August 31 - Matt's Seahorse

“Oh, look at me. I’m gonna touch the butt!”

~ Sheldon the Seahorse Finding Nemo

This seahorse is from the Matt Falloon's OCD balloon video.

With the exception of a sidewall bubble in a fairly inflated round (which you could cheat with a quick link), this structure is not too difficult to build.  Easier than the dolphin at least.  There is some complexity in getting the tail to get a good and proper curve - but you can cheat that as well with a Lima. I only have a few more left to do from this video, and I am very scared of the last couple...

What I like about this seahorse (and really most every video in his collection) is the masterful way Matt is able to add it to a headband.  The loose attachment would make it very easy to remove and play with later as well. Though I'm not exactly sure how one would actually play with a seahorse ...

Young seahorse = Neigh-kid	Saddled with male pregnancy
Get me up!  Get me up!  Giddyup!

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Other posts with Matt's designs:


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August 30 - Spike the Dog

“All his life he tried to be a good person. Many times, however, he failed. For after all, he was only human. He wasn't a dog.”

~ Charles M. Schulz

Spike the dog is from the Buster Balloon Adorable Collection.

Buster is a real master craftsman.  He is not only entertaining to build along with, but also has a very unique style of twisting.  He squishes and squeezes the balloons more than I would ever dare.  Instead of making loop twists he does a gigantic squish twist that he folds into a loop.  On the one hand it makes it a little bit more difficult to judge the size you want, but on the other - you have these very malleable soft and wonderful bubbles to work with, things don't pop.  It allows for things that "normal" twisting often prevents - like inserting bubbles between other bubbles and pressure fitting things in a nice soft way.

I played around a little bit by making a puppy-sized Spike - and then went for creating a Bowie.  I thought Bowie would be tough since every part of him is black, but the form reads really well.  I brought the Spike's into our office on Monday, and dropped off balloon Bowie at our local pet store to the lady who has been helping us train real Bowie.

Bowie, in the morning, looks so lovely.

I say train, but he knows most of this stuff and is so motivated by treats and affection that it's a breeze.  The real reason we go is to help foster a better level of communication between us with distractions (I'm the guy with the treats) and as an excuse to pick out a new toy.

I Spike for the trees, for Spikes have big tongues.	Hey hey doggie, said the way you move, Gonna make you beg, gonna make you groove.
What do you think - let him in?

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August 29 - Nemo

Crush: Curl away, my son! Aw, it's awesome Jelly Man. Lil' dudes are just eggs, leave 'em on the beach to hatch and koo koo kachoo, they find their way back to the big ol' blue.
Marlin: All by themselves?
Crush: Ch-yah!
Marlin: But, but, dude, how do you know when they're ready?
Crush: Well, you never really know, but when they know, you'll know, ya know?

Dan Staples published this design on YouTube right around the time the Finding Dory movie released.  He is a fantastic instructor, master of Bear Head-fu and going to be one of the teachers at Kapital Kidvention next January, so between meeting he and Mr. Lyle -- I'm really hoping to attend!

School started last week for my youngest, but today is the first day of public high school for my older son.

I know that doesn't seem significant at first glance, but to put it in some perspective - his 9th grade class had eight graduates.  He is going to a school that has over 2500 enrolled.  We wandered around to his classes last week and met his teachers, he seems ready to move on to something bigger like this -- it was me who was having mild panic attacks navigating the mass of people.

See - I'd like to think I'm Crush.  "Whoa, kill the motor, dude. Let us see what Squirt does flying solo.."  But I'm more of a Marlin.  I'm not saying that's bad, Marlin would take on the ocean to find his son - take on a shark?  I'd take on three!

Curl away, my son!

Have fun at school, but remember - don't touch the butt ...

Dad!  Meet my new friends from school!

"Ohhhhhhhhh Subtitute teaching sea pigs are cool, Mr. Ray is home sick and this doesn't rhyyyme."

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Other posts with Dan's designs:


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August 28 - Pugs

He sold his soul for a shot at fame,
Catchphrase and wigs and the jokes are lame,
He's got no style, he's got no grace,
He's banal and facile, he's a fat waste of space
See his pug-nosed face... Pug, pug, pug, pug.

~ David Bowie Chubby Little Loser (CLICK!)

There are a few YouTube balloon artists that I credit with really sparking my imagination of what could be done with balloons.  Mr. Boma is definitely one of those.  His videos go beyond simple shapes that people are used to - I think this pug is a perfect example of that.  This face is unlike any I've seen or made, yet it's simple and perfect for a pug.

