Balloon Arches

Making a Pearl Arch using Plain Balloons
Just because your balloons do not have any images or greetings on them does not mean they can not be used to great effect!

Here are instructions for creating a Pearl Arch.

Resembling a string of pearls, this simple technique produces an eyecatching display. Below are the approximate quantities of balloons required.

Balloon Size	Number of Balloons used per Foot	Number Used per Metre
5" 3.0	9
10"	1.3	4
12"	1.0	3
14"	0.9	3

* N.B. 5" balloons can only be air-filled and hung as a garland - they will not float if gas-filled. color="#FF0000">*

FLOATING ARCH - GAS-FILLED
12" or larger balloons recommend

1. Tie a length of monofilament line between two chairs. (Use 20 - 30lb breaking strain fishing line). To calculate the required length of the arch, a quick rough estimate can be made as follows.

Add the length between
the two finishing points
to the required height.

2. Gas fill a balloon and then seal it by tying the knot around the line.

3. Fill more balloons to the same size and attach these to the line at intervals. If you need to reposition balloons on the line after knotting, the line must first be wetted (the easiest way to do this is by licking the fingers and rubbing a bit of saliva on to the line) and then the balloons can slide along. If the line is not wet it is likely that it will burn a hole through the neck of the balloons if you try to move them.

4. Continue adding balloons until you have the required length. A small weight (e.g. a sand-filled balloon, bottle, etc.) can then be attached to each end of the arch and it can be put into its final position.

SINGLE GARLAND - AIR FILLED
If air-filled balloons are attached to a line as shown above, a garland can be created which can be hung as a room display.

Folkdean
Unit 2, Lydney Industrial Estate, Harbour Road, Lydney, Gloucestershire GL15 4EJ
Tel: FREEPHONE 0800 634 4834 Fax: (01594) 844577 Email: sales@folkdean.co.uk