Re: Just sharing a few....

by **Metina** on 2010-01-23, 12:42 pm

Don't give up! Once you get all the little bits of how much to leave, burping the balloons and squeezing them after each twist to keep moving the air down, it is SOOOO much fun!

What kind of balloons were you using Deb? The balloons from the party stores will pop like crazy! Qualatex and Betalatex will take a lot of abuse!

Here is my latest birthday cake. I still need to work on getting the layers closer together and neater, but I am happy being that it is only my fifth one. This is in Disney's Bolt colors for a party tommorrow.

I LOVE the beer mug. So clever. I have some 160's, 260's and 360 clear balloons coming and can't wait to do some stuff with those!

by Ashley Pickin on 2010-01-23, 10:47 pm

Careful when weaving with the clear balloons Metina.. they pop like crazy, as do any other jewel tone ones from Qualatex!

by Kristal on 2010-01-23, 11:57 pm

...especially when it's hot out. I've nixed the ruby, mandarin and citrine, am done with quartz, sapphire and emerald as soon as I'm finished what I have, and will only order black, clear and POSSIBLY magenta jewel tones. I haven't decided on that one yet.

by **Metina** on 2010-01-24, 7:59 am

I only bought the clear ones in quantity and just have a mixed lot of the others. I do like the look, but really like the fashion and deluxe colors from Betalatex.

I am mainly thinking for accents, but the 360 for the rose in the glass effect. Have you seen it? Super neat!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzNLuYWrSb4

by CABBYJ on 2010-01-24, 1:32 pm

Metina wrote:I only bought the clear ones in quantity and just have a mixed lot of the others. I do like the look, but really like the fashion and deluxe colors from Betalatex.

I am mainly thinking for accents, but the 360 for the rose in the glass effect. Have you seen it? Super neat!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzNLuYWrSb4

LMBO, I just watched this video and I'm so amazed. I always thought there was some sort of magic way to insert the balloons, I'm truly amazed. Laughing

by Magic on 2010-01-24, 2:07 pm

I am so glad you started this thread I don't know didly but know I wan to try.

by Just Jenny on 2010-01-24, 2:23 pm

Metina wrote:Honestly, I haven't learned a lot of one balloon items. The person I started learning from at jams always stressed the "wow" factor that a two, three and more balloons offer.

I guess this is another aspect of the biz I need to figure out. How to still "wow", but get through lines. I have only done balloons as a add on at parties, so there was no stress of getting through tons of kids. We just had fun making the three or 4 large sculptures I had learned, making sure all the kids got something.

What is a reasonable time for each child in a line. What should I be shooting for?

-Metina

Wow, you have come a long long way from the first time I saw you twist. But you were a natural with it even back then. I know that the jams with Shonna are incredible. I think she can twist a 4 foot dog as quick as I can twist a 3 twist dog. She is incredible.

Are you going to Kapital Kidvention? She and her son Dustin will be teaching there this week, the 27th thru the 29th in Springfield Va. And MaMa Clown will be there too.

Jenny

by glendaoneill on 2010-01-24, 3:00 pm

I got a great tip when starting out from some lovely guys. When you buy a mixed bag, sort out all the colours, then you'll know what colours you'll use more of and can replace them with a single colour bag. Stops you from buying every colour under the sun and not using half of them. Not that we'd ever do that with face paints....... Embarassed

by Debi's Doodles on 2010-01-25, 1:56 pm

Metina wrote:
What kind of balloons were you using Deb? The balloons from the party stores will pop like crazy! Qualatex and Betalatex will take a lot of abuse!

ummm I dunno, the long ones Laughing

...its been awhile I don't know the brand or what kind. I took them out of the plastic bag and now they are in a brown bag in the closet but I did buy them from the same place I get my face paints so I know they are the good kind that regular twisters use. My husband has big hands and just doesn't know his own strength and I guess thats why "pops" happened hehe.. Me, I just didn't have the knack for it or patience I guess but I would still like to do VERY simple stuff for maybe just bringing the b-day kid a flower or decorate our booth. You guys are awesome twisters!

by Ashley Pickin on 2010-01-26, 2:10 am

glendaoneill wrote:I got a great tip when starting out from some lovely guys. When you buy a mixed bag, sort out all the colours, then you'll know what colours you'll use more of and can replace them with a single colour bag. Stops you from buying every colour under the sun and not using half of them. Not that we'd ever do that with face paints.......

That makes sense if you don't use a lot of balloons. I use so many of them though that I buy the carnival assortment of balloons and separate the colors... but I buy like.. 8 bags of them at a time.. my typical balloon order is about $200... and if Ryan and I order our balloons at the same time, then we're talking about $700 worth of balloons ordered all at once.. every few months!

balloons are definitely not as cheap as face painting!!!!!!!!!

by CABBYJ on 2010-01-26, 7:10 am

Where do you guys buy from?

by starponysmama on 2010-01-26, 11:13 am

Wow, I'm inspired by this thread. Always wanted to try twisting! Guess I'm going to have to order some stuff! Pray tell...... what is the best to start with as a beginner? Suggestions? Beginner kit?

by Kristal on 2010-01-26, 3:11 pm

Youtube to start!! balloon1twister (I believe) is great - Dave, I think his name is.

I order mine wholesale from Party Empire and Canuck Amusements, but they're both Canadian. I know a lot of twisters in the States use TY Myers (?), Balloons to You (www.btydirect.com), or - I think I looked up a Qualatex distributer in Florida...in Ft Lauderdale?

I'd start with a mixed bag of Qualatex 260's and a red ketchup pump!

Ashley - I'm the same...I can stop by with the intention of picking up, say, two bags - and leave $130 later. Pretty sure my last major balloon run (shipped in from Calgary, but free shipping if $250 or more!) was $900. But I have a fantastic amount of reserve stock in my office...haha.

by glendaoneill on 2010-01-26, 3:13 pm

Ashley Pickin wrote:
glendaoneill wrote:I got a great tip when starting out from some lovely guys. When you buy a mixed bag, sort out all the colours, then you'll know what colours you'll use more of and can replace them with a single colour bag. Stops you from buying every colour under the sun and not using half of them. Not that we'd ever do that with face paints.......

That makes sense if you don't use a lot of balloons. I use so many of them though that I buy the carnival assortment of balloons and separate the colors... but I buy like.. 8 bags of them at a time.. my typical balloon order is about $200... and if Ryan and I order our balloons at the same time, then we're talking about $700 worth of balloons ordered all at once.. every few months!

balloons are definitely not as cheap as face painting!!!!!!!!!

Yeah it's just really when starting out, you know when you want EVERYTHING in sight. Shocked

WOW $700! Definately not as cheap as face painting! Laughing

by glendaoneill on 2010-01-26, 3:32 pm

Here are a few models I've made. Mostly from Thelma Levett's stuff but some from Twistina in the UK as well

Also the pictures were taken by my niece who is at college studying photography. I got her to take a load of pics one day and I'll be getting her to do more!