Oh Baby Baby! Fabulous Ideas for Baby Showers and All Things Baby!

There is nothing quite as exciting as the impending arrival of a new baby for both the parents and families alike. A new baby opens the door of opportunities for balloon businesses, starting with baby showers. These have been popular in the US for a number of years, but are a growing trend in other countries, too. Decor for baby showers can have a theme, especially if the gender of the baby is already known. 

Decor by Sue Bowler, CBA

Baby Shower Moon & Stars

I love the "Baby Moon and Stars", and the "Baby Dots" range. Both are simply perfect for creating beautiful decor for baby showers, newborns, and for first birthday's too! 

Baby Girl Dots
#55388

Last year, I had the honour to decorate a baby shower for Becca Gaines of Pioneer Balloon Company. This was my first baby shower and I wanted the decor to be fun but elegant, too! 

Choosing a range of balloons to work with helped me to select my colour palette and other balloons to complement the decor that I had designed.

Decor by Sue Bowler, CBA

For the decor, I chose to make two main focal designs: a balloon wall and a small table Arch that sat over the "treats" table. The balloon wall set the scene in the room. It made the perfect backdrop, great for photo opportunities, and it really helped to bring together all the other decor. The table Arch framed the treat table perfectly.

The lovely Becca Gaines
Decor by Sue Bowler, CBA

Design by Nir and Avital Schechter

It’s going to be a royal year in the U.K. this year, starting with the impending arrival of a new Royal baby in April! Anything to do with the Royal family creates a fabulous marketing opportunity. I hope that retailers don’t miss out and build this and the other Royal events into their seasonal marketing - I am looking forward to seeing some fabulous window displays! 

Design by Nir and Avital Schechter

Design by
Nir and Avital Schechter

Nir and Avital Schechter, CBA’s, of Baloney Nir in Katzrin, Israel, have the magic touch when it comes to baby designs, and have created some truly fabulous decor that would be perfect for any baby Prince or Princess!  

Design by
Nir and Avital Schechter

Design by Dante Longhi

  

Here are a few more of my favourite baby decor designs. The new Baby Footprints Deco Bubble is such a fabulous balloon. It can be enhanced by adding a message balloon inside or by personalising with vinyl lettering. Dante Longhi, CBA, of Dream Factory Decor in New Jersey, USA, uses a fabulous weave technique to create a stylish column. He re-enforces the "Baby Footprints" by adding cut-out footprints to his design. 

To learn how to create this weave, watch the "How to Make A Sweet Baby Balloon Centrepiece" video clip below.

Design by Tina Giunta

Tina Giunta, CBA, of Shivoo Balloons in Melbourne, Australia, creates this fabulous Welcome Baby arrangement and uses twisted 160Q balloons to spell “BABY” - so simple but so effective. I love it! Below is another of Tina’s adorable creations. I love her use of balloons and textures in this design.

Design by Tina Giunta

Marketing Tips

Plan your Instagram baby campaign. There are some fabulous photographs available on the Qualatex^®  website (including all these featured in this post). QBN members can log in to download hi-resolution photographs, perfect for your website and other marketing opportunities.



Plan your window display. Any time is good for a baby window display. However, April might be a good month to create an eye-catching Royal baby theme display. Statistically, more babies are born in September than any other month of the year (work that one out), so again this is always a good month for a baby display.

Update your website. When was the last time you made changes to or updated your website? Google and other search engines are stimulated by changes and therefore website activity is always good.

And, QBN members, don't forget to download this fantastic poster! 






And check out this trending post - 130 Million Opportunities to Grow Your Business Each Year - packed with some great baby information, gender reveal parties, and some fabulous tips from Nir and Avital Schechter.

Happy Ballooning!

Sue
www.suebowler.com

How to make a Confetti-Filled Deco Bubble with Ultra Hi-Float - Step-by-Step Video

Confetti Deco Bubble Balloons

Everyone loves confetti-filled balloons, and that includes the fabulous Qualatex^® Deco Bubbles, too! I know that many of you are using the static method to stick your confetti to the inside of the Bubble, however, as we also know, this does not always work. Or the static drops out of the Bubble when moved to a new environment. Here is a surefire way to make sure that the confetti stick and stay in position.

