Showing posts with label birthday decor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label birthday decor. Show all posts

Sunday, June 25, 2023

Extra Special Birthday featuring a Daisy-themed Eight-Number Balloon Frame!





Who doesn't love to create special moments for their children and grandchildren?

During the pandemic, I started a tradition to create something special for my granddaughter, Alexa, each year. Despite the challenges, I was determined to make her feel loved and appreciated on her special day. For her fifth birthday, we couldn't gather indoors as a group, but we made the best of it by celebrating outside. I created a beautiful framed number "Five" which became one of my most popular posts ever! The following year, on her sixth birthday, I crafted a stunning mosaic fish for her and added a large number Six to a pedestal that I designed. Unfortunately, we were away for her seventh birthday, but this year, I have put together a wonderful number "Eight" to commemorate her special day. So the tradition continues, and now I now have another new baby granddaughter to create for. Watch this space for something special for her first birthday in November! 



The number eight frame was a pre-made frame that I bought from a UK wholesaler - Balancebest. I would normally make my own frame, but honestly, the frame was so reasonably priced it wasn't really worth the effort of making my own! 

Deciding which colours to use this year was my first challenge. My previous two birthday designs were bright and colourful, which always looked great in our garden. This year I decided to base my design around one of the new Qualatex® Microfoil™ balloons - Birthday Retro Daisies.

Birthday Retro Daisies

  • Size and shape: 18" Round
  • Package item #: 26563
  • Flat item #: 26554

Using this balloon enabled me to pick out all the accent colours: Caribbean Blue, Yellow, Rose and Spring Lilac, would all be perfect for my design! 

If you would like to see how I created the number design view the video below.


If you would like to learn how I created the Number Five frame design, click HERE or visit https://theverybestballoonblog.blogspot.com/2020/06/how-to-make-styled-framed-number-and.html


And finally, if you would like to read my post: The Rainbow Fish inspired 6th Birthday Celebration click HERE or visit https://theverybestballoonblog.blogspot.com/2021/06/the-rainbow-fish-inspired-6th-birthday.html


The question is, what will I make for Alexa's Ninth Birthday... the pressure is on! 

Happy Ballooning! 

Sue
Follow me@suebowler

Thursday, April 18, 2019

#donutparty

Donut theme parties continue to be a hot trend for 2019. This theme fun and colourful, meaning it will work for any kind of  party!

I had great fun designing and creating this theme table-scape! The best part is, although it all looks yummy and edible, with exception of the milk, everything is made from balloons or a prop! 

Donut Display by Sue Bowler CBA - The Very Best Balloon Blog

If you have a vinyl cutter, such as the Silhouette Cameo or Cricut, you can easily transform plain balloons into sprinkle covered balloons! I used this technique for the Geo Donut column and the 18" White Microfoil design on the table. 



Making these donuts was so much fun!
To create these, I used 16" Geo Donut balloons, and added just a puff of air to fill the balloon without stretching the latex. Once knotted, I removed all the excess neck and trimmed back to the knot.

To turn these into donuts, I used acrylic paint to make the icing. Once the paint dried, I used a latex based glue (Elmer's Rubber Cement) to adhere the sugar sprinkles. And yes, they are real sugar sprinkles! 







This column was designed by Cam Woody, CBA, Pioneer Balloon Company, Wichita, KS, USA, and was the inspiration for the column that I made for the photo-shoot above.
















Here are two more wonderful donut design ideas by Cam!

Here is another painted Geo Donut balloon, but this time it has been inflated! This design works well with the "Birthday Sprinkles" 18" Microfoil - and it's available in 9" too! 
















I found the instructions on how to create these fabulous painted Geo Donuts on Imaginarium! Just click on the link to read the full instructions.












How divine is this arrangement that includes the NEW "Fantastical Fun Birthday" 18' Microfoil - a fun-filled foodie treat, that features unicorns, rainbows, ice-creams, pineapples, donuts and burgers! 



Did you spot the NEW 9" air-filled donut balloon in the base!?









