DIAMOND RING

by Ralph Dewey

In this month's column I'll share how to make a large diamond ring. This would be great as a clown prop or at a wedding or anniversary party. It requires one 5-inch clear round balloon, four gold or silver #260 balloons. The photo below shows all of the necessary balloon pieces except for the round balloon.

RING LOOP

Take the first #260 pencil balloon and inflate it all except for about four inches and tie off the nozzle. On the nozzle end, twist off a 6-inch bubble and fold twist it. On the nipple end twist off the last 6 inches and fold twist it also. Trim off the extra nipple end. Twist-connect the two folded bubbles together. This is the loop part of the ring.

DIAMOND SET

Take another #260 balloon and fully inflate it except for about 6 inches and tie off the nozzle. Twist off four 4-inch bubbles and tie the nozzle end to the end of the fourth bubble. Trim off and discard the remaining balloon. This forms a square.

Take another #260 and twist off a 1-inch bubble and ear twist it. Twist off two 6-inch bubbles and a 1-inch bubble. Ear twist the 1-inch bubble. Take another #260 balloon and make a second balloon exactly in the same way. Twist-connect the two balloons together in the middle thus forming an "X" shape. (By the way, the balloons in the photo have tape secretly holding the twist in the middle. Otherwise it wouldn't stay in place for the picture.)

Wrap each of the 1-inch ear twists from the "X" balloons around the corners of the square. Position the ear twists up and down as shown in the photo. This forms the frame for the diamond set.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Inflate the 5-inch clear round balloon while it is in the middle of the diamond set enough to make it fit snuggly. Then tie off the nozzle and bring the knot to the bottom of the diamond set. Connect the diamond set to the ring loop by wrapping the 5-inch nozzle of the round balloon around the loop. That completes the diamond ring.

If you need a ruby, emerald or other color stone, change out the clear balloon to the type gem needed. Or you may prefer, you may like the diamond set to be made from clear #260 pencil balloons.

CORNY BALLOON BITS

If you like light-hearted balloon creations that are a little corny, check out the designs below. For your computer or engineer friends, make them a Palm Pilot. Or if they live in California, show them Palm Springs (or hand springs). Or make a mutant animal for them, maybe a cross between a dog and a cat. You might want to duck when you show them that one.