With the continually soaring cost of helium and its lack of availability, finding air-filled solutions is extremely important to the ballooning community.
Creating designs using the PremiumConwinDecoCup™ + DecoCup™ is definitely the way forward, and today, I would like to share two videos with you featuring those accessories.
It's all about the Base!
In the first video, I will demonstrate how to create the central support for your designs. I have two methods:
1. Using a tile base with 2x DecoCups and 1x DecoCup
2. Using a sand-weight with 2x DecoCups and 1 x DecoCup
I show two different glue options to secure the DecoCups to the tile base.
If like me, you have unused Lomey Adhesive in your toolbox.
This works very well for sticking a DecoCup to a ceramic tile base,
but it can take up to 24 hours to dry! I recommend using packing tape to hold the cup in place on the tile during the drying process.
Gorilla Glue works extremely well when you need to stick two items together that are made from different material. The down-side is the drying time as it can take up to 24 hours for the glue to bond successfully.
Sand-Weights - using kiln-dried sand
A sand-weight makes the perfect weight for a base, unlike a water-weight, a sand-weight can be moulded into shape and flattened and is very stable, it is also quick and inexpensive to make.
Check out the video below to see how easy it is to make the base element for our air-filled designs.
"With Love" - air-filled Hat Box Valentine's arrangement
In the second video, I show you how to create this relatively easy design that would be perfect for Valentine's Day or by simply changing the balloons and colours it would be suitable for any occasion!
For this design I have used:
Hat Box
7" Qualatex Gold Chrome
5" Wild Berry
260Q Gold Chrome
260Q Wild Berry
260Q Rose
18" Love Gold #16766
Pink Organza Ribbon
Uglu Dashes
Check out the video below to find out step-by-step how to make this great design.
I have been creating air-filled balloon designs for many years now, and I have come to have a preference to air-filled over helium-filled designs. I feel that an air-filled design allows for more creativity and detail, and I prefer the end results!
Here are a few more of my air-filled arrangements, some using Deco Cups and Sticks.
The Happy Birthday foil in this design is actually helium-filled, but it could easily be replaced with an air-filled version on a Deco Cup & Stick
I hope that this post has been helpful and given you a little inspiration!
In the UK, it is becoming standard practice for a venue to ask event vendors to provide risk assessments along with their Business Liability Insurance documentation prior to working in a venue. Without either of these, some will not permit you to work!
What is an On-the-Job Risk Assessment?
A risk assessment is simply a thorough examination of factors in your work that could potentially cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm. Workers and others have a right to be protected from harm caused by a failure to take reasonable control measures.
In today's world of stricter health and safety laws, there are often requirements for us as event decorators to produce these documents. Preparing a Risk Assessment can sound daunting, especially if this is something that you have never done before, but once you have prepared one you will find subsequent risk assessments much easier.
Accidents will sometimes happen, but by being aware of the obvious dangers and acting to reduce risks, you are creating a safer working environment for yourself and everyone around you.
Clients and insurance companies like to know you are creating as safe an environment as possible for everyone involved.
The Risk Assessment
A risk assessment highlights:
Potential hazards - who might be harmed and how
Risk controls that are in place
Risk rating - low, moderate, high, or extreme
Actions – what further actions can be taken to control the risk further
Generally, the Balloon and Party Industry is a low to medium risk industry. However, we do handle gas cylinders under pressure, and therefore we need to ensure that we follow the correct procedures.
For those who work with special effects, these offer different and potentially greater liabilities, so ensure that your insurance policy covers everything that you offer.
Here is an example of a Risk Assessment that I completed for a balloon installation some years ago. You would need to complete all the details such as your company name, the name of the event, the date and the location.
There are many potential risks on any balloon job; here are a few more that you may want to think about and include in your risk assessment if they apply to you. When preparing a risk assessment, think about all the decor, and props that you are installing and all the different processes and equipment that you will be using.
Another item that could be listed under falls would be ladders if you are using them.
These would be listed as the potential hazard, then you would specify who is potentially at risk. A risk control might be the type of ladders. Further action would be to ensure that the ladders are:
Set up correctly
Checked before and after a job
Used with care and common sense
Something that you may not consider being a risk is balloon shining products! The potential hazards are: Slippery floors which can cause potential falls leading to strains and broken bones. Those at risk are event staff and the public when used in public spaces.
Further action to control risks are:
Ensure that when balloon shining solutions are used that all surfaces are protected and covered.
Restrict access to areas during spraying process
Should floors or surfaces become slippery, floors should be cleaned immediately with a soapy solution and allowed to dry before anyone can walk on them.
Also be aware that balloon shining products can damage soft furnishings and wall finishes, should you damage either of these when working on a job you could be liable for cleaning or replacing!
Not only should we identify all the risks that could occur on a job, we should also make sure that any staff working with you should be aware of the risks, and how to prevent them from happening.
Methods Statement
This works in conjunction with the Risk Assessment and it is a document that details the work that is to be carried out :
A brief description of work to be undertaken
Your company details, logo, name, and address, etc
Start Date & Completion date, if applicable
Site address
Site contact number
A summary of the main potential hazards and the control measures that must be implemented.
A list of electrical equipment, gases, and regulators you will be using. If using helium, you can state that helium is an inert gas!