"Birthday Sprinkles" - 9" Air-Filled #58439
18" Microfoil #57263
18" Microfoil #57265 (pkgd.)

"Donut" - 9" Air-Filled #58455



I love this Donut Table - by Pretty Chic Details, California, USA.

I think that this is such a fun theme to work with. Instagram and Pinterest show that this theme is often used for Baby Showers, First Birthday parties, summer parties, Bat Mitzvah's and Sweet Sixteen parties just to name just a few.

Here's a date for your diary! June 7th is National Donut Day -make a note and be sure to include it in your social media campaigns! 

I thinks it's time for a donut!

Happy Ballooning


Sue

www.suebowler.com
#suebowler

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Think pink and sparkly! Introducing our new "Sparkle" range! February 2016

When I was asked to design and create a "pink" window display for Qualatex® at the Spring Fair trade show at the NEC in Birmingham, U.K. I was extremely happy! Happy that I would be working with the new Pink Starburst Sparkle and Birthday Sparkle range, but also very happy that I would have the opportunity to add some exciting "sparkly" elements to the displays, too!



18 Pink Starburst Sparkle Bubble Balloon
#43122
U.S. Patent No. 6,782,675




The window space for each of the displays is quite limited, allowing on this occasion enough room for three focal displays. Working with the theme "celebration," I decided to feature age eighteen as the milestone age.



Monday, February 17, 2014

Boost your sales by combining gifts and Qualatex® balloons.

Combining gifts and Qualatex® balloons was my challenge for the 2014 Spring Fair Stage demonstrations! It was a great opportunity for me to look at different ways to incorporate balloons with everyday items that are sold in gift stores.

very best balloon blog
We started by selecting a variety of gift products such as candles in a presentation glass container, a lovely gift for Mothers Day or Birthdays, we also found cute children's mug, an item that many gift stores sell, and a decorative boxed glass that was perfect for a milestone birthday!

So here was my challenge, how could I create something that incorporated the gift within my design to create a whole piece rather than just adding a bunch of balloons?

Friday, June 28, 2013

How can we 'jazz up' our quotes?

      
In the past few weeks I have decorated two birthday parties, one to celebrate a 21st Birthday and the other an almost 'surprise' 50th birthday! 



I do not decorate very often any more, not because I don't want to, but it is not so easy when you have other commitments and cannot guarantee being available... but I was delighted to have the opportunity to go through the whole process once again from consultation to completion. 


It's funny because when I teach a class these days I try to include a small section covering 'selling techniques', as I feel this is such a vital part of our business, so this was my opportunity to put my words in to practice!



Both of the customer enquiries came via a telephone call, both informed me that they were on a budget and that they did not want to spend too much.



Firstly, I wanted to know a little about the person who's birthday it was, was there a theme, where was the party being held, favourite colours, anything and everything that could help me to decide what type of decor to propose.



One client wanted to meet up and discuss the party in greater detail, the other client was more than happy for me to send some ideas over the internet.



But not once did I ask them what their budget was!


Monday, June 10, 2013

Animal Magic - some great balloon designs with an animal theme!

Jolly GIraffe by Sue Bowler CBA
This Giraffe stands  6' Tall! 

Having a Jungle or Safari party theme is very popular for all ages, my first encounter of a Safari theme party was at IBAC 15 in 2001, which was the first time that I taught at IBAC having been a competitor for the previous 2 IBACs! 

I was given the task of designing animal trophy heads for the Hunters Lodge for the Thursday night Costume Party, which I have detailed a little later in this blog.


The IBAC Jungle Party was designed by Glenna Kipp, CBA. Glenna and her amazing team transformed the ballroom into a magnificent jungle! I have just looked back at Balloon Images April/May/June 2002 and reminded myself of all the fun designs that were created from Sky Broom Tree's, Monkey Tree's, Safari Falls and Palm Tree Paradise... just to name a few! 





Friday, May 17, 2013

'Balloon-Pops' - cute and simple air-filled balloon designs.


'Balloon Pop's©' - it's all in the name!

