Showing posts with label Clik Clik. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Clik Clik. Show all posts

Thursday, January 27, 2022

Here are a few Tricks of the Trade as shared by members from the Qualatex Balloon Network Group

I would like to start this post by giving a big 'shout-out' to all our QBN Facebook members! Facebook Groups are an amazing way to bring people together and create a strong community for like-minded people who have the same passion. The great thing about the QBN Group is the way that our members help and support each other, whether it's a design problem or motivational issue, and there are plenty who regularly jump in and freely offer their help!

A few years ago the group collectively created a list of their favourite ballooning tips and personal tricks of the trade. I have selected some of these to share with the Very Best Balloon Blog!


Tricks of the Trade

1. Balloons and Static - friend or foe? 
Static can definitely be a problem when it comes to balloons! I have heard of balloons randomly popping due to high levels of static in a room.

Static does not like moisture or humidity, and therefore water can be used to reduce the amount of static in a room, a humidifier works well, and a fine water mister spray will help when working on site. Dryer sheets can also reduce static on balloons. Some decorators carry Static Guard with them on balloon jobs, as this can eliminate static and help prevent it from building! 


To prevent static on your balloon ribbon, wet your scissors before using them to curl the ribbon. (Dip the tip of your scissors in water).

Static is definitely a friend when making confetti-filled balloons. To make confetti stick to the inside of a balloon you will need to build a little static within the balloon. With air-filled balloons it's easy; simply rub the side of the balloon with your hand, a cloth, or even better, bubble-wrap packaging - this works every time for me! I have also heard that placing balloons inside a plastic bag will help to build the static. When making helium-filled, confetti-filled balloons, you will need to ensure that you add a small amount of air into the balloon, as static cannot build in pure helium! Simply use a hand-pump and add a few pumps of air - not too many as it can make the balloon too heavy and it won't float!


2. When you finish something off with wide ribbon and you use two lengths together, remember to turn one around so they fall nice and do not stick to each other.


3. When the valve of a foil balloon does not easily open, do not damage the valve by sticking in something thick like a straw. Use something thin and flat. You will have the best result with a florist wire folded in two. Hold the valve between two fingers and gently slide in the wire with the folded side. This should go very smoothly without ruining the valve. 








4. In the winter or on cold days, make sure that your latex balloons are not cold (usually indicated if they feel hard to the touch). Warm them up by putting them in a warm place to soften up: a clothes dryer works very well! "I store my balloons in the garage, which gets extremely cold during the winter months. Balloons getting cold is not a problem, nor does it reduce their shelf life. However, before I use them, I throw them into our tumble dryer for around 5-10 mins to soften the latex again."

5. If you want to add a 'raisin' or bead inside a foil or bubble balloon to create a fixing point, do not push the 'raisin' or bead through the balloon's valve. Instead position it at the entrance of the valve and then using a hand pump, gently pump a little air and this will send the 'raisin' or bead inside the foil... without any damage to the valve! You might also consider buying a NikoLoon Tool for working with raisins in every type of balloon - once you get to know it well - it will save you a lot of time fumbling inside a foil for instance. You find it at Nikoloon.com




6. Remember not to top-up or refill foils in cold weather. If you fill your foil balloons in a warm room and then transport the balloons to a customer in a cold vehicle, you may be concerned that they have gone down during transportation and be tempted to top them up!   However, when you deliver the balloon, the helium will expand once they are taken into a warm room, and there is a high probability that they will pop!









7. To cut feather boas with less mess, part the feathers where you intend to cut and spray with Aqua Net hair spray, then seal the ends with a dot of hot glue. Another great tip is to use a section of a feather boa in a Deco Bubble for the feather-filled effect instead of filling with individual feathers. The result is the same, but it takes a faction of the time! 

8. Use Clik-Clik magnets in your vehicle to organise your materials such as pre-cut ribbons, or to hang bagged designs to keep them from moving around the van.

9.  "When I go on a job site visit (prior to the event of course), I make certain to take all of my measurements, find out where all of the plugs are, and find the best place to unload and set up.  I also take my Click-Click magnets to see if they will stick to the ceiling. If the ceiling is high, I can have trouble seeing the ring on the magnet and sometimes it takes a while to get the magnet down, so I make sure to tie a long piece of Dacron arch line onto the magnet ring."

10. "If you get a cut in a foil balloon, use the Stretchy Balloon tape to seal it up. This tape is an absolute must for any balloon professional and is available from most balloon wholesalers and suppliers."
"If you are creating a design where you want to stick foil balloons together, you have to try Click- Click's AMAZING Stretchy Balloon Tape! It may appear expensive, but you use only the smallest amount and it's so so strong!"



