Twisting with 160s - Miniature Designs with Maximum Appeal

by Linda Berman

I welcome you to the world of miniature twisting. I've been twisting for the past 10 years and fell in love with the Qualatex 160s when they first came on the market three years ago. John Holmes sent me some pre-production samples of this new Qualatex line and it was love at first inflate.

Since that time, I sculpt almost entirely with Qualatex 160s. The customer response to the miniature creations is amazing. I regularly hear that my miniature balloons are "the best," the most awesome," "the most incredible," and other words of high praise. People of all ages are fascinated with the detailed designs possible using 160s. The extra length of the 160 allows some very cool one-balloon designs that would require two or more balloons using 260s.

Twisting multiple balloon designs with the 160s is really fast. Just inflate the balloon 2/3rds to 3/4ths because you will cut the balloon in most cases. I save the left over uninflated pieces and use them for other sculptures. I think twisting with 260s and other shapes is great, but if you want to get special attention for your work, try one of your favorite designs in miniature and see a different response. I do lots of restaurant work and the smaller sculptures don't take over the table.

To twist in miniature, you will need Qualatex 160s, a hand or electric pump, a pair of 5" scissors, and a ruler. You will use the scissors often to cut and trim the balloons so I recommend a pair where both openings are the same size so you don't have to struggle to fit your thumb and finger into specific openings. I have a pair of Fiskars that I like very much. I attach the scissors with a 160 to my balloon bucket so I can easily find them. When not using the scissors, I close them and place them point down into a plastic cup that holds my markers.

When you start twisting in miniature, the ruler will be helpful to make the bubbles the right size. A 1" bubble in a 160 looks very different from a 1" bubble in a 260. Even though you have lots of length to work with, focus on making the sculpture proportionally very small.

Let's twist a popular Spring design - Bunny with Lunch. (This design is one of the 30 designs in my book "Marvelous Miniatures for Beginners.")

Materials: one white 160, scraps of orange & green 160, scissors, black marker

Step 1: Inflate the white balloon leaving about 3" uninflated. Twist a 1½" bubble for the head.

Step 2: Twist a 4" bubble for an ear. Fold the balloon down and twist at the beginning of the 4" bubble to complete the bunny's ears.

Step 3: Twist a 1" bubble for the neck.

Step 4: Twist a 4" bubble for a front leg. Fold the balloon down and twist at the beginning of the 4" bubble to complete the front legs.

Step 5: Twist a 6" bubble, then twist a 1" bubble and pinch twist it.

Step 6: Fold the balloon down and twist both balloons 3" from the pinch twist. Twist a 1" bubble for the tail. Holding onto this bubble, deflate the balloon and tie a knot at the end of the 1" bubble. Trim the excess balloon.

Step 7: For the carrots, inflate an orange scrap to about 8". (Make a small 3 bubble roll through.) Twist a 2½ bubble, fold the balloon down and twist at the beginning of the 2½" bubble. Pull the knot through the twist to secure.

Step 8: Twist another 2½ bubble. Pull the balloon up so the 3^rd bubble is between the 1^st 2 bubbles. Pull the 2 side bubbles apart and gently roll the 3^rd bubble through. Deflate the orange balloon at the tip.

Step 9: For the carrot top, inflate the green scrap to about 5". Pull the knot of the green balloon through the carrot at the knot.

Step 10: Twist 3 small pinch twists in the green balloon. Cut the green balloon at the tip and wrap the around the pinch twists to secure. Trim the excess green balloon.

Step 11: Finishing Details. Insert the carrots into the bunny's arms. Pull the orange balloon around the bunny's 1" pinch twist to secure. Trim the excess orange balloon. Use the black marker to add the bunny's face detail.

I put almost all my designs on 16" balloon straws or sticks that I purchase from my local balloon distributor. I prefer the primary colored assortment and let the lucky person getting the sculpture pick the color of the stick. At the restaurant, I put the sculptures on the sticks in the bud vase for people to enjoy while they are eating. At my weekly street fairs, people ask for a balloon on a stick. I tell people to "hold the stick (or handle) and the balloon will last longer." Moms and Dads repeat my instructions because they want the balloon to last a long time. I do offer a guarantee if they have any problems and bring the stick to recycle. That way I know that I made the balloon. Of course, if they bring me a 260 sculpture to repair, I know I did not make that balloon.

You can find more single and multiple-balloon 160 designs in my books, "Marvelous Miniatures," "More Marvelous Miniatures," Even More Marvelous Miniatures," and "Marvelous Miniatures for Beginners." The books are available from me and from many dealers.

I will be writing more 160 books and I'd love to hear what designs to add. You can contact me at heartthrob@pacbell.net or balloonlady@pacbell.net or at (626)581-7690. I live in Southern California in the Pacific Time Zone. You can write to me at PO Box 50574, Pasadena, CA 91115 USA.

See you next month.

Linda Berman