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One of my twister friends is Dr. Don Nelson from Iowa. While we were attending the FCM convention in Indiana last year, he showed me how he made a diamond ring from two balloons. He was gracious enough to allow me to share it in my column. He used a clear #260 for the diamond. Start by inflating it fully except for about 3 inches and tie off the nozzle. Twist off bubbles in this order, 3", 1-1/2", 1-1/2" and 3". Twist-connect that series of bubbles. They will look like poodle legs. Twist off another series of bubbles (poodle legs) exactly the same and twist-connect them together.
Place one set of poodle legs inside the other set. Then lock them together by rolling them through each other. By the way, if you discover that the bubbles untwist while doing the roll through maneuver, next time make the bubbles with an extra revolution or two. Cut off and discard any excess balloon. Tie the ends of the balloons together to prevent them from deflating. This completes the diamond.
Now comes the band and setting for the ring. Fully inflate a gold #260 except for 4 inches and tie off the nozzle. Tie the knot to the knot at the base of the diamond. Twist off a 1" bubble and ear twist it.
The make the prongs of the setting, squeeze the gold balloon with one hand and release it to make the entire balloon very soft. Twist off a 3-1/2" bubble. Twist off another 3-1/2" very soft bubble. Stretch the two 3-1/2" bubbles over the top of the diamond and twist connect to the 1" ear twist at the bottom. As you stretch the two bubble over the diamond, you will need to wedge them down into the top of the diamond. (When making the "prongs" of the setting you may have to adjust the length and the softness of the twists so the inflated part of each bubble extends partway up the side of the diamond, but there is an uninflated part to wedge into the top of the diamond. This allows the top part of the "prong" loop to be hidden.)
Again make two soft 3-1/2" "prong" bubbles as you did before and stretch it over the diamond from the sides. Twist-connect those bubbles to the bottom of the diamond. Again wedge the two 3-1/2" bubbles down into the top of the diamond.
To form the band of the ring, use the remainder of the inflated balloon and tie it to the 1" ear twist at the bottom of the diamond.
That completes the diamond ring. You can also make the ring into an emerald or ruby by using a crystal green or a red balloon in place of the clear one.
"I use summer balloons. Some are red and some are blue."
"What's black and white and red all over? Not a newspaper, it's an
embarrassed zebra!"
"It must be raining cats and dogs because I just stepped in a poodle!"
(puddle)
"Do know why they call it a humming bird? Because he doesn't know the
words to the song!"
"Do you know what they call a baby goat? It's a goatee!"
"Do you know what they call a baby bull? It's a bullet!"
"Do you know why frogs are so relaxed? They eat what bugs them!"
"Do you know how to keep a dog from smelling? You hold his nose!"
"Do you know why they call this the poodle who uses his noodle? Because
he tells kids not to use drugs." (I push the back of the poodle's head so
that he appears to be nodding, yes.)
"This chimp says don't be a chump. Don't monkey around with drugs."
"I once had a dream that I was a pony. The next day I stood out in the
rain. And sure enough, by morning I was a little hoarse."
"Have you ever seen me do my imitation of a flea collar?" Cup your
hands to your mouth and yell, "Here flea, here flea!" (A flea caller)
"Did you hear about the armadillo that go run over by a car? They had
to amputate his whole left side. But he's ALL RIGHT now.
"Did you know the Easter bunny has a brother who isn't as smart. They
call him the Easter Dummy!"