11. "When I go on a site visit, I bring my cell phone and try to take pics from every angle. Then, when I find that when I need to know a detail I didn't think about, I can refer to my phone (for ex. if they want to change a location of something, or I need to see rigging points, etc.). I also bring a notebook and my laser ruler (one of my favorite toys!). I measure everything with that!"

12. Save your old/broken foils to use later, you can cover your balloon weights with them, and it looks nicer than latex sandbags.

Here are 11 ways to re-use old/broken foil balloons.

  •  Re-inflate them.
  •  Use as gift-wrapping - Birthday balloons are a clever way to wrap a birthday gift for your loved one!
  • Replace tissue paper in gift boxes or bags - similar to gift wrapping, foil balloons make perfect tissue paper for gifts.
  • Scrapbooking - A gifted balloon is a wonderful memento of a special occasion like the birth of a baby. What better way to remember that than including pieces of it in a scrapbook?
  • Fuse them together - With the use of an iron, you can fuse foil balloons to create a blanket to keep in your car for emergencies or as a festive tablecloth. 
  • Use as packing material when mailing boxes — Re-use foil balloons by inflating them and using them to pad shipping boxes instead of using packing peanuts or other wasteful materials.
  • Donate them to a local school for art projects - Each year, grade schools around the world create fun craft projects for Earth Day (April 22). What fun they would have coming up with creative uses for colourful foil balloons!
  • Make Tinsel - The bright, reflective nature of foil balloons make them perfect for adorning a Christmas tree. Cut a foil balloon in thin strips to create homemade tinsel.
  • Turn them into flowers - Cut the balloons into squares and use them to make “tissue paper” flowers for a shiny bouquet memento of the day. 
  • Make Pom-Poms - Much like the tissue paper flowers, reuse foil balloons by making pom-poms.
  • Use them for rainy day craft ideas with kids - Repurpose foil balloons by using them in place of tissue paper in these fun craft ideas.
13. "When transporting helium-filled balloon arrangements, we use empty paper tubes to wrap the long ribbons around, we then use the Premium Balloon Accessories Clips Weights. We clip them to keep the ribbons short to ensure that they don't tangled up with the other balloons during transport. As we deliver them into the venue, we simply unclip and they are tangle free."
 
Premium Balloon Accessories 16g Clip Weights.
Each weight holds down one Microfoil balloon up to 26".


www.conwinonline.com



14. Conwin grip tabs become amazingly strong when you heat the glue part. I use a hair dryer and then stick them on to the balloon I am working with!





Hopefully you found these tips to be as helpful and genius as I did! If you have any that you would like to add we would love to hear them and I will add them to the QBN Groups list!

If you are a QBN Member or CBA and have not yet requested to join the group, come along and join us today. We truly are a friendly bunch! 
(To qualify as a QBN member you must have completed the QBN Balloon Basics Kit and passed the online test with a score of 80% or higher, you will then be sent your exclusive QBN membership number).

If you would like to learn more about how to become a QBN member click HERE

If you have any "Tricks of the Trade" that you would like to share, feel free to email them to me at suebowlercba@gmail.com with a header "Tricks of the Trade" and I will try to use them in a future blog post! 

Happy Ballooning!

Sue

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Tapertastic! A few ideas to create beautiful balloon decor working with Qualatex Taper balloons!


Sue Bowler
Taper Flowers created by Sue Bowler & friends
 at the Slovenia Event
With Christmas and New Year fast approaching, it's time to start thinking about the exciting decor you can offer your clients for their events!




Recently I attended the Slovenia Event and was asked if I could create decor for the 'opening' festivities. I had very limited time and was a little unsure how many 'helpers' I would have, so I decided to make decor that would have great visual impact but quick and easy at the same time!
(Just to note, I had a great team in Slovenia who helped me to make these awesome flowers... thank you!)












Monday, June 24, 2013

Clik-Clik Balloon Bond saved the day! - This is a top tip for all balloon decorators!

Last week I was thrilled to be a guest instructor working with Robbie Furman in Ireland for the first stop of his UK & Ireland BAPIA Tour.

Qualatex balloons
Mr & Mrs Zebra Design created by Sue Bowler CBA using Qualatex Balloons,  Premium Balloon Accessories  and Clik Clik Balloon Bond
My allotted  time slot was after lunch, which was great as it gave me a few hours to play & prep working with some exciting products that had been supplied by the tours very generous sponsors before my demonstration! 

After unpacking all my Qualatex balloons that I had selected to use for my demonstration it suddenly dawned on me that I did not have a heat sealer for the 9" & 14" Microfoil™ balloons that I was using in my designs... now that was a very big problem as I was using these in all but one of my designs, and therefore I needed to find a solution.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

A sticky situation...which glue is best for you and your balloons? Updated October 2016


When it comes to sticking balloons and other materials, there are many different adhesives to choose from, but which is the best glue or adhesive tape for the job?

