Thursday, November 25, 2021

Oh Christmas Tree - Creative Balloon Tree Ideas for the Festive Season

There is nothing more iconic than a Christmas Tree! The tradition of bringing a tree indoors at Christmas time actually began in the 16th century. Today, however Christmas trees come in many forms, including those made from balloons! 

In this post I would like to share with you a selection of inspiring styles of 'balloon trees' that could be used as part of a display or as decor at an event! 

Let's start with a little bit, well actually a lot, of sparkle! What could be more spectacular than Chris Adamo's incredible gold confetti Christmas tree! Confetti-filled balloons are certainly a big hit with customers, and this tree looks simply F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S! 

Design by Chris Adamo, CBA,
 of Balloons Online, Sydney, Australia.



For decorative air-filled confetti balloons:
  • Inflate the balloon with a small amount of air to stretch open the balloon, and then let the air out. 
  • Use the funnel to insert confetti inside the balloon or you can use a balloon stretching tool* to open up the neck of the balloon.
  • Fill the balloon with air to the desired size and be sure to tie the balloon carefully afterward, ensuring that there is no confetti in the neck of the balloon.
  • Check that the confetti is distributed across the balloon, you can use static to get the confetti to stick. If using metallic confetti, you can use Hi-Float as an adhesive inside the balloon before you add the confetti.


This organic Chrome Gold and Chrome Silver Christmas Tree is absolutely gorgeous and beautifully finished with greenery and berries!  
 Zoe Adam-Jones, CBA, of JAZ Trading,
Queensland, Australia

Balloon Mosaic Frame  by Sue Bowler, CBA in Henley On Thames, England

I really enjoyed making this mosaic tree design. The frame itself was so easy to assemble using a Nikoloon Frame kit. I used a combination of Chrome Gold, Chrome Copper and Chrome Rose Gold 7" and 11" balloons. I also added a few Metallic Gold 4", 9" and 18" Stars, plus one single 4" Red Star at the top! As a finishing touch, I created mini bubbles from the tips of Chrome Gold 260Q's. This tree lasted many weeks and looked absolutely fantastic! 


QuickLink Christmas Trees made by Sue Bowler

I made these QuickLink Christmas Trees for the entrance decor for a corporate Christmas party! When I made these, I was very new to working with QuickLinks.I was very grateful to Sean O'Kelly of BalloonDecor, VIC, Australia who shared his design recipe with me and the Very Best Balloon Blog! To learn how to create this tree, click HERE, or follow this link: https://theverybestballoonblog.blogspot.com/2015/08/how-to-make-quick-link-christmas-tree.html

This Christmas tree entrance decor scene was created for a Qualatex Event in France, in 2017
by José Luthman CBA of Ballonrama in Mulhouse, France.
 
These fabulous Christmas Trees were made using partially inflated 260Q balloons, and clearly the effect was stunning! 

Here is another fabulous QuickLink Christmas Tree, designed and created by Glen LaValley, of Glen the Balloon Guy in Edmonton, Alberto, Canada. If you would like to learn how to make this design click HERE or follow this link: https://theverybestballoonblog.blogspot.com/2015/08/how-to-make-quick-link-christmas-tree.html



Designer name: Cam Woody, CBA, Pioneer Balloon Company, Wichita, KS, USA


Here are a few more inspiring ideas from #balloonchristmastree on Instagram

This first design by Rejoice Event Design is simply spectacular! I love all the fabulous twisted tree decorations! 
Stunning White and Chrome Gold Tree by
Rejoice Event Design, New Jersey, USA
www.rejoiceeventdesign.com

White Tree with Red and Chrome Silver accent details by
Little Balloon Box in Bromley, England
www.littleballoonbox.co.uk

This pastel Christmas tree is so elegant.
Design by
The Balloon Crew in Barrie, ON, Canada
https://theballoooncrew.wixsite.com/theballoooncrew-1

And finally, a fabulous collection of Christmas Trees by Dream Higher Events completes the display! 
Design by Dream Higher Events in West Malling, England
www.dreamhigher.co.uk

There are so many different ways to create a Christmas tree from balloons, some being quicker and easier to make than others! Looking at these beautiful designs has definitely inspired me to make a 2021 tree! 

For even more inspiration and ideas, I recommend that you check out #balloonchristmastree.

Happy Ballooning! 

Sue
www.suebowler.com
Follow me @suebowler





Monday, November 15, 2021

How to Make this Festive Gnome Design by Sue Bowler

Finding quick, easy and sellable designs is always a little challenging, especially when you are building your seasonal offerings! Today, I would like to share this cute and festive gnome design that I recently created and shared with the viewers of BMTV.


Christmas Gnome Design by Sue Bowler

Material List

1 x Merry Christmas Gnome
#19772

1 x 42" Gnome
#20055



4 x 7" Gold Chrome Latex Balloons #85111
8 x 11" Gold Chrome Latex Balloons #58271



1 x 260Q Chrome Gold
#58283


1 x 260Q Red
#43958 

You will also need:

  • Balloon weight (for the overall design)
  • Small balloon weight & helium (for the Merry Christmas foil balloon)
  • Nylon Line and red satin ribbon
  • Stretchy Balloon Tape

To find out how to make this design please watch the video below! 


