March 31 - Bullfrog

"Five green and speckled frogs,
Sitting on a speckled log,
Eating some most delicious bugs, 
Yum! Yum!
One jumped into the pool,
Where it was nice and cool,
Now there's only four green speckled frogs!"

Ahhhh memories, and my modern parent version of 100 bottles of beer on the wall. Yum! Yum!

Buster Balloon create this for Balloon Magic magazine issue #49 when he was still going by the name Don Caldwell. Very simple form, no front legs even - but it still looks great with that big bulbous vocal sac.

I toad you I could clear up your spots!

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Other posts with Buster's designs:




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March 30 - Goat

"Take one last look at the scapegoat
Baggy eyed and loaded down
Shaggy beard, sad and broken
The old goat falls without a sound."
   ~ Railroad Earth

We are revisiting Balloon Magic issue #77, this time for Pieter van Engen's goat.

This Balloon Magic magazine was the first I ever bought, and I built this goat a year ago as the second delivery piece for our offices, I have include a picture of that because I like the setting.

Last years model ...
Goat cheeeeeeese!

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Other posts with Pieter's designs:


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March 29 - Pirate Ship

"I'm sailing away, set an open course for the virgin sea
I've got to be free, free to face the life that's ahead of me
On board, I'm the captain, so climb aboard
We'll search for tomorrow on every shore
And I'll try, oh Lord, I'll try to carry on"

  ~ Styx  - Come Sail Away



This pirate ship was designed by Pieter van Engen and released in issue #77 of Balloon Magic magazine.  The cover of this magazine has an amazing huge pirate ship that I keep meaning to attempt when I get the time, this is his quick version.

Unfortunately I didn't have a pirate face print for the back end to finish it off.

I thought it could be used for a quick spaceship - not quite happy with how things turned out, it looks less like an alien craft and more like an alien "probe".

	Able to get from Uranus to Uranus faster than you can say, "Did he just say...?"
They were on sail, so I got two ...

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Other posts with Pieter's designs:


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March 28 - Hippo

"A hippo sandwich is easy to make,
all you do is simply take,
One slice of bread, one slice of cake,
Some mayonaise, one onion ring,
One hippopotamus, one piece of string,
A dash of pepper, that outta do it.
And now comes the problem ... biting into it!"
  ~ Shel Silverstein

Dee White shared this hippo design in issue #51 of Balloon Magic Magazine. It's very simple in form, the only "complexity" would be the deep tulip twists for the ears, and with Lima showing us all the new sexy way to that, this is very quick.

"You sure are a cool Opotomus!"

March 27 - Patches the Bunny

“Many human beings say that they
  enjoy the winter, but what they
  really enjoy is feeling proof against it.”
  ~ Richard Adams, Watership Down




Happy Easter!

Though I didn't post the previous in any sort of order, I definitely saved my favorite for last.

Let me introduce you to Patches the Bunny!  This guy was designed by Dylan Gelinas and is another big hit.  As a bunny, it's very good - but the extra little details he includes turn it into something fantastic.

I messed up on the ear and cheek colors, but thought it might look okay in the end.  But now that's all I can see.

Bunny-week - phew, I was hop-timistic it would be easy, but seven quotes about rabbits had me pulling out hares.  I'm not sure if I carrot all to come up with another.  Mark this bunny, sonny, as doney.

When is it supposed to hatch?

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Other posts with Dylan's designs:




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March 26 - Eric's Bunny

I shoot a rabbit
My boy sees the rabbit die
I can’t help but cry
 ~ Norberto Franco Cisnero

It's Day 6 and we're rabbitrapidly approaching the end.

This rabbit uses the Eric Weinstein facial structure found in his Live Balloons #2.    I tried to pose him sitting, but the back legs still need some work.  As always - next time it would be much better!

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March 25 - Peter Cottontail

   "Once upon a time there were four little
    Rabbits, and their names were--Flopsy,
    Mopsy, Cottontail, and Peter."
              ~ Beatrix Potter

I am slightly confused by this quote -- I always thought Peter's full name was Peter Cottontail? ... and if so wouldn't that make his brother Cottontail Cottontail?

ChangSunny shared her design for Peter Cottontail with us on her YouTube channel.  Though simple in form, I feel like it's instantly recognizable to anyone of my generation or older ... I'm not sure if Beatrix Potter gets much play with the youth of today.

I tried making a smaller version as well, but the nose seems a bit off to me, maybe too large.

Peter Kangaroo

"Headed to Mr. McGregors garden!"

March 24 - Geo Bunny

Run, rabbit, run
Dig that hole, forget the sun,
And when at last the work is done
Don't sit down, it's time to dig another one.

  ~ Pink Floyd - Breathe

Bunnyweek is hopping coming right along - Day 4 has somewhat of a bruiser bunny.

This balloon uses a new body design concept shared at this years Twist & Shout by Matt Falloon to rave reviews, so he quickly published a DVD.   It's interesting that as much as I thought geo's were not a very usable balloon - I keep seeing them creatively used.  I think I will start keeping track ...