Latex to Latex
What could be more perfect than a rubber adhesive?  A latex-based glue! In the U.S, Elmer's® make a rubber cement that works perfectly — it dries fast and makes a strong bond. When I first wrote this post in 2013, it was not easy to find Elmer’s in Europe, but today it is readily available in a number of different stores.

Advice from Robbie Furman, CBA, when using rubber cement.

“So you are going to use rubber cement in your design?  Well, there is a lot to know about rubber cement before you get started.  
Always use acid-free and wrinkle free - The best that I have found is Elmer’s. It is the one in the orange jar.  
Letting your glue get thicker - I recommend when you first buy your rubber cement, you open up the jar and leave the lid/brush off for a day. This will thicken the rubber cement up, but it will not dry it out. Rubber cement is very liquid when you first buy it, and if you spill the jar, the rubber cement will come pouring out and making a big mess. Having it thicker will help to avoid these problems. (Keep the brush in a cup of water whilst doing this process so it doesn’t dry out.)

Static electricity - When you are using rubber cement, keep in mind that any dripping rubber cement will form into tiny thin strands. Often our balloons contain a little static electricity and this will attract the dripping rubber cement, and without you realising you start to get it all over your balloons. When you go to touch the balloon, you will leave thumb prints and make a big mess.  Keep your balloons far enough away from the jar to avoid this problem.  

Constant use of rubber cement - If you have to continuously use the rubber cement, the trick is to NOT put the brush back into the jar, but leave it sitting up on the table.  This will avoid the time it takes to keep wiping off the excess rubber cement. When you need to use the rubber cement again, just dip the brush a little into the bottle and this will save you time.

Gluing a small area - When you need to add a dab or a little bit of rubber cement to a balloon, the trick is not to swipe the brush over the area you need to glue, but swipe the balloon over the brush.  This will give you more control of how much glue goes onto the balloon and will give you more control of the area to be glued.
I hope that these tips help you in your work!" 

Balloonfully yours,
Robbie.





Another adhesive that works extremely well for securing latex to latex is 
Click-Click™ Balloon Bond®.
This is a two-sided adhesive that is perfect for connecting latex balloons and other materials to balloons.

In 2013 (when this post was first posted)  this tape was very new and its benefits had not been truly realised. However, today it is very much a tape that professionals keep in their tool boxes. 

Luc Bertrand, CBA, of Waw Balloons in Vichte, Belgium.
“I mainly use Balloon Bond for latex to latex balloons, but it works very well for securing foil/foil and latex/foil details. Balloon Bond may need some practice to use, but once mastered, it is a perfect glue for adding details and elegant as a bonus, as it is barely visible.”




For more information regarding Balloon Bond, check out my post Balloon Bond Saved the Day! http://theverybestballoonblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/clik-clik-balloon-bond-saved-day-this.html#


Foil to Foil


"Stretchy Balloon Tape is my number one tape by far. I use it a lot! It is the only sure connection for foil balloons without putting any stress on them. When using stretchy tape I take one side of the backing tape off and reposition across in the middle, I then take away the other half of the backing tape. I then position the stretchy tape on the two foil balloons that I am connecting. The repositioned backing tape now shows the distance that will be taken between the two foil balloons. Now turn the balloons around, take away the backing tape and an additional piece of stretchy tape on top. This gives a result of two foil balloons with only a few millimetres between only using the double stretchy tape. The tape kind of ‘melts together.’ I find that this is the best way to make very strong connection points onto foil, Bubble, and latex balloons. The fact that it is stretchy or elastic makes it a stronger connection as it can shrink, grow, and move with the balloon construction. In short, 
Stretchy Balloon Tape is a must in my tool box.” Best regards Luc!






I agree with Luc that Stretchy Balloon Tape is an essential item in a professional’s tool box. A few days ago, I was preparing designs for a class that I was teaching and accidentally pierced an inflated Microfoil
® balloon that I was using in one of my designs with a sharp floral wire! Rather than discard the balloon and replace it with a new one, I placed a tiny piece of Stretchy Balloon Tape over the hole and then re-inflated the balloon—perfect repair and good as new! See picture for the repair, you will need to look at the close-up to see the tape!