How many of us name our designs? Sure we sell 'Bouquets of Balloons' or 'Balloon Arrangements' even balloons on a ribbon & weight, but do you name each of your designs?

Balloon-Pop's© by Sue Bowler  
I recently did a little 'snooping' around the internet and viewed a variety of websites. I started with the floral market and checked out a selection of companies, the results were very interesting. Some the florists named each of their beautiful creations, making it really easy to identify and order, some simply gave their designs a number (a bit boring) and others no name or description at all, which made me wonder if I found an arrangement on their website that I really liked how would I go about asking for it?
I then looked at other retail businesses, let's take IKEA, they name everything that they sell! Many of us use the 'NOT' lamp for example and without having a name, how easy would it be for us to identify the lamp when we visit the store... probably not easy at all? Perfumes all have names as do cars... there really has to be something in giving  a product or design a name!

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Adding value to your everyday balloon designs and make more PROFIT!


Many shops and stores sell balloons, but to be the best you need to create something that sets you apart from everyone else!

In this blog today, I want to share with you some tips, hints and suggestions on how to make your work more exciting with an emphasis on presentation, making your work stand out... this I believe is the key to leaving a lasting impression which is vital for client recommendations and repeat business.


Sue Bowler
Bug in a Bag... with 'Wiggly Eyes' , feathers for hair and a pom pom nose in a bright fun gift bag!


To make this more fun, I have created Sue's A-Z of Tips,  Hints & Idea's ... with the hope that you will help me over the coming weeks to add to these... just email me sue@suebowler.com and i'll add any pictures or suggestions that you may have that you use to add value to your every day designs!

A is for 'added value'; we can add just a few extra items or production steps to make something really special.

Sue Bowler
3 simple steps can turn a single balloon into an amazing balloon delivery arrangement!
B is for Beautiful Bows, Balloon in a Box, Bubbles and Blossoms; have you used a Geo Blossom recently? Make it into a Funny Face! Business Cards; does your 'sell you' and what you do? 'Bug in a Bag', a great design for a fun delivery! (If you would like to know how to make the 'bug', it's is in my Sue's Recipes section in this blog!)
Balloon in a beautifully decorated box!
Geo Blossom - Funny Face presented in a mug and gift wrapped in cellophane and with a bow!


C is for Cellophane; wrap up our beautiful designs, for both presentation and preservation purpose (cellophane will reduce the oxidizations process). Qualatex Coordinates are a great way to create stylish profitable deliveries and centrepiece designs. Custom colouring is one of my favourite techniques. Get your CBA certification,  let your customers know that you are a professional Balloon Artist... another great way to stand out from your competitors.
Sue Bowler
Qualatex coordinates make the very best bouquets, from latex to Microfoils!


D is for Dress it up, go beyond basics. It is easy to sell basic designs, but so does everyone else. Make your work better than everyone else's. Geo Donuts... when was the last time you used a 'Donut' in one of your designs?

Sue Bowler
Organza ribbon, silk flowers and custom coloured balloons!
E is for Extra Effort; will pay dividends time and time again. Wiggly Eyes, are great for little character designs, neat and easy to apply!

F is for Fantasy Flowers, Feathers and other 'Fancy' add-on's.
Sue Bowler


G is for Glue Dots, neat and easy to use, Glitter add's an extra sparkle to our work! Gift-Wrapped designs can look so much better than an unwrapped design. Gift Bags can be perfect for arrangements and balloon bouquets!
Sue Bowler


H is for Hi-Float, making our designs last so much longer, an essential tool for any professional balloon artist. Hearts are a great addition to bouquets and for accent detail... look at the Bottle Buddies below, I added a 4" Microfoil Heart on each occasion, and a great selling point is that these balloons last forever!

Sue Bowler
These Bottle Buddies makes truly great gifts!
Sue Bowler

I is for imaginative and irresistible designs, An of course Iridescent... shimmery glitter and fabrics that truly add that finishing touch to an elegant design or decor!

J is for Jumbo, try to think bigger! If you make a design using 260Q try using 350Q or even 646Q... and see how it looks... bigger has greater perceived value! If you usually work with 11" balloons, try 16" or even 24"!
Sue Bowler
This is the same design but using 350Q for the small version and 646Q for the large version.

