What's in your toolbox? With Natalie Saunders

I have known Natalie (Nat) Saunders for many years, as both a friend, and as a fabulous balloon artist too! Nat has run her highly successful balloon business, The Balloon Room for over 20 years and is regarded as one of the UK's top balloon companies!

Today, Nat is sharing the contents of her toolbox to help others who may have recently started out in the balloon business or for anyone who might be intrigued to see what another professional carries on their jobs!

Check out the video below, in which Nat talks through and shows you the full contents of her tool box and why she has it.

Toolbox - Natalie recommends the Stanley Modular Rolling Toolbox

Contents:

🎈 Scissors and Retractable Reel Holder/Scissor Keeper

🎈 Loose Change for parking

🎈 Stretchy Balloon Tape
"Stretchy Balloon Tape is my number one tape by far. I use it a lot! It is the only sure connection for foil balloons without putting any stress on them. When using stretchy tape I take one side of the backing tape off and reposition across in the middle, I then take away the other half of the backing tape. I then position the stretchy tape on the two foil balloons that I am connecting. The repositioned backing tape now shows the distance that will be taken between the two foil balloons. Now turn the balloons around, take away the backing tape and an additional piece of stretchy tape on top. This gives a result of two foil balloons with only a few millimetres between only using the double stretchy tape. The tape kind of ‘melts together.’ I find that this is the best way to make very strong connection points onto foil, Bubble, and latex balloons. The fact that it is stretchy or elastic makes it a stronger connection as it can shrink, grow, and move with the balloon construction.

🎈 Tweezers

🎈 Teaspoon and Tablespoon for measuring (confetti)

🎈 Mini perfume (just in case for a quick freshen up)

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🎈 Gaffer Tape - can be used to connect rods and pipes and also to cover loose cables when working as a health and safely procedure.

🎈 Glue Dots and Uglu Dashes

🎈 Balloon Bond

Click-Click™ Balloon Bond^®.

This is a two-sided adhesive that is perfect for connecting latex balloons and other materials to balloons.

🎈 Nail Varnish Remover and Cotton Wool Pads - the nail varnish remover will remove the painted surface from a foil balloon which will help when sticking foil balloons together.

🎈 Double-Sided Tape

🎈 Anti-Bacterial Wipes and Hand Sanitiser

🎈 Monofilament or Fishing Line (Strong nylon thread)

🎈 Batteries - AA + AAA's

🎈 Tape Measure

🎈 Gorilla (Mounting) Tape

🎈 Dacron Line

🎈 Floristry Wire

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🎈Command Hooks


🎈Glue Guns - Hot & Cold Melt plus Glue Sticks

You would probably think that glue guns and balloons would not be a good combination, however, low temperature or cool melt glue guns work perfectly well when making designs.

They are particularly effective when building Mosaic Frames for Balloons, and also when adding the balloons to the frames.

Be aware, even cool glue is very hot, and yes, it can pop a balloon, so you need to be very careful when working with one. The main problem with this type of glue is that it reacts with temperature; if it's cold, the glue sets very hard and brittle, and in the heat it can soften too much.

Be very careful when using a Hot Glue Gun, the glue is extremely hot and will pop balloons.