The information for this can be extracted from your risk assessment document. You can also detail any Environmental or Quality procedures that must be taken during the task.
Environmental: you can state what materials you are using and if they are biodegradable or non-biodegradable. You can state that balloons should not be released into the environment and how they should be disposed of after an event.
Quality: this defines very simply what tasks you are required to perform to complete the job. This could include how materials and equipment will arrive at the venue, and where the construction will take place.
There are a number of free Risk Assessment templates available on the internet, you can use one of these or use one as a sample to help you create your own. The example above was created using CANVA. Once you have made your own template, keep it safe and amend it each time you require it for a job.
As I said at the beginning of this post, if you have never had to provide a risk assessment before it can feel like a daunting task, but to be honest it is extremely logical and it really does help you to think through everything before you start a site-base job!
'I Love You with Love' is a design that I created last year for the Qualatex Online Education video program that is available on Vimeo, called Expressions of Love! Today I am sharing one of the designs from that program.
This year, with the continually soaring cost of helium and its lack of availability, we will all be looking for exciting air-filled designs that can be recreated quickly, with much of the prep work done in advance, and this design ticks all of those boxes!
Material List:
58271 7" Gold Chrome 99352 5" Pearl Magenta
59570 16" Northstar Magenta L Shape
59590 16" Northstar Magenta V Shape
59556 16" Northstar Magenta E Shape
16766 18" Love Gold Heart Shape Microfoil™
58283 260Q Gold Chrome
25577 260Q Wild Berry
36336 4" Metallic Gold Hearts
Check out the video below for full step-by-step instructions on how to make this design.
Designer name: Julie Dunham, CBA, Pioneer Europe Ltd.
And don't forget, Qualatex has a great selection of FREE marketing materials available for you to download that will help you to promote your Valentines campaign, as well as other seasonal events!
Qualatex has created simple social media posts using the latest Qualatex bouquets with fun headlines within the graphic. These designs make it simple to promote products with minimal effort on your part.
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)
*****
🎈 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
*****
🎈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.
🎈 Staple Gun
🎈 Pins and Drawing Pins
🎈 Bag Clips (IKEA)
🎈 Small Speaker
🎈 Screw Drivers
🎈 Phone/Cell Charger
🎈 Tripod
🎈 Card Machine to take last minute payments
🎈 Wire Cutters & Pliers
🎈 Hammer
🎈 Helium Regular and inflation outlets for different types of balloons
🎈 Balloon Stretching Tool (Castration Pliers or Tool)
🎈 Retractable Knife
🎈 Premium Balloon Foil-Pro Inflator
🎈 Spanner and Wrench
🎈Tent Pegs
🎈 Magnets
🎈 Safety Pins
🎈 Bull Dog Clips
🎈 Torch
🎈 Balloon Weights
🎈 Cable Ties/ Zip Lock Ties
🎈 Balloon Hand-Pump
🎈 Pocket Pump
🎈 Balloon Shine/Hi-Shine
🎈 Shoe Protection Covers
🎈 Rubber Gloves
🎈 Odd 260 Balloons for tying
🎈 Safety Goggles
Check out some of Nat's fabulous balloon designs!
Beautiful Bubble design by Natalie Saunders - The Balloonroom, Stevenage, UK.
Award Ceremony Decor by Natalie Saunders - The Balloon Room, Stevenage, UK.
Party Decor by Natalie Saunders - The Balloon Room, Stevenage, UK.
A huge thank you to Nat for sharing the content of her toolbox and all her many tips with The Very Best Balloon Blog!
Balloon Christmas Tree using the Flat-Pack technique
There are so many different techniques when it comes to designing with balloons! Each technique has its own set of pros and cons, and we can use those factors to choose the best technique to suit the decor that we are creating or the location that we are creating it in.
We don't often see the Flat-Pack technique being used. This style of decor is known as Classic Balloon Decor where all the balloons are sized with precision to achieve a perfect look! I actually used this technique to create a Halloween design recently at a training event. The pros of using this style of decor is that it is flat, so it can be used in spaces where there is not much depth, like a shop window or a narrow room.
Here is a sideways photo of the same Christmas Tree. The tree is literally only one balloon in depth, making it very slim!
Side view of the Christmas Tree
I have made a short video that explains how to construct a column using the Flat-Pack technique. This video will be of help to you if this technique is new to you, however, for the Christmas Tree, you will need to follow the sizing on the recipe sheet below for the balloon sizes, but follow the method shown in the video.
Here is the recipe for the tree that I made. You can change the sizing if you want to make bigger or smaller trees. For my design, I use Qualatex® Chrome™ Gold and Chrome Green and topped it with a 20" Ruby Red Microfoil™ Star.
Flat-Packed Christmas Tree Recipe by Sue Bowler
I would like to thank Lynda Webb from Bloon Away Boston in Boston, UK. Lynda attended the training session where I demonstrated the Flat-Pack technique and was so inspired with it that she started to play! I saw Lynda create a number of different designs including a variety of columns, and then she used the column technique to create tree's! I asked Linda to make some Christmas Trees for the recent BAPIA Funday - Christmas with Qualatex and they were a huge success! Lynda asked me to write this post so that we could share the recipe with others!