The inspiration for making this pug, on the other hand, is my good friend/author/designer/game master, Rafael.  Rafael is the glue that binds our foolhardy band of adventurers together and has an incredible talent and passion for creating suspenseful terror and excitement in our gaming sessions.  I'm not fresh off the turnip truck when it comes to RPGing, I've laughed in the face of evil and lived to roll again.  I've never feared more for my soul, or died with such noble sacrifice than when gaming with Rafael.   *salute*   Don't just take my word for it, read some of his book reviews! (Or better yet - read the books!)  http://www.rafaelchandler.com

Raphael has a pet torpedo in the shape of a pug named Gengis that he will unleash after our gaming sessions.  I (feel a bit guilty saying this) have never really liked pugs, all I had previously met were yippy lap dogs wearing outfits.  Gengis has dispelled that.  When he comes shooting in the room and starts bouncing off of us like we're pinball bumpers it's pure doggy joy.

Good night!  Don't let the bad pugs bite!	I don't mean to be a party pooper, so can you let me out?
I guess that one wasn't silent ...

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Other posts with Mr Boma's designs:


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August 27 - Brenion Masks

Entry #4:
"Nemo, newcomer of orange and white, you have been called
forth to the top of Mt. Wannahockaloogie to join in the fraternal
bonds of... competition."
"What are we competing for?"
"Whether I need steak or tarter sauce."

“She had blue skin,
And so did he.
He kept it hid
And so did she.
They searched for blue
Their whole life through,
Then passed right by-
And never knew.”

~ Shel Silverstein Masks

It's contest time again!

I really love balloon contests.   I don't compete at balloon conventions, and I can't imagine I will. You either have the high-pressure situation of a timed contest, or you have to take away from the time you might have in a class or jamroom in order to work on your entry.  I love these Facebook contests though, where I have the time to figure out what I want to build and submit pictures.

In this current contest we are tasked with creating using the Brenion Mask technique, and it is to highlight their upcoming new balloon videos entitled "Paradables".  Paradables are gigantic balloons that you attach to a harness so you can carry them high in the air, something you might see in a parade ... hence the name.

I have had these mask videos since October last year when I made a Frankie and his Bride in order to walk around the neighborhood with my sons trick-or-treating.  Unfortunately, this was the first year they were old enough to not need nor want me to come along with them.   I didn't put them on and frighten the few smaller kids who came to our house, I left them as decorations on our steps for them to see.  *sigh*  My kids are getting old ... which by transitive property, means .. I am my wife is.

To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure I stand a snowballs chance in Las Vegas of winning this competition.  Some of my balloons heroes are also vying for the prize, and the competition entries are already amazing.  But then, the chance to compete with some of these guys is like racing against Usain Bolt or Katie Ledecky -- what place you come in doesn't matter when you get to race against the best in the world.

I figured I would try to keep with masks inspired by the technique rather than trying to make great copies of what they taught.  The contest ends next Saturday, hopefully I can come up with some creative ideas before then - I've added what I wrote for the contest entry next to the images (and captioned for the first).

Entry #1	Hey hey! I heartily endorse this event and/or product! WARNING: Use in a well ventilated area. May stain furniture. Prolonged exposure could cause chemical burns.
The Emperor's New Mask Crafted from the finest balloons in the world, this will appear as clear to those who are uncultured and unfit for their positions. (cropped high as to avoid distraction of the Emperor's New Pants.)	Entry #2
Entry #3	Alas, poor Honeycrisp! I knew him, Horatio, an apple of infinite zest, of most excellent fancy. He hath bore me on this snack a thousand times, and now how abhorr'd in my imagination it is! *chomp!* (a thousand monkeys on a thousand typewriters took a thousand years to come up with that quote .... that's bananas.)
Pigs are friends - NOT food.  Why are you looking at me like that?

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Other posts with David's designs:


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August 26 - Little Pony

Выйду ночью в поле с конем
Ночкой темной тихо пойдем
Мы пойдем с конем по полю вдвоем
Мы пойдем с конем по полю вдвоем

~ Конь (Horse) - (video link)

I've referenced the above video previously, but it inspires me to practice - and my choir begins next week, so I'm listening to this and Ljube's version as I type this.

Justin Reams released instructions for this pony on the Twisters Cookbook website.

One of the things I like about Justin's video is that while building almost every section he starts out with a fresh balloon.  It creates a decent amount of scrap, but oftentimes designs suffer from being overly efficient, and though I understand that it is better to use every scrap of a balloon to save on costs, until you are familiar enough with the design or very meticulous about measurements, you are oftentimes left with too little or too much when you're down to the last little bit.  Adding to that are the varying sizes of balloons - Betallic offering 360s vs. Qualatex's shorter 350s, it can be a mess. It's good to focus on the form first.

