Showing posts with label Garlands. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Garlands. Show all posts

Friday, January 21, 2022

What is Classic Balloon Décor?

When I started my balloon business over 30 years ago it was considered extremely important to learn the skills to create beautiful Classic Balloon Décor. These skills really made your balloon business stand out, and set you apart from your untrained competitors!

Fantastic Circus Clowns Entrance Décor Design by Tope Abulude, CBA

What is Classic Balloon Décor?

When I think of Classic Balloon décor, I think of precision, where every balloon is sized precisely and each balloon looks identical... think of peas in a pod. Classic balloon décor refers to Columns, Garland Arches, and String of Pearl Arches. It is the foundation of balloon decorating, and can often be found at weddings, fairs, dances, grand openings, and almost anywhere balloons are used to enhance the atmosphere of an event. Just take a look at the fabulous Circus Clown entrance decor above, this is 100% Classic Balloon décor! The legs, body, and arms of each balloon uses the classic Garland technique to create these impressive structures! 

To make any style of Classic Balloon décor, you first need to know the basics: duplets and clusters.

Duplet: To make a duplet, inflate and accurately size two latex balloons, and then tie the two balloons closely together, this is known as a duplet. TIP: the tighter a duplet is tied, (leaving no stretch between the two balloons) the better the end result will be when creating clusters.

Photo courtesy of Balloon Market
for full step-by-step instructions click HERE

Clusters: A cluster is when we take two or more duplets and twist them together at the centre to form a cluster. Two duplets twisted together makes a 4-balloon cluster. We can also make 5-balloon and 6-balloons clusters, simply by adding additional duplets or in the case of the 5-balloon cluster, an additional single balloon to two duplets.

Photo courtesy of Balloon Market
for full step-by-step instructions click HERE

Puff Ball or Balloon Topiary: A Puff Ball is made using a total of twelve balloons. This is formed by twisting six duplets together, making sure that each duplet is twisted through the centre core of the ball.



Garlands

Garlands are the building block of Classic Balloon Décor and can be used to create;

  • Columns - Columns can be built on a pole and base plate, or can be self-supporting if tethered to a weight and topped with a helium-filled balloon to keep it upright. Columns are great for entrances, corners of a dance floor, or any space that needs a touch of colour.


Balloon Column by Luc Bertrand, CBA of WaW Balloons in Vichte, Belgium


  • Swags - this style of décor can be draped from a ceiling or pillars down into a room. Balloon swags give decor a sense of motion and energy.

Fabulous Circus Decor by Tope Abulude
This amazing décor was designed by Tope Abulude, CBA of Balloon Inspirations Design Studio in Brentwood, England.
The balloon Swags formed the canopy of a Circus Tent.
 The décor was created by a team of balloon professionals at the World Balloon Convention.

  • Arches - When built on a frame, a Garland easily becomes a long-lasting focal point for entrances, buffet tables, or photo backdrops. 



Garland Patterns

Garlands are often referred to as Spiral Garlands, however, there are many more patterns that can be created within a Garland to create different effects.


The above Arch pattern displays a 'Fast Spiral' the means
that the spiral repeats quickly. You could use four 
different colours for this spiral pattern

This Arch pattern displays a 'Slow Spiral'
This is when you use two colours sitting side by side so
that the repeat is less frequent.


This Arch pattern is known as the 'Polka Dot'. Using 
a printed balloon as the dot can be very effective.


This Arch is known as the 'Small Flower' pattern.


The number of different patterns that you can create in a Garland is unlimited, you simply need to experiment and play! The easiest way to do this is by using a balloon design tool such as Balloon Pro, which is what I have used to illustrate the Arch design above. This is a fantastic way for you to create design ideas for your customers without having to touch a balloon! https://balloonpro.co

TIPS:
  • Experiment with different colour combinations to create different patterns.
  • Use all-over printed latex balloons to enhance a theme or to make a bold statement.
  • Top columns with giant 3' latex balloons or 36" Microfoil® balloons.
  • Add curly 260Q latex balloons to add visual interest and movement within a design.
  • Use 5-balloon and 6-balloon clusters to create rounder structures.
  • Use the Garland technique to create many different styles of Garland Sculptures, like the Clown Arches shown above or the 'Tropical Cocktail' below! The only limitations is your creativity! 
Fancy Cocktail Glass
Double stuff latex colours into Diamond Clear latex to create a frosted glass effect!
Designer name: Federico Onida, CBA, Balloon Express Shop - Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy


Tools of the Trade: The AeröPole System® was designed to help decorators easily create different styles of air-filled balloon Arches. To find out more visit www.areopolesystem.com

Here are a few more examples of designs created using Classic décor.


Christmas Tree by Cam Woody, CBA


The backdrop balloon wall was create using the Duplet Square Pack 
Technique.
Design by Sue Bowler, CBA

This Circus Ring Sculpture was mainly created using Classic Balloon Décor techniques.
Sculpture by Sue Bowler, CBA


www.suebowler.com
Balloon Wall created using Alternative Size Balloon Technique
Design by Sue Bowler

So many balloon companies seem to focus solely on organic balloon décor today, but for me personally, I love knowing how to create both, and being able to apply the most appropriate technique to the style of décor or event that I am decorating. 

