Tips and Tricks of the Trade - Part 2

Learning how to do things easily or in a better way can take many years of trial and error. I know this well as I have been learning for the past 26 years! "Tips and Tricks of the Trade" is a series of posts that will help you with a variety of different techniques that will make life easier and your work look better.

In Part 1 of this series, Chris Adamo, CBA, of Balloons Online, in Sydney, NSW, Australia, shared some fabulous techniques for filling latex balloons with confetti and also how to easily apply vinyl to foil and Bubble Balloons. To view this post, click HERE. 

One of my favourite tricks is to cover a base board* using the same Microfoil® balloon that I am featuring in a design.

How to cover a base board.

Here are two designs I made that use a covered base as part of the design. The covered base helps to create visual balance, good proportion, and perfect unity.

Here is another example of a design using the same technique. This time, I used two different techniques to create this double-layered base board.

* I like to use various sized cake boards as a base board. There are two types: flat and drum boards. The drum board is thicker, which can look more substantial than the flat board.

There are two different techniques for covering a base board.

Foil covered base board
For this technique, you will need:

• A Microfoil balloon that complements the design you are making.
• A cake board that is smaller than the overall size of the foil balloon. 
• Double sided tape. 
• Scissors.

You must remember that the foil balloon is merely stretched over the board. Therefore if you try and secure anything to the covered board, you may find that it is not stable. If you want to ensure stability, you will need to cut away the foil underneath the item that you are trying to secure using a sharp crafting knife and then glue the element directly to the board.

Latex covered base board

For this technique you will need:

• A latex balloon that complements the design you are making.
• A cake board that is smaller than the inflated size of the balloon that you are using to cover it. A 9" cake board works will an 11" balloon; if your board is larger, you will need to use a 16" balloon.
• Tape.
• Balloon Pump.
• Scissors.

This technique has its limitations. Because the balloon is latex, you cannot pierce through the balloon to secure any of the elements to the board. I simply use this technique to place my design onto, which gives my design unity and a complete look.

I love both of these techniques and have used them for many of the designs that I have made. I believe that giving a centrepiece a unified base makes a design look more complete.

Tips and Tricks of the Trade - Part 3 coming soon!

Happy Ballooning!

Sue
www.suebowler.com