Brony's are everywhere. When I brought the black one to the office, my coworker said "oh is this from the episode when she went bad"?  I think I shamed him by saying I was going for the M:TG Nightmare Steed, or one of the horses of the apocalypse from the Red Dead Redemption expansion.  Nerdly in my own way. Not judging, teasing - there's a fine difference.  But I have to remember to ask him which Care Bear is his favorite, and whether or not Strawberry Shortcake is a dessert or berry best friend.

But then ... if he's a Brony, I guess that makes me a Burple.

A dashing pony	Power and toughness equal to the number of swamps you control.
This is a little pony?!?

August 25 - Jeff's Duck

Now, If the river was whiskey
And I was a divin' duck
Now, If the river was whiskey
I was a divin' duck
I would dive underwater
Never would come up

~ Sleepy John Estes - Divin' Duck (link)

Jeffrey "The Uncanny" Hayes offered PDFs of the designs he taught at OZJam this week.

Jeff is both a creative twister and an awesome guy, he is the still the guy I would think about when jamming on an idea and trying to come up with something different or a way to make it better - What would Jeff do?  A sharks with freaking lasers coming out of their eyes is what.

All of this new batch of designs are very quickly made, but have a different "smooshiness" to the design that makes it fun.

I didn't go all "laser shark" with this one, I just tried making it smaller. It was Jeff's suggestion that it would make a good Daffy, he was right. I had attempted to give him arms, but I made the neck too tall and it looked a little bit awkward poking out of the neck joint. I got a few ideas when failing at this one though ... I'll have to try again next Duck Season. (Wabbit season!) Duck season. (Wabbit season!) Wabbit season! (Duck season! Fire!) *BLAM!* (... ... you're dith-picable)

Get down?  Got it already ...	Got my ducks in a row
You're dis-piggable!

Other posts with Mr. Hayes' designs:


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August 24 - Slimer

"That stuff went everywhere, by the way. In every crack."

Erin Gilbert (Melissa McCarthy) - Ghostbusters (2016)

I've been meaning to make Slimer for a few weeks now.

Dylan Gelinas really has some fantastic designs and his PDFs are just plain "fun" to twist with; whimsical, conversational and clear.  These big fancy balloons are really what I like to build most, and Dylan has some brilliant balloons to try and copy.

I took Slimer in to the office before I had a chance to take any real pictures, and he was so well received that he stayed at the front desk all day.  I kind of felt awkward about explaining a bizarre purple pig photo shoot to anyone who stumbled by, so I snapped these quickly as I was leaving.

Instead of remaking it, I tried downsizing to make a baby Slimer.  Predictably I struggled on spots that were originally 160's, but I bet it could clean up nicely that size on my next build now that I've played with it a few ways.

I loved the new remake of the Ghostbusters movie.  I confess I was a bit skeptical when I saw the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man in the trailer, thinking they were recycling the story - but it was a fantastic reboot, a shmorgasborg of shinanegans that certainly paid homage to it's predecessor.

I'm late for my job at Nickelodeon!	Sticky pistons?  How do you make those?
Yuck-toplasm!

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Other posts with Dylan's designs:


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August 23 - Dolphin

Love will lead us, alright
Love will lead us, she will lead us
Can you hear the dolphin's cry?
See the road rise up to meet us
It's in the air we breathe tonight
Love will lead us, she will lead us

~ Live The Dolphin's Cry

Matt Falloon's OCD videos are the Dark Souls of balloon twisting videos to me (link).  Each begins as a seemingly impossible task, this dolphin was a brick wall for me a while ago, so I figured I would give it a go again.

When trying to learn a pattern, a balloon goes through a lot more abuse than it would typically -- personally, I over twist things, don't trim nozzles, don't tie off ends, undo/redo things to get the right sizes, and generally create a lot of friction dragging things around for attachments.  Having a central structure of something deflate as you're finishing has caused many a creative expletive to erupt from me.  But much like the video game, once you know how to defeat the boss, it becomes a simple matter of the execution of a pattern.

It took a couple attempts, but now I feel ready to move onto the next boss.  I was even able to upsize it, using a Big Bear Head in lieu of a heart.

Lundgren	Smaller snout on porpoise
I can't decide which I like more, I better flipper coin ...

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Other posts with Matt's designs:


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August 22 - Sweet Cheeks Ladybug

"Shoo, fly. Don't bother me."