Happy Ballooning! 

Sue

www.suebowler.com

Follow me @suebowler










Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Classic Balloon Decor - A Balloon Decorators Building Blocks


Do you remember the first time you saw a Spiral Garland Column, Swag or a Balloon Arch and the wonderful way the colours wrapped around themselves and wondered how did they do that?

Sue Bowler
Air-Filled Entrance Arch - by Sue Bowler as featured in Sue's Balloon Decor 1 DVD
The effects of simple balloon garlands are truly magical, both visually and profitably too!

Classic Balloon Decor is the foundation of balloon decorating. Foundations can be found in the early defining work of a discipline, and balloon decorating started with balloon garland arches, swags, columns and 'string of pearl' (SOP) arches.

'Treb Heining is the man responsible for invented the balloon garland and who first popularized professional balloon decor in the late 1970s. His vision launched a national phenomenon, and his basic design became the cornerstone of Classic Balloon Decor.' 


Spring Fair
2012 Qualatex Stand at the Spring Fair NEC Birmingham - The stands decor was brought 'to life' using Classic Balloon Decor, Using columns, garlands and arches the stand looked amazing and was visible from every part of the very large exhibition hall! 
The stand decor was designed & created by Jodie Norris CBA & Dee White CBA.


Classic Balloon Decor is the starting blocks for decor and almost all balloon artists/decorators start here! Learning how to inflate balloons to a specific size, tying a duplet, twisting balloons into clusters and the art of adding balloons to line or framework!

Once a decorator has these mastered they can move onto more challenging projects! 

Classic Balloon Decor can be used in so many ways and for so many different types of events, including weddings, corporate decor, shopping malls almost anywhere when balloons can be used on mass!


Colin Stewart
Elegant Pearl Arches using 3' printed Qualatex balloons by Colin Stewart CBA, Canada

Jose Luthman
Stunning garland swags created by Jose Luthman CBA, France

I regularly see amazing balloon work by both Colin and Jose posted on the Qualatex Facebook group, they both use classic balloon decor to the full and both have very successful balloon decorating businesses!

I asked two balloon professionals Colin Stewart and Colin Myles to describe their thoughts on Classic Balloon Decor...

"Classic Decor is the foundation of Balloon Art--- It is where we all started and where it all begins! Working in Decor we need to understand two very important things:

1. Proper Sizing and 2. Packing the balloons in a Garland. These 2 features are easy to see in Classic Decor as they both impact our work which shows in the Final Decor!
It is much easier to show what I just said when you see the lines in a Classic Balloon garland.

Classic BalloonART is my "Bread and Butter" after 22 years in the Balloon industry---- we use it just about everyday!" - Colin Stewart

 

Colin Myles - 'I believe classic balloon decor is the very foundation on which a balloon busines is built. There are so many derivatives, which can be applied, when you have mastered the basics. But of course basic classic balloon decor can look stunning on its own. In my opinion the greatest care should be taken when deciding to what size the balloons should be inflated. For example, if you have 50 metres of garland to make in a large auditorium then clusters of balloons sized to 4'' would not be appropriate.

Classic Balloon Decor’s simplicity, flexibility and natural ability to transform large spaces into celebrations make it suitable for a broad range of events and clients. It’s relatively simple designs offers a systematic approach to construction and installation, making it quicker than many decor alternative, and more cost effective for the client as well as more profitable for you!


There are many patterns that can be created within a garland, flowers, zigzags, arrows and of course spirals, that lead the eye in a certain direction!


Sculptures made from the column/garland technique are also very effective, this is simply working with clusters of different sizes and the clever positioning of colours that make these work so well! Simple balloon sculptures like these are great for theme events, quick and easy for you to make and very cost effective for the client too!



This is such a fun Christmas Tree, full of fun and perfect of Christmas parties! Design by David de Busto, Spain

3 air-filled columns make this great ' Freaky Frankie'.

What could be more fun than these simple but very effective balloon Palm Tree's! 

Learning the basic skills in any industry is so very important, balloon decor is no exception. Once we have a good understanding of Classic BalloonART (Colin Stewarts term, which I love), there are really no boundaries to what we can create from the humble round balloon.

Yes of course we can use non-round balloons to add finer detail and accent elements as well as Microfoil shapes to re-inforce a theme, maybe a parrot in a palm tree or frond shapes or a lovely smile face. The round balloon is the equivalent of paint to a painter or clay to a potter, and thanks to Qualatex, we have the 'Very Best Balloons' to work with!

To learn more about Classic Balloon Decor enrol in the QBN program, that will guide you through the many skills to help you to build a successful balloon business.

Happy Ballooning!

Sue 

Note: Some of the quotes and information was taken from 'A Foundation for Balloon Decor', part of the QBN program.