Check out the instructions below and then watch the video clip for a demonstration on how to do this technique. 

INGREDIENTS
• ULTRA HI-FLOAT^®
• 20" or 24" Deco Bubble
• Mylar or foil confetti
• A kitchen/canning funnel

20" Deco Confetti Balloon
1) Add a ½ squirt of ultra HIFLOAT with purple clip on pump.
2) Rub the outside of the Deco Bubble to spread the coating over the inside surface.
3) Blow a puff of air into the Bubble so the sides of the balloon are not touching.
4) Add about a ¼ cup of chopped mylar confetti.
5) Inflate the Bubble with helium to about the size of a soccer ball.
6) Shake the Bubble vigorously to spread the confetti uniformly inside.
7) Fully inflate the Bubble with helium and tie.

24" Deco Confetti Balloon
1) Add 1 squirt ultra HIFLOAT with purple clip on pump.
2) Rub the outside of the Deco Bubble to spread the coating over the inside surface.
3) Blow a puff of air into the Bubble so the sides of the balloon are not touching.
4) Add about a ½ cup of chopped mylar confetti.
5) Inflate the Bubble with helium to about the size of a soccer ball.
6) Shake the Bubble vigorously to spread the confetti uniformly inside.
7) Fully inflate the Bubble with helium and tie.
Note: When inflating a Deco Bubble with confetti, safety glasses are recommended.

I hope that this helps some of you?

Happy Ballooning!

Sue
suebowler.com

Follow me on Instagram @suebowler

Monochromatic Decor — Stylish, Elegant, and Fun!

When it comes to choosing colours for decor, remember that a monochromatic colour theme can look very elegant and stylish, too. So what is monochromatic?

Monochromatic (mon·o·chro·mat·ic)  - consists of one hue (colour) and its tints, tones, and shades, creating a striking yet subtle colour contrast. A tint is made by adding white, a tone by adding grey, and a shade is when we add black to the colour that we are working with.

Sometimes it is very hard to work with a single colour. This is a fantastic way to create a design that has contrast, but without introducing a second or third colour.

Decor by Sue Bowler, CBA and Nicci Rene of Balloon Bouquets, London, U.K.

I have recently had a few opportunities to create decor with a monochromatic colour theme. 

Decor by Sue Bowler and Nicci Rene

This shades of Pink decor was ordered for a corporate Valentine's marketing event. We were asked to create organic style decor to grow up and around an open cube shape. We used a range of pink balloons from Wild Berry, Rose, Pearl Pink, Pearl Magenta, and Pink, plus we added some double-stuffed balloons using Jewel Magenta and Sparkling Burgundy to create some deep rich tones. We also added some White, Diamond Clear, and a smattering of the new Chrome Mauve. For added texture, we used paper honeycomb and tissue balls.

This was one of my first attempts working on a large scale organic style project. I really enjoyed the experience and believe that it was absolutely perfect for the event. I think that it is very easy to forget the elements and principles of design when creating organic decor — visual balance and proportion should not be forgotten.

My second recent experience working with a monochromatic colour theme was last September when I was asked to design and decorate the Pioneer Balloon 100th anniversary Saturday night party at the Wichita Country Club. My objective was to create elegant decor with a fun twist, and that —I believe — is what we achieved.

Guests were greeted at the entrance with this fabulous photo booth. The frame was made using Black & White SuperAgates^®, Black with White Polka Dots, White with Black Polka Dots, Spray Decorated Black and White Polka Dots, and Onyx Black Balloons. The combination of these balloons created fabulous visual texture. We made a White Quick Link balloon wall that was positioned behind the booth to give a neutral background.

I love elegant lines, and this arch and the giant numbers looked fabulous, creating a truly stunning backdrop to the main reception room. It also became a great photo opportunity with people posing through the numbers!

Probably one of my favourite designs from this event was the circular wall. Luc Bertrand, CBA, of wAw Balloons, in Vichte, Belgium, created the original wall for a trade stand earlier in the year and when I saw it I really wanted to have a go making it!  Luc very kindly shared his design with The Very Best Balloon Blog. If you would like to know how to make it, click HERE

Giant balloons are very trendy! With the very high ceiling in this venue, it was the perfect opportunity to create these giant balloon bouquets! Using confetti-filled balloons also added a little glamour and a silver sparkle to the decor! 













