Make a Balloon Animal
Visit my gallery page to find instructions
for all balloons previously posted.
April Showers
Now that April is under way, we're experiencing those traditional April
Showers. We like to see the rainbow, heralding the end of the storm, but
may have to make do with this rainbow-colored umbrella. You may prefer
a solid color. A pink parasol makes a dainty accessory for a young girl.
I've chosen the multi-color variety not only for the rainbow theme but
also to better show the weaving technique used to make it.
| Start with 5 260 balloons and inflate them all
leaving about 3 inches uninflated. It is important to make them as close to
the same size as possible, about 45 inches long. Twist a 1 inch bubble
in the knot end of each of them and twist all 5 together at this point. |
 
|
Twist a 4 inch bubble in two of the adjacent arms. In one of them (blue in the
drawing) twist a second bubble, 5 inches long.
Lock twist this second
bubble to the first one on the adjacent (purple) arm. |
| Twist a 5 inch bubble in the second arm
and lock twist it to a 4 inch bubble in the third (green) arm. Continue
around the structure in the same manner, ending by twisting the fifth arm
to the first twist in the first arm.
Once that you have completed the inner ring you are ready to begin the
second ring. |
| 
| Again twist a 4 inch bubble
in two adjacent arms. But this time the second bubble needs to be about
10 inches instead of 5. If you want 5 sections, each a solid color, as in
the drawing, you will need to go around the structure in the opposite
direction with each successive ring. If you go the same direction each
time, the colors will spiral around the structure.
For the third (outer) ring, the long bubbles will need to increase to
about 14 inches. It will take some practice to get the proportions just
right. When you finish you should have just enough of a small bubble left
to hold the last twist in place. Giving this last bubble a
pinch twist gives it a more
finished look. |
| For the handle, inflate a balloon leaving
4 inches uninflated. Fold the uninflated end back and then squeeze the
air around the fold to make the curved end of the handle. From the curved
end, measure back about 20 inches for the handle length. Twist off a 3 inch
bubble and give it a pinch twist. Deflate the rest of the balloon (the knot
end) and tie it off. Lock the pinch twist in the handle to the center of
the umbrella. |
The changing seasons and the rainbow remind us of the promise God made
to Noah after the great flood. Genesis 8:22 records God's promise to
preserve the cycle of the seasons and to never again send a flood that
would destroy the world. To learn more about God's promises
Click Here.
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