BALLOON NUMBER MARQUEE

Instructions

Reference the downloadable project sheet for project pattern diagrams.

Step 1: Make the Base

• Inflate 2 x 30cm (12") balloons sized to 23cm diameter (9") and tie them together to form a pair
• Make a second pair the same
• Place the 1st pair on a table and overlap the 2nd pair, pushing down so the tied necks touch in the centre, then twist one balloon around another to connect the pairs and form a quad
• Make a total of 4 large quads
• Inflate 2 x 12cm (5") balloons sized to 10cm diameter (4") and tie them together to form a pair
• Make a second pair the same
• Overlap the pairs so that the tied necks touch in the centre, then twist one balloon around another to form a quad
• Make a total of 3 small quads
• Place a large quad flat on a table, tie 2 uninflated 260 Modelling balloons together, then tie one end into the centre of the quad
• Place the small quad on top of the large quad, then stretch the 260 balloon up through the centre of the small quad, wrap it around the centre knots of both quads once
• Place a 2nd large quad on top of the small quad and again, stretch the 260 up through and over the centre of the top quad, then pull it down and around the centre of the small quad below and up through the top quad ready to tie around the next tier.
  Always stretch keeping tension on the tie, so the quads are tied firmly together
• Continue the pattern of alternately attaching quads until the completed base comprises 4 large quads with 3 small quads between

Turn the balloon base onto its side - so it is horizontal

Step 2: How to make the Water Weights

• Fill 2 x 30cm (12") balloons with a small amount of water (no air) and tie off tightly then stretch the neck and tie into the base - one at each end. This will keep the base weighted to the floor.

Step 3: Add the Foil Numbers to the Base

• Inflate the #1 Foil
• Take an uninflated 260 Modelling balloon and tie to the balloon tab of the foil
• Repeat for the #8 Foil
• Tie the #1 Foil into the top of the base between the first 2 large quads on the left side with the 260 balloon, winding it firmly around and around until it is firmly attached and upright. Then do the same for the #8 Foil tied between the last 2 large quads on the right side

Step 4: How to make the Accents

• Inflate 1 each Blue and Pink 12cm (5") balloons sized to 10cm diameter(4") and tie them together to form a pair
• Inflate 1 White 12cm (5") balloon sized to 10cm diameter(4") and tie into the pair to make 3 balloon cluster (Blue, Pink, White)
• Repeat above to make 3 balloon clusters of 3 balloons each
• Tie one end of a 260 balloon into the centre knots of a 3 balloon cluster and the other end of the tie into the other 3 balloon cluster
• Repeat to make 3 sets
• Wrap each cluster tie into the large balloons so each cluster pair sits neatly between them across the front of the base

Step 5: How to make the Flowers

• Inflate 2 White 12cm (5") balloons sized to 10cm diameter(4") and tie them together to form a pair
• Repeat so you have 2 pairs
• Inflate 1 White 12cm (5") balloon sized to 10cm diameter(4") and tie into a pair to make 3 balloon cluster
• Wrap all 5 balloons together to form a 5 petal flower
• Inflate 1 Pink 12cm (5") balloon to 7.5cm diameter(3") twist in the centre and slide into the 5 petals and wrap so that there is part of the balloon each side
• Repeat as above to make 3 flowers
• Attach one end of an uninflated 260 Balloon to each flower and tie them into the base