~ Francis A Bug's Life

The first creation in Eric Weinstein's new Little Sweet Cheeks #2 design series is a ladybug.

I'm enjoying this new video - having more designs that implement his sweet cheek concept is fantastic, it sparks your imagination and gives you techniques to help you picture making pretty much anything.  This first one in the expansion is awesome because it (quite literally) turns the concept on its side.

I had a great time at Bling Bling Jam - but one of the highlights for me was being able to introduce myself to Eric.  You can tell from the list at the bottom of this page that I'm somewhat of a fan of his, I have used his designs more than anyone else on this blog. These chubby cheek creatures from both his PDFs and videos are my "go to" if I don't know really how to make something, or I want to make it but have it be cute instead of a mushy plate of spaghetti.  He spent most of his time in the jam room, diligently working on ideas for this new video. I had the luxury of seeing some of these made first hand by the master himself!

Meet the Beetles!	Aphids for breakfast, again!?
Now this is awkward ...  I told you I would be wearing my ladybug hat!

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Other posts with Eric's designs:


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August 21 - Beluga Whale

Baby beluga in the deep blue sea,
Swim so wild and you swim so free.
Heaven above and the sea below, And a little white whale on the go.

~ Raffi Baby Beluga

I have a LOT of balloon twisting channels in my YouTube subscription playlist, but I still search for more.

One I found fairly recently that is chock full of goodness, is "goody balloon" - with Japanese artist Kanesan.

The instructions and information is all in Japanese, but they are visibly clear and easy to follow despite the language barrier. Thankfully so, because I tried auto-translating the auto-generated subtitles on YouTube, it was interesting, but not accurate in the least. "But why microwave still horn" - indeed.

Recently he did a number of the characters from the Finding Dory movie, and one was Baily, the Beluga whale, voiced by Ty Burell (Phil Dunphy from Modern Family). The design is fairly simple but effective, the big bulging head really brings it to life.

Actually we're kriller whales...	Whale whale whale, what have we here?
He can't keep a secret ... he's a blubber mouth.

August 20 - Soup Kitchen Chef

If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one.

~ Mother Teresa

The past two years I have offered balloons as an auction item at our school's fundraising gala event.  This year the winner chose something special.  For his birthday, Matt Gross asked people to perform some sort of service action in lieu of any gift.

... and so Colleen, his spouse, helped organize a community birthday party and contacted me to provide some balloon decorations for the celebration.  It was held at the Shepherd's Table Soup Kitchen (link), where they donated food, water and over 300 cupcakes to help feed and celebrate with those in need.

Being part of something like this not only helps those in need, but it's also fuel for your soul.  There were about 30 people putting the final touches on that days meal.  Even though I wasn't part of the actual food distribution, it was like being part of a choir, by coming together our individual parts were able to make something bigger and magical.

One!  Birthdaaaay!  Caaake!  (link)

I built a chef and some smaller decorations to spread in the room.  Purple came along for the ride, but I got caught up in the preparation and scrambled away right as they were having an "about to open the doors" meeting.

Since I didn't take any pictures with him, I was inspired to build a balloon Colleen - who to me is a princess with a big beautiful heart.

Well in Who-ville they say,
Colleen's heart grew 30 sizes that day!

August 19 - Sweet Chicks

“Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater.
If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby.
If you give her a house, she'll give you a home.
If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal.
If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart.
She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her.
So, if you give her any crap,
be ready to receive a ton of shit!”

~ Erick S. Gray

As some of you know, Eric Weinstein released his second installment in the Sweet Cheeks video line just this last week.  I was at the beach when he did - without all my supplies and limited internet I didn't get a chance to play it, but I wanted to.

Then I remembered John Justice created a Lucy while jamming on the idea after the original video, so I figured I would give that form a go.  It took a couple tries, my first few were extremely "chesty", and even these are a bit large - but at least they're not bigger than her face.

The head is from the Brenion Cutie Doll series, it was nice to practice those again and try some different hair styles.  I felt like I was making the faces a bit tiny, but the green eyes when I went bigger just make her look shocked.  I think pupils need to be as big as the white to avoid the "on drugs" look.

Betallatex hearts seemed to work better for keeping the chest small and the body thin, but they also had a side effect of a spot of less inflated balloon on each of the lobes I kept having to hide because they looked like nipples.

Wait a minute .. if you're here, and I'm here - doesn't that make it OUR time?	Pop her? .. don't. Preach. (I'm in trouble deep.)
... how you prove you're not a pig.

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Other posts with Eric's designs:


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