Party Planning
- Balloon Decorating Tips -
Balloon Spiders
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How To Make Balloon Spiders
Use helium-filled spiders to
make spooky arches, float spiders at different heights above
party tables, add a spider to the top of a balloon column or try
them in balloon bouquets.
These balloon Spiders are just
crawling with creepiness! They can be helium-filled and floated,
or air-filled and suspended from the ceiling or attached to the
top of a
Balloon Column.
We have provided two different ways
to make balloon spiders on this page, one is simple and easy and the second
method is a little more difficult, but the results are more
dramatic. We are not professional balloon decorators, so if we
can put them together, so can you. Just takes a little practice.
Air-filled columns and spiders
will last for several days, but if using helium they will only
float for about 8 - 12 hours. See balloon tips at the bottom of
this page for additional information.
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Easy Balloon Spider
You will need:
Helium (Optional): About 8 cu. ft.
1 - 12" Black Latex Balloon
1 - 5" Black Latex Balloons
4 - 260Q Black Latex Balloons
Hand Air Inflator
Electric Air Inflator (Optional)
Monofilament Line
Weight (Optional)
Black &
White Paper
Spray Adhesive |
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Preparation:
1. Inflate the 5" Black balloon for the head and the 12" Black balloon
for the body. Tie them together.
2. For a helium-filled Spider, tie to monofilament line, and secure to a
weight.
3. For an air-filled Spider, suspend the Spider with monofilament line. |
| 4. Inflate all but 1" of a 260Q
black balloon (a 260 is the long thin balloon). Repeat with other 260Q balloons. Gather all 4
balloons together, pinch bundle of balloons in the center and twist together to create legs. |
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5. After twisting the bundle
together, separate the legs so that you have 4 legs on each side of
the spider, then twist the legs into the knot between the head and body.
6. Cut circles from black and white paper, then use spray adhesive to
attach to the 5” balloon for “eyes” and a “nose.” |
Balloon Spider with a Twist
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We made this spider and column
to set on a buffet table as a tabletop display, but the column
can be made taller for a floor display.
The difference between this spider
and the first one is that we will be twisting the black 260Q
balloons to form jointed legs on the spider.
It is easier to do than it looks,
so give it a try.
You will need:
Helium (Optional): About 8 cu. ft.
1 - 12" Black Latex Balloon
1 - 5" Black Latex Balloons
8 - 260Q Black Latex Balloons
Hand Air Inflator
Electric Air Inflator (Optional)
Monofilament Line
Weight (Optional)
White Paper
Black Marker
Glue |
1. Inflate the 5" Black balloon for the head and the 12" Black balloon
for the body. Tie them together.
2. For a helium-filled Spider, tie to monofilament line, and secure to a
weight.
3. For an air-filled Spider, suspend the Spider with monofilament line. |
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4. Blow up a black 260Q balloon
(a 260 is the long thin balloon)
leaving about 1 1/2 inches un-inflated at the end. Tie balloon.
5. Fold the neck side of the balloon
down about 10 inches. Place your fingers about 2 inches down
from the top and pinch balloon together,
then twist the bubble 3-4 times to secure. Repeat on the opposite
side of the balloon.
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Your finished twist should look
like this.
Repeat with remaining 7 - black
260Q balloons. |
| Next, tie two of the twisted leg
sections together at the neck end. Repeat with remaining legs. |
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Then, gather the 4 long leg
section in the center where they are tied together and twist all
the sections together. You
now should have a jumbled mass of legs that look like this. |
| After twisting the bundle
together, separate the legs so that you have 4 legs on each side of
the spider, then twist the legs into the knot between the head and body. |
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Once you float or hang the
finished spider you can adjust the legs. If you want to place on
the top of a column, adjust the legs after you have attached it
to the column. Cut circles
from black and white paper, then use spray adhesive to attach to
the 5” balloon for “eyes” and a “nose” . |
| To make a column for the Spider
Step 1:
Tie two air-filled
balloons together at necks with one knot (all balloons should be inflated
to same size for balance). Repeat this step to make a second
pair.
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Step 2:
Twist the balloon pairs together at the necks to
create a cluster of four balloons. |
| Step3: Repeat steps 1 and 2 to make a
second cluster of four balloons.
To connect the clusters use a roll of nylon
fishing line ( do not cut the fishing line). Tie the loose end to the
center of the 1st balloon cluster. Tie a weight (un-inflated balloon
filled with 1/2 cup water or sand) to bottom of cluster. If you
are doing a tall column, you may want to add 2-3 weights at the
bottom. If you plan to use your spider outdoors, see our
balloon column page
for instructions on attaching balloon clusters to a pole.
Place the
second cluster of balloons on top of the first, giving it a 1/3 turn so
that it fits snuggly onto the the first cluster. Bring the fishing line
up through the center of the cluster, wrap line around one of the
balloons in the first cluster. Ending with the fishing line up through
the center of the clusters.
Continue until all the clusters are
joined together. (The number of clusters depends on the height you want
your column to be, usually 7-8 clusters for a 5 ft column)
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We only used 3 clusters on this
column and it was the perfect size for a tabletop display.
Variation for eyes:
Blow up two 5" orange balloons to
1 1/2 inches and tie together at the necks. Use black maker to
make triangular shaped pupils on the balloons for eyes. |
Balloon Decorating Tip:
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Helium filled
balloons will only float for about 8-12 hours.
Add a squirt of
Hi Float Liquid
before filling balloons with helium to make
them stay inflated 3 to 5 times longer. The one-quart
container will fill around 110 - 11" balloons, 72 - 14"
balloons or 40 - 16" balloons. |
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