It truly was an honour to be asked to design the decor for this party, but as you know, it takes a team to create decor on this scale! I would like to thank everyone who worked with me; Cam Woody, CBA, John Bowler, Amanda Armstrong, CBA, LaDonna Belcher, CBA, Cheryl Skoric, CBA, Eve Antonello, CBA, Syliva Santos, CBA, and Edward  Muñoz, CBA —  you're the best!! 

To see more photographs from this event, visit Qualatex.com - Inspiration - Balloon Decor - Black & White or click HERE. If you are a QBN member, you can download the photographs to use for marketing purposes.

I love working with a monochromatic colour theme. It gives me the opportunity to use the full range of balloons that fall within the parameters of the colour that I am working with, plus all the additional colours that I can create by double stuffing! I love being able to add visual texture by using printed and the new Chrome Balloons™. It's certainly not boring!

Happy Ballooning!


Sue
www.suebowler.com

So What's Hot for 2018? — Part 2

There are quite a few exciting new trends in the party world for 2018. Last week we looked at mermaids, the colour Purple Violet and the marble look. In this post, we will feature few more hot trends.

Design by Sue Bowler, CBA

What is there not to love about Magical Unicorns! These gorgeous Microfoil^® balloons are now available in both 14" and 38".

This trend has remained a firm favourite since 2017. If you check out #unicorn on Instagram showing more than 7m posts, you can see that this is a trend that appeals to both children and adults, so we should make sure our decor appeal to both.







I recently created a unicorn theme window display and took the opportunity to design something that had big visual impact. The Fashion SuperAgate^® are such fabulous balloons and work so well with the Unicorn theme. I also added in Chrome 260Q flowers and some gold confetti-filled balloons, both of which added richness and visual texture to the design.  

Display by Sue Bowler.

Here are a few more inspiring ideas working with the Magical Unicorn balloon.

Design by Luc Bertrand.

Luc Bertrand, CBA, of wAw Balloons in Vichte, Belgium created this "Cute and Quirky Unicorn" design using Quick Link Balloons^®.  He also added a cluster of Pink Violet RainbowAgates at the Unicorn's base and for its hands. I love how Luc has used 260Qs to create a rainbow style tail.

Display by Cam Woody.

Cam Woody, CBA, of Pioneer^® Balloon Company designed this beautiful "Unicorn and Magic Wands" balloon bouquet. 4" Stars on cups and sticks make the perfect magic wands and truly add value to this design.

Rainbows are still trending! According to Instagram, it has over 21m posts! It is often linked with the unicorn theme and therefore works perfectly together for party decor.

Rainbow Arch by Sue Bowler - design by Dante Longhi, CBA.

This beautiful rainbow arch was inspired by Dante Longhi. We are currently teaching this design in our "What's Hot Right Now" course around the UK and Europe. It's such a fabulous design to make. The end result is stunning! 

Here are two more rainbow style arches to inspire us and our customers.

Not strictly a rainbow, but the use of colours in this fabulous arch could easily represent a rainbow. This arch was created by Eve Antonello, CBA of Pioneer Balloon Company, Edward Muñoz, CBA, of burton and BURTON in Athens, GA, USA, and Silvia Santos, CBA, of Party Planet in Pompano Beach, FL, USA. This stunning entrance arch was part of the decor created by this fabulous trio for the "100 Years of Celebration" party held at Pioneer's headquarters in Wichita, KS, USA.

"Sunshine Smile Face Rainbow Arch" - I Love this 6-balloon rainbow cluster arch by Cam Woody. 
It truly is a beautiful rainbow with a cloud nestled just off centre. There are full downloadable instructions for QBN Members. Just click HERE!

And finally, Rose Gold - another trend that just keeps on growing! 

Rose Gold became the metallic colour of the year in 2016, and you might have noticed that this colour is still everywhere! Fashion, make-up, accessories, jewellery, of course, and also for party and wedding décor, too! 