The design concept creates a very sturdy, symmetrical base and is perfect for some of the chubbier legged animals - bears, pigs, etc.  With some accessories and art, you can probably come up with a way to make most animals.   This bunny was actually shown briefly at the end of the bear model as a way you could modify and accessorize differently.

They're looking for the guy bopping Little Bunny Foo Foo on the head...

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Other posts with Matt's designs:	Other Geo designs:
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March 23 - Boma Bunny

“Rabbit's clever," said Pooh thoughtfully. 
"Yes," said Piglet, "Rabbit's clever." 
"And he has Brain." 
"Yes," said Piglet, "Rabbit has Brain." 
There was a long silence. 
"I suppose," said Pooh, "that that's why he never understands anything.” 


It's Day 3 of Bunny-week!

Mr. Boma designed this bunny and released it on YouTube.  I like how he uses 321 to make the suuuuuper soft cheeks and smooshy face.  Since this is Mr. Boma's first true entry in the balloon blog.  Let me blurb him:

Mr. Boma is to me one of the unsung heros of the balloon world.  He has created some amazing YouTube video content but has never (to my knowledge) released anything for sale, and yet his designs are probably in everyone's repertoire because they are that good.  He was one of the creators that I discovered when first attempting balloon twisting and his videos are very easy to follow, informative - and his designs are this cool!  I will resist talking about anything else of his that I've learned because I might reference them on this blog someday soon. :)

March 22 - RolyPoly Bunny

Lennie smiled with this bruised mouth. "I didn't want no trouble," he said. He walked toward the door, but just before he came to it, he turned back. "George?" "What you want?" "I can still tend the rabbits, George?" "Sure. You ain't done nothing wrong." "I di'n't mean no harm, George."

This design uses a concept published by Dan Staples recently using Big Bear Head balloons.  BBH balloons are shaped like a Mickey Mouse head with a balloon underneath, 4 large round chambers.  Like Geos - there are a lot of not-so-obvious uses for them.

I personally don't particularly care for the BBH "character" designs so much, because of their size they tend to be ... Simple?  Bulbous?  I've seen them used very well in some decor - I think Dan hit on a simple brilliant use by drawing them in and taking advantage of the pudginess.  

George & Lennie Rabbit

March 21 - Sergey's Bunny

Q: How do you catch a unique rabbit? A: Unique up on it!

Q: How do you catch a tame rabbit? A: Tame way, unique up on it!



Today marks the beginning of a week long project leading up to Easter, where every day will be a different type of rabbit.  We are going on vacation at the end of this week - I had to get a few balloons set proactively, so I made it easy on myself.  This should actually be a fun exercise - I know what I'm going to create for Easter and only a few others currently...

Sergey Loginov shared this on YouTube and is somehow able to create this (minus the nose and eyes) out of one balloon.  But it just goes to show how precise he is with his twisting.

Stu	This rabbit-ly got out of hand!

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March 20 - Bluebird

“I have never known birds of different species to flock together. The very concept is unimaginable. Why, if that happened, we wouldn't stand a chance! How could we possibly hope to fight them?” 
    ~ Alfred Hitchcock



Bluebird/Christmas Robin design is by Twistina - from Twistina's Five Minute Balloon Delights Volume 4 (link).

I remember that this was the design that first caught my eye when looking through.  This is a bird that is simple enough, yet will astonish a recipient.  The puff inflated balloons give such a nice framing and color balance.

A bird on the back is worth two in the hand!

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Other posts with Twistna's designs:	Other Bird designs:
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March 19 - Baby Seal

"There used to be a greying tower alone on the sea
You became the light on the dark side of me
Love remained a drug that's the high and not the pill
But did you know that when it snows
My eyes become large and the light that you shine can be seen?" 

  ~ Seal - A Kiss From A Rose

Pieter van Engen published this baby seal design in Balloon Magic magazine issue #77.  There are two things I know Pieter for, crazy realistic inorganic sculptures, and quick line work concepts.  This is in the latter category.  This seal design is certainly quick, only uses a few balloons and you can add the level of detail you want on top of the basic form.

I tried making an otter using the same concept.

Seally tall belly and seally long tongue	No! Not an otter pun!
Cool!  You found an egg!

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Other posts with Pieter's designs:


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March 18 - Ostrich

sense sound of trouble
puts head and neck flat on sand
arrow lands on tail

~ Uncredited

I was first shown this Ostrich at the Bling Bling balloon jam in a session Eric Weinstein taught in 2015, you learn so much at a jam that it's somewhat of a blur at times - so it's nice to have a chance to build this again with the visual reminders.

This is a release from Eric Weinstein's Live Balloons #6 - he had some tips on keeping the distorted shape of the beak, but this was late and after popping my first couple attempts I just tied it in to see what would happen, it certainly poofed up some overnight - but by the third day it looked like he was blowing an orange bubble.  Lesson learned - follow the instructions!

Tall things are very tough to photograph!

	(from Bling Bling Jam 2015)
They found a cure for both the swine and bird flu ... You use oinkment for your tweetment.

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Other posts with Eric's designs:


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