” bubble.
Ear twist it to create the heel of the second foot . |
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3. With the
remaining balloon, measure roughly 2”. |
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4. Wrap that
bubble around the opposite heel. You now have the first
pair of legs and feet. Break off the remaining balloon. |
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5. Repeat this
process with the remaining 260 leg balloons. |
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6. Using a
sizing template or sizing cube, pump inflate the link-o-loons
(LOL) to varying sizes. I inflated the head to 5-1/4”
and then decreased the sizes in this manner: 4-3/4”,
4-1/2”, 4-1/4”, 4”, 3-3/4” and
3-1/2”. |
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7. The LOL’s
are tied tail-to-tip, with each knot through the center
of a pair of legs. The leg segments are not tied to the
LOL knots. Snug the balloon up against the LOLs, roll
the “tip” around the knotted “tail”
twice and knot it. |
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8. Repeat the
process until you have the body finished. The tip of the
head balloon must face out for attaching the face, later. |
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9. Using your
160 make a 2” bubble followed by two 1” bubbles.
Lock twist them and roll the knot through the intersection. |
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10. Lock twist
them and roll the knot through the intersection. |
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11. Snap off
the end and save it for the nose. |
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12. Pull the
nose up through the intersection of the two smallest bubbles.
You now have a face cluster. Attach the cluster to the
tip of the head LOL, pulling the tip through the intersection
of the two upper lip bubbles (not too snuggly or the cluster
will not lay against the head easily). Next attach two
small golfball sized eyes around the cluster. |
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13. Take the
chenille stems and fold back 1/2" on each side. Slide
one chenille stem into one 260. |
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14. Pump
a small bubble into the 260 and knot the balloon. Repeat
with second antenna 260. Force the bubble to the tip
using the tail pouf method. Wrap the balloon around
your finger to shape it. Tuck the antennas behind the
eyes. Affix them with rubber cement if they will not
stay.
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Why not try big agates, or double-dipped-dotted balloons,
or sprays.
Simply double stuff the balloon of your choice into clear
12” link-o-loons and you’re on your way. |
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Why not try a profile face showing your caterpillar’s
toothy smile. The easiest way to attach this face is rubber
cement. |
Bonus idea: with a simple
change here or there this pattern can be used to make
wonderful snakes using a LOL followed by a 260 “collar”
(loop with an ear twist) and repeat till you have the
length of snake you desire.
I like to use three “collars” in-between each
pair of LOLs. Tie the LOL loosely instead of snuggly up
against each other and you will find that you have room
for three “collars” in that space. The pattern
is LOL, 160, 260, 160, LOL again. It is beautiful for
creating large creatures, palm trees, and columns. The
variations are endless. |
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Janie Driscoll
is a versatile performer.
She has been privileged to have toured nationally. This
multi-talented artist and educator offers shows, and custom
workshops designed to inspire the beginning or seasoned
performer.
Janie began her training in theatre arts at Hedgerow Theatre
Repertoire, Moylan Pa, at age eleven. There she was trained
in classical theatre, stage combat, slap-stick, comedy,
mime, improvisation, stage movement and theatre of the
absurd. She brings to work as a clown and actress all
these skills plus, comedy magic, amazing balloon artistry,
and exciting face painting, to create for you the characters
known as "Silly Dilly" and "Zany Janie."
www.alwaysclowning.com |
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