Chris Adamo, CBA, of Balloons Online in Sydney, Australia, recently posted this fabulous design on the Qualatex Facebook Group. Chris said, "When Rose gold meets Qualatex chrome silver. A perfect pair in time for Valentine's Day." I also think that this would make a great pairing for weddings, too! 
If you would like tips on how to put a foil balloon inside a Deco Bubble click HERE

Rose Gold and Silver Chrome Balloons design by Chris Adamo.

Derek Wong, CBA, of Twisted Inflations in Ontario, Canada shows us how the Rose Gold 260Q looks perfect as a beautiful rose. 

Rose Gold Rose by Derek Wong.

I have really enjoyed adding Rose Gold to my designs. This colour blends beautifully with shades of Pink and Ivory. If you would like to know how to make this fabulous centrepiece and a range of beautiful wedding decor, make sure that you attend my Fabulous Wedding Decor for the Modern Bride class at WBC next month!

Design by Sue Bowler, CBA.

We have some fabulous additions to the Rose Gold range for 2018! Here is a direct link to all the Rose Gold product range - click HERE. Below are some of the latest additions!

Rose Gold Crescent Moons - 9" and 35"
Rose Gold Starpoints - 20" and 40"
Rose Gold Tapers - 13", 27" and 38"
Rose Gold Numbers from Zero to Number Nine

I am very excited about working with some of this year's newest trends and am very much look forward to seeing some of your fabulous on-trend designs posted on Facebook!


Happy ballooning!


Sue
www.suebowler.com

So What's Hot for 2018?

Mermaid display created by Sue Bowler, CBA.
#mermaids
#mermaidparty
#mermaidstyle

There are quite a few exciting new trends in the party world for 2018. I will feature as many as I can over the next couple of weeks.

Let's start with mermaids! Some say that mermaids are the new unicorn, but unicorns are still trending, too! 

The new Qualatex^® 38" "Enchanting Mermaid" Microfoil^® will definitely be a top-selling balloon! 

Jewel Tone with Chrome Balloons inside.
Balloons by Luc Bertand, CBA.

I recently created a display using some of the fabulous new Chrome Balloons™.  I used Chrome Blue and Chrome Purple. I also double stuffed Chrome Silver inside Jewel Teal, Sapphire Blue, and Quartz Purple to create the fabulously rich colours as displayed in the photograph above. I also added a few Gold confetti-filled Balloons, too, that helped to create the very sparkly base. Here are some fabulous double-stuffed Chrome balloons that Luc Bertrand recently made - the colours and metallic look are simply stunning! 

Here are some of the Qualatex range that I think will work really well for this theme.

A. 38" "Enchanting Mermaid"

B. 18" "Happy Birthday Mermaid"

C. 11" Chrome Blue

D. 11" Chrome Purple

E. 11" Chrome Gold

F. 11" Caribbean Blue

G. 38" "Merry Mermaid"

H. 18" "Birthday Mermaids"

I. 18" Rachel Ellen Age Five 

    Mermaid Polka Dots

Sea-world theme arch created by Sue Bowler and team!

I love to create sea-world theme decor; we have so many fabulous balloons to use within our designs. The addition of the mermaid, confetti-filled Diamond Clear, and Chrome Balloons will be fabulous! 

Another 2018 trend is anything with PANTONE Color of the Year - 

Ultra Violet! 

This ultra cool colour is guaranteed to be used at events this year, especially weddings.

11" Chrome Purple

I think that the new Chrome Purple will be absolutely perfect for this colour theme. These balloons offer a rich texture, reflective surface, and a truly radiant colour. 

Wedding Decor by Sue Bowler

Photo courtesy of Markinternational.info

My third trend for 2018 is marble —marbled decor and marbled wedding cakes, too!

Qualatex^® SuperAgates come in nine fabulous colours in both 11" and 30" balloons! Agates are often used in organic style decor to add visual texture and movement.

Elegant Black & White Decor by Sue Bowler.

I used 30" Black SuperAgates as part of the decor that I created for the Pioneer Balloon Company 100th Anniversary Dinner. They looked so elegant paired with Black & White Polka Dots, White, and Silver confetti-filled 36" balloons, creating a fabulous monochromatic colour scheme decor.

Watch out for my next blog where we will look at even more exciting trends for 2018!

Happy Ballooning!
Sue

www.suebowler.com