SANTA CLAUS BALLOON

Instructions

Reference the downloadable project sheet for project pattern diagrams.

Setting Up the Column

1. Fill the base of the telescopic stand with water and place the stainless-steel rod into the respective hole of the base.
2. Extend the telescopic stand to maximum height.
3. Optional: To reinforce the stand to the base, use 2 x 260 latex balloons to wrap around the base. Place one balloon under the water base and stretch out the ends over the water base. Tie the ends around the rod to secure the rod in place. Repeat the same step with a second balloon going in the opposite direction (i.e. the two balloons cross over in the middle, akin to a gift wrapped with ribbon).

Making Santa Claus' Boots

1. Inflate 2 x 30cm (12") black balloons sized roughly to a 25cm diameter (10") and tie them together to form a pair.
2. Make another pair of black balloons in the same size.
3. Holding the first pair, overlap the second pair and push down so that the tied necks are touching in the centre. Once touching, twist one balloon around the other to connect the pairs to form a quad.
4. Attach the black quad to the telescopic stand by placing the centre of the quad against the rod. Twist one balloon over another balloon on the opposite side so that the latex wraps around the rod.
5. Make sure that the black quad is at the very bottom of the stand, pushing it down gently so that it touches the water base.

Making Santa Claus' Suit

1. Inflate 4 x 30cm (12") red balloons sized slightly smaller (i.e. 23cm diameter (9")) than the black quad and tie two balloons together to form a pair. Tie another red pair.
2. Twist the balloons together to form a red quad.
3. Repeat the above steps to make another quad, however instead of 4 red balloons, inflate 3 red balloons and 1 white balloon.
4. Attach the red quad to the stand the same way as the black quad was attached, making sure to twist one balloon over the other on opposite sides so that the balloons are neatly secured to the stand.
5. Place the second quad (3 red, 1 white) on top of the red quad and attach it to the telescopic stand.
6. Ensure that the white balloon is at the very front by itself - this is where the rest of his beard and face will be built.
7. Make sure to gently push the three quads down, trying to hide the gaps where possible.

Making Santa Claus' Beard

1. A total of three quads will be made to create the rest of his beard. The balloons will all be roughly sized at a 23cm diameter (9").
2. The first quad will consist of 2 x red balloons and 2 x white balloons. Tie the same-coloured balloons together before twisting both pairs around each other to form a quad.
3. Attach this quad to the balloon stand, ensuring that the white balloons are facing the front.
4. Create the second quad of 3 x white balloons and 1 x red balloon. Twist this quad onto the rod, gently pushing down the balloons to hide the gaps.
5. The third quad will consist of another 2 x red balloons and 2 x white balloons. Attach the quad onto the red, ensuring that the white balloons are at the front.

Making Santa Claus' Face

1. Inflate a quad consisting of 2 x 30cm (12") blush balloons and 2 x red balloons. Ensure to make pairs of the same colour (i.e. twist the blush balloons together to form a pair) before tying together to create the quad.
2. When twisting the quad onto the rod, place the quad diagonally so that one of the red balloons is facing the front while the two blush balloons are on the side. The red balloon will be his nose.
3. Inflate another quad of the same combination (2 x blush, 2 x red). When attaching to the rod, ensure that both blush balloons are facing the front while the red balloons are at the back and hidden.
4. To create the eyes, inflate 2 x white balloons sized to a 10cm diameter (4") and tie together to form a pair.
5. Using a black marker, draw two large circles onto a white A4 piece of paper, sizing them closely to the white balloons inflated. Draw a smaller circle in the centre of the first circle.
6. Shade in the larger circle in black, leaving the smaller circle blank.
7. Cut around the circles to create eyes.
8. Tie an uninflated 260 balloon around the necks of the white pair, ensuring to squeeze the air out of the 260 balloon before tying.
9. Air can be squeezed out by pinching the closed end of the 260 balloon and sliding two fingers along the length of the balloon so that it remains flat. Tie a knot at the end of the balloon so that the 260 balloon remains flat.
10. Attach the white pair to the face by placing the white pair on top of the red balloon (nose). Stretch the 260 balloon around the middle of the blush balloons, twisting so that the 260 is hidden by the balloons. Tie a small knot around a pair of balloon necks to keep it attached to the rod.
11. Stick double-sided tape to the back of the cut-out eyes and stick one eye to each of the white balloons.

Making Santa Claus' Hat

1. Inflate 4 x 30cm (12") white balloons sized roughly to a 19cm diameter (7.5") and tie 2 together to form a pair. Twist both pairs to form a quad.
2. Inflate 4 x 30cm (12") red balloons sized slightly smaller than the white balloons and tie to create a quad.
3. Inflate a total of 6 red quads, going smaller each time for each quad.
4. Ensure to keep these quads separated for now so that the size difference is evident.
5. Tie together 4 x uninflated 260 balloons (i.e. attach one end to another balloon) to create a long string of 260 balloons. These will be used to tie the hat together.
6. Tie one end of the extended 260 balloons into the centre of the white quad.
7. Hold down the white quad and place the largest red quad on top. Stretch the 260 balloons around the centre of the red quad and tie it under one of the white balloons. Weave the 260 balloons around at least 2 more balloons to ensure the balloons are securely attached to each other.
8. Keep stretching the 260 balloons out while adding the second largest quad on top of the existing cluster.
9. Repeat the same steps of weaving the 260 balloons around the most recently added quad and the white quad at the bottom to ensure the balloons are securely attached.
10. Keep adding the red quads to the cluster, ensuring to go down a size by each time. This will keep the pointed natured of the hat.
11. Inflate 1 x white balloon to roughly 19cm (7.5") and attach it to the very end of the hat by tying the end of the 260 balloons around its neck. This is the pompom of his hat.
12. Play around with the shape of the hat by shifting a few balloons back and forth, twisting around other balloons so that the hat cluster leans sideways, mimicking the drooping Santa hat. As it will not be attached to the rod, it will droop down of its own accord.
13. Flip the hat over so that the white 'fluff' (quad) is facing the top. Inflate 1 x white balloon to roughly 15cm diameter (5") and attach it to the centre of the white quad with an uninflated 260. Tie one end of the 260 to the white balloon and weave it through the cluster so that the balloon stays. This will allow the hat to sit flat on the telescopic stand.

Filling Gaps on Santa's Beard

1. Inflate 4 x white balloons sized roughly to 12cm diameter (3") and tie them together to form a quad.
2. Repeat above to make a total of 6 quads, all in white.
3. Tie one end of a 260 balloon into the centre knots of a quad cluster and the other end of the 260 balloon into another white quad.
4. Repeat the above to make a total of 3 sets.
5. Add one quad on top of the first white balloon at the bottom of his beard and wrap the 260 around one of the balloons attached to the stand. Sit the other quad one balloon diagonally up.
6. Repeat on the other side so that 2 sets will form a diamond around the centre white balloon.
7. Place the remaining quad on one side of the red nose balloon and wrap the 260 around its neck so that the other quad rests on the other side. This will form his moustache.