Balloon inflation sizes as a reminder:

  • Base and 3rd cluster inflated to 8"
  • 2nd/middle cluster inflated to 3.5"

Additional Tips:

  • This design is perfect for personalising with someone's name for Christmas.
  • Add Hi-Float to the 260Q's to help the balloons last longer.
  • Always ensure that any helium-inflated foil balloons are safely secured to a balloon weight.
  • This design could be made with alternative latex balloons to create a completely different look for the box/gift base. 


Here is another quick, easy, and festive idea! When you create a design that you really love, why not make it into a gift card that you can share with your friends, family and customers!

Christmas Gnome Design created by Sue Bowler



Here is my 2021 Christmas card, made using CANVA! It is so easy to do and gives you the opportunity to create something very special and unique! 

Happy Ballooning! 

Sue
Follow me @suebowler




Thursday, November 11, 2021

'Jingle All The Way' with these Festive Preparation and Christmas Balloon Design Ideas!

Christmas Gnome Design  By Sue Bowler CBA - www.suebowler.com
Christmas Gnome Design 
By Sue Bowler CBA.




During Christmas 2020, many were obligated to stay at home and avoid spending time with family and friends due to coronavirus restrictions. I know we are all hoping that Christmas 2021 will be a very special celebration as a result of last years lack of celebrations. With that in mind, it is time to get our businesses ready for Christmas if you haven't already started! 







And November is the perfect time to start marketing for Christmas:

Decorate your shopfront: 

 

How fabulous is this display by Trish Robertson of Barossa Helium Balloons and Party Supplies in Tanunda, South Australia. Trish was inspired to re-create Luc Bertrand's beautiful QuickLinks Santa Mural  which has taken centre-stage in her window! 


  • Decorate your outdoor area with festive window art, banners and decals. 
  • Inside, get shoppers in the Christmas spirit by playing your favourite seasonal tunes and lighting some autumn and winter-scented candles to set the mood. 
  • If your shop is on the smaller side and you’re concerned about capacity (and your ability to enforce social distancing), think about ways to get people shopping without the crowds — like hosting virtual or limited-capacity events or scheduling personal shopping appointments.

Trish said; "I look at my window as real estate, just like shelving in stores is real estate. But the window is the most important real estate because it can decide if someone comes in or not. The other thing I don't do is fill it. I keep it simple so it jumps out. 

Trish also leaves her lights on in her store allowing her window displays to keep on working even when the store is closed!  

Deck out your website:

Your digital space is just as important as your brick-and-mortar location. So, if you have a website, make sure to decorate your digital "shopfront as well — whether it is through creating a curated gift shop page, adding a Christmas decor-inspired banner to your homepage, or changing your colour scheme to incorporate more festive colours.


When it comes to decorating your website and social media pages, don't forget that Qualatex has some excellent FREE marketing materials, such as this animated Facebook cover (above) and other helpful seasonal social media posts (see below) that can be personalised to suit your business or ready made to simply pop into your campaigns. For a direct link to all the Ready Made Social Media Posts and other marketing materials click HERE






Christmas Decor Ideas:

For me, air-filled and personalised designs are the way forward! Here in the UK, Christmas for the balloon industry really kicks off with the a naughty elf, known by many as 'Elf on the Shelf" arriving in family homes on the 1st of December.
The Christmas elf is fast becoming an annual tradition in many homes. The elf is a special scout that is sent to children's homes from the North Pole to encourage kids to behave themselves. The idea is that Santa's little helper watches the children by day, and each night, it returns to the North Pole to report on whether they were naughty or nice. 
This Christmas tradition has just two rules: First, children are not allowed to touch the elf or it will lose its magic. 
Second, the elf will not speak or move while the kids are awake. The elf only moves at night when it makes its trip back to the North Pole. Once it returns home, it then assumes a new position in the house.
"Elf on the Shelf" was created by Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell in 2005. The concept is heavily protected by copyright laws, and therefore anyone making and selling elf balloon designs should be very careful not to infringe copyright laws. 

There are a number of different manufacturers of this cheeky little character, with varying different names - Naughty Elf, Elves Behaving Badly, Elf for Christmas are all protected by copyright rules and laws. My recommendation is to do your research to ensure that you don't infringe on any of them, as it can be a costly mistake! 

One of the most appealing ways for the elf to arrive is inside a balloon! 


Christmas Elf Balloon by Naomi Spencer of
Candy Bubbles in Birmingham, UK.

I’ll be Gnome for Christmas! A fun and whimsical design for the holiday.


Designer name: Eve Antonello, CBA, Pioneer Balloon Company, Wichita, KS, USA

The Gnome tradition came to us from Scandinavia. Unlike the elves of other cultures, which reside at the North Pole, legend has it that gnomes pop out of their forests niches come Christmas Day, and walk through the front doors of homes to hand-deliver presents.

The top ten hashtags for gnomes are #gnomes #gnomesofinstagram #gnome #gnomelife #gnomesweetgnome #gnomestagram #gnomelove #gnomehome #handmade #handmadegnomes 


Shine Bright! It’s all things merry and bright with Rudolph!

I absolutely love this design by Cam Woody! Everyone loves the Red Nose Reindeer at Christmas and Cam has created a fabulous air-filled design that would take pride of place in any home. If you are a QBN member, there are step-by-step instructions available to recreate this adorable design. Simply sign in using your QBN number and then you will be able to view and download for future reference! 


Designer name: Cam Woody, CBA, Pioneer Balloon Company, Wichita, KS, USA

Happy ballooning! 

Sue
Follow me @suebowler