K is for K.I.S.S  or Keep it Simple Stupid. Keeping a design simple and reproducible will ensure repeat sales, which is something you will need to make a design profitable. Keeping a design simple does not mean that you cannot add value to it!

L is for Love and attention; put effort and care in to all your work, it will show! Make your designs longer lasting by using Hi-Float and Balloon  Shine.


M is for Mickey & Minnie Mouse Double Bubbles! These balloons are perfect for Adding Value to!


Sue Bowler
Just by simply adding a few clusters of balloons you can transform the Mickey & Minnie Double Bubbles into a great and long lasting gift!

N is for Neat work and New ideas; keep your customer excited with the many new ideas you keep reeling out... they will be back for more!
Sue Bowler
A column... with a few original touches!

O is for Originality; when you have learnt new skills and ideas, make the design your own by changing it a little or by adding your own finishing touches!

P is for being a Perfectionist! If you are not happy with what you have made, why should your customer? And of course Polka Dots, one of the 'hottest' trends around!
Sue Bowler
Mini Mouse Double Bubble works perfectly with 5" Polka Dots!


Q is for QUALATEX. Using the best products can only lead to high quality work and fantastic end results!

R is for Reward, we should all reward ourselves from time to time and don't forget to reward staff to for extra effort and a job well done!
Treat your staff to an Ice Cream after a busy day or after a big job...  sometimes it's the small gestures that really count!
S is for Secrets, keep ideas and techniques secret from your competition. You invest time and money to learn new skills, do not be tempted to share it too quickly. This knowledge will keep you ahead for your competition. If you attend a seminar... don't post the 'how to make it' on Facebook, this will devalue the class you have just invested in! Smile... when we greet our customers and when we talk on the telephone, a smiley face is one that is always remembered!

T is for Test it out! Always test out new designs... will they float long enough or look good in different conditions? Do not be tempted to hope and pray that they will be OK on the day! This usually ends up in a very bad nights sleep and even worse a bad reputation if it goes wrong!

U is for Up-selling! Understanding your customers needs and requirements. Your customer may come in for a single balloon, but what they are actually looking for is a fun surprise for someone that they love. If you spend just a few minutes finding out who it for, what the occasion is, you will find it so much easier to sell up a whole bouquet and maybe even a small gift to compliment the design!


V is for great Value, Variety and making a design Visually exciting! Value your customers too, without them, we would not have a successful business!
Sue Bowler
Balloon Baby Column

W is for Whimsical! I love cute little balloon characters! Wow factor too... 'how did they do that' or 'I have never seen such beautiful balloons! World Balloon Convention, learn from some of the best in the industry, start saving now for WBC 2014!

Sue Bowler
'Neon Noodle Balloon' for Wow factor!

X is for Xtra special! I cannot express enough how important it is for our work to stand out in a crowd, make your customers aware that you are the best person for the job, and that no other balloon company can do what you do with balloons!

Y is for 'You're the Best', take all the knowledge that you learn from balloon courses, seminars and conventions, and see how your profits grow as well as your confidence!


Z is for Zappy! Lively and energetic... just like everyone in our amazing industry!

I hope that you have enjoyed reading my A-Z of tips, hints and idea's, maybe you can take a few of these ideas at a time and add them into your business and see if they make a difference and let me know if they do!

Happy Ballooning!

Sue
www.suebowler.com


Wednesday, June 6, 2012

A little inspiration for Air-Filled Table Arrangements

Creating arrangements and centrepiece designs working with air rather than helium can appear to be a little more challenging. 

However, there are a number of different idea's that we can successfully use to create great designs every time!

Here are a few inspiring idea's that I have spotted on the Qualatex Facebook Group page!

Anne Cahill McGovern
Design by Anne Cahill McGovern

This first design is by Anne Cahill McGovern, and is absolutely beautiful. I love the use of the Birthday Elegant Damask #30986 complimented with the Black Damask 11" latex balloons #33503 (assorted), with 5" Wild Berry. Anne has used a black feather boa for visual texture and movement within the design, along with some added pink feathers and 'pearl' beads. This design for me is fun, elegant, feminine, trendy, fashionable and charming, truly perfect for a birthday celebration!