Uglu Dashes and Strips (Oasis©)

For me, finding this product was a complete revolution. It is not a product that has been readily available in the U.K., however it is now available from many UK balloon and party wholesalers.  Speak to any balloon professional and they will all tell you that Uglu Dashes and Strips are the best. David Mahoney of Balloons Everyday, in Dallas, TX, U.S.A says, “They stick to almost everything, the dashes are clear so clients won't see the mechanics that much.  The fact that they are pre-cut it makes it simpler to use.”
Anne McGovern, CBA, of Elegant Balloons in Pearl River, NY, U.S.A.  “I prefer to use the Uglu Strips. Firstly, you can cut them to size and into thin strips, which is great for attaching foils.  I find they are even more sticky than the dashes, and never lose the stickiness. Working with the roll is horrible. I found it stuck to the scissor when I cut it, but this does not seem happen with the strips.  Another thing I found out while setting up at an event is that it is very hard to get any glue dots or Uglu to stick to Super Agate balloons! I make sure that I have rubber cement if I am working with Super Agate balloons.”
Tommy DeLorenzo, CBA, of Balloons by Tommy in Chicago, IL, U.S.A. “I like Uglu because it holds very well and is easy to use because it is already in little pieces. We use it to stick all sorts of balloons together as well as to connect Lomey poles to tiles. Balloon Bond is great when you need a larger surface stuck together, just be careful because in cool temperatures it doesn't hold as well.”




Glue Pens are great for personalising balloons. You use them like a regular marker to write names or messages and then sprinkle with glitter to give beautiful results!



Hi-Float®
I don't suppose many people consider Hi-Float to be an adhesive, but it certainly is! I use Hi-Float to coat latex balloons so that I can add glitter to the outside, or you can do the same internally to create some truly great effects!









The 5" Balloons in this design have been “glittered” using the Hi-Float method! I wrote a BLOG on how to make his design:

There are a few adhesives that I have not mentioned in this blog, so I will just touch on them now.










Glue Dots and Balloon Sticky Dots






Works well with latex, Microfoil and Bubble Balloons. Easy to use for quick adhesion of elements, such as this red nose on the Smile Face balloon.









Lomey® Adhesive is a glue that has been designed to securely bond Lomey Design System components such as dishes and poles. It is waterproof and dries clear. I have used it on other plastic dishes and it does work, but it takes a long time to dry. Once it dries, however it’s permanent. Once it's dries, however, it's permanent! I tried it on glass and it did not work.




Low temperature or Cool Melt Glue Guns
You would probably think that glue guns and balloons would not be a good combination, however, low temperature or cool melt glue guns work perfectly well when making designs. They are particularly effective when building  Mosaic Frames for Balloons and also when adding the balloons to the frames. 

Be aware,  even cool glue is very hot, and yes, it can pop a balloon, so you need to be very careful when working with one. The main problem with this type of glue is that it reacts with temperature; if it's cold, the glue sets very hard and brittle, and in the heat it can soften off.








Gorilla Glue™
Earlier this year, I had a job where I needed to secure Lomey poles to floor tiles. I needed to find an adhesive that would glue to two different surfaces and that would be strong. After a little research I found Gorilla Glue.
TOUGH, WATERPROOF, STICKS TO EVERYTHING
The product that started it all. Original Gorilla Glue built a name for itself with its incredible, industrial holding power and versatility. Water activated, it expands into materials to form an incredibly strong bond to virtually anything. As your solution for almost any project or repair, Gorilla Glue is 100% waterproof, weatherproof, you-name-it-proof. It's safe for indoor and outdoor use and strong enough to stand up to intense heat or cold. Sand it, paint it, stain it. Simply stated, it’s the Toughest Glue on Planet Earth.




Pan Glue was something that I only ever used to see in the U.S. It always looked very messy to me, but those who used it would say not! It's a glue that can be used on both latex and foil balloons. It's a strong glue that dries fast, easy to work with, and is not effected by atmospheric changes.
The downsides of pan glue is that it’s difficult to be specific on application, can weaken the seams on foil balloons, and does not dry clear.
Colin Stewart, CBA, of Alliston, ON, Canada has been using this type of glue for many years. In 1997, Colin and his team built these Christmas Bells and he still uses the same method today.






Let me know your favourite adhesive when working with balloons and why you like using it, and I will add it to the blog!

Happy ballooning!

Sue
Follow me on Instagram @suebowler










Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Balloon Industry Heroes and Inspirers. Part 2


Heroes and Inspirers! 
Part 2

Ted & Betty Vlamis - Pioneer Balloon Company
I am so excited to present the second part of this blog. Just in case you did not read part 1, I asked some of my balloon industry friends to share with me who their ‘heroes or inspirers were? I limited each person to a maximum of three people knowing that it would be hard to select only one, but easy to list many! As you will see, not everyone stuck to the rules of only 3 heroes :)


Once again, if you would like to add your own personal heroes please feel free to add them to this post in the comments section below.