How to make Animal Balloons

Creating animal balloons is both fun and exciting with a group of kids appreciating your talents. Creating animal balloons is easier than you might think, once you learn a few basic twists and how the balloon works when you manipulate it, creating new and exciting designs becomes second nature.

First, the most important thing is getting the right balloons. A special balloon called a "260" is used for animal balloon making, along with some round balloons in different designs, but we will focus on animals and things using the 260. Also, it is important to understand because of the design of the 260 balloon, it is very difficult to blow up one, it is recommended to purchase a good hand pump or ball pump to assist in filling the balloon. Also, please be careful when using the balloons around small children, since they are long and small when deflated, it can easily choke a child.

Step 1

Using a hand pump or ball pump, inflate the balloon so that there is about6 inches remaining at the end in uninflated balloon. This is important so as you twist the balloon, the air has a place to move into. If the tail is too short, you can easily pop the balloon. If you balloon looks like this, it is inflated the proper length:

Step 2

Making the first twist: starting at the end you tied off, grab about 3 fingers length of balloon, and twist it off. Don't be worried about harming the balloon, it won't pop when you twist it like that. Hold both sides of the balloon around the twist so it doesn't come undone. Though the balloon twists very easily, it also untwists easily if you don't hold the bubble and balloon. Your balloon should look like this:

Step 3

Your first twist is the nose, now we need two more twists for the ears. While holding onto the first twist, make two more twists while holding onto them all. This will come easier after practice, so try holding all three in your hand at one time. Your balloon should look like this:

Step 4

Take the joint labelled B on the diagram, and bend it toward joint A. Like this:

Now, take the two joints and twist them together. This will give you a nose and two ears, like this:

Step 5

Twist off another bubble about 3-4 fingers length for the neck. Twist off two more equal sized bubbles, 4-6 inches for the legs. Hold all of the bubbles in your hand as to not let them untwist. Your balloon should look like this:

Step 6

Take joint B and twist around joint A. This will create your two legs and your dog will look like this:

Step 7

Now, twist off a bubble which will become the dog's body, then twist off two more bubbles which will become the dog's legs:

Step 8

Twist joint B with joint A to create the legs. Now your first animal balloon is complete!

View animal balloons and balloon supplies here!