Nadia   Azar
Design by Nadia Azar
Another truly inspiring design from Nadia Azar. Nadia has very cleverly created this design with a great combinations of balloons. The focal balloon is the Princess Tiara #82027 and complimented with Rose Pink 5, Rose Pink 160Q's and 5" Zebra Prints! The visual lines and movement are very elegant, but this design also evokes a sense of fun and fashion with the use of the animal print, once again perfect for a birthday celebration!


Soo Wheeler
Design by Soo Wheeler

Topiary designs (topiary meaning - ball like shape) also make perfect air-filled centrepiece designs. Above is a beautiful example of a delicate 'Double Bubble' topiary centrepiece made by Soo Wheeler. Soo's topiary creates a feeling of romance, elegance and gentleness, perfect for a wedding or with a slight change of balloons, this same design could be used for a Christening or Baptism celebration. I love the use of the 5" Just Married Flowers-A-Round latex print #39286.

The Topiary technique can be so very versatile, and can be adapted to suit almost any occasion. I have included a few of more of my favourite idea's below.


Laura Serrano
Design by Laura Serrano
 This stunning Magenta 4" Hearts Topiary is so beautiful and elegant, the organza ribbon and cellophane 'picks' compliment this design perfectly. I can visualise this design in many different colours and being used for many different occasions! 






Linda Bruce
Design by Linda Bruce 







Here is another topiary centrepiece, this one was created by Linda Bruce. The design is simple yet elegant, the ribbon creates the perfect link between the base and the top, and the raffia ribbon add's a visual texture to the design.





Balloontime Roma
Design by Balloontime Roma.



Here is another beautiful example of a topiary design by Balloontime, Roma. Set in a flower pot, it creates the appearance of a flower or tree. The soft colours would indicate this design is for a Christening or a new baby!











Nadia Azar
Design by Nadia Azar




Nadia Azar gives us another great take on the topiary technique. Nadia has used 'puffed' Geo Blossoms... the visual texture is great along with the fresh colours of Lime & Pinks!





Below is another great air-filled design created by Anne Cahill McGovern... It's so simple but so very effective! The 6" Qualatex GEO Blossoms look great in these arrangements... just 3 on each of the tables and they look amazing!


Anne Cahill mcGovern
Design by Anne Cahill McGovern
Colin Myles
Design by Colin Myles




I had to include this fantastic design by Colin Myles! It is packed with visual movement and line!
The 6-balloon cluster base gives perfect visual stability, the 13" Taper balloons add a sense of 'spotlight' to the dancer on the platform along with the 'woven' line guiding light and movement up the column and finally the 'music' guy, dancing on his platform... such a fun and clever design Colin!








Jose Lutman
Design by Jose Lutman


Jose Lutman has a really modern artistic flair when it comes to balloons, I always love to see his ideas and inspirations. I really like his idea of the 'Queen of Hearts' 30" Playing card at the top of this elegant garland of greenery and the simple addition of carefully placed red balloons!

There is a great 'Designer Showcase' of Jose work in APR/MAY/Jun 2012 balloon Images  magazine. 
Images article featuring Jose Lutman

Finally, I cannot complete this blog without mentioning Idit & Hagai Schwartz from Israel, their business is based round centrepiece designs, there is a great article in Images APR/MAY/JUN 2011 called 'Center of Attention'. Idit and Hagai's work is creative, elegant and inspiring, all the designs featured in the article are air-filled... and very beautiful!

Images article featuring Idit & Hagai Schwartz
I have really enjoyed gathering designs for this blog, it has been wonderful re-visiting many of the photographs that have been generously posted and shared on the Qualatex Facebook Group page. I would like to say a huge thank you to all those I have featured in this blog, your continuous idea's and techniques are a great inspiration to us all!

Happy Ballooning!

Sue
www.suebowler.com