Sticker Eyes for Spiderman and Balloon Fashions

by Linda Berman

The Spiderman parody I posted in last month's column has been an enormous hit. At some of my weekly evening events I've made mostly Spidey balloons for the past several weeks. To deal with the demand I prepare the eyes and the web prior to the event. To make the proportion more realistic, I am using a red 5" inflated to about 3" for the head.

I've tried both the white Brite Stick and the Deco Paint pens to paint on the eyes but both take too long to dry. I found some round 1" white stickers at the office supply store. Using a black marker, I draw an oval shape in the middle of the sticker. Then I cut out the oval shape. When making the balloon, I peel and attach the sticker eyes on the red balloon and then finish the web on the face and the spider on the chest with a black marker.

Instead of using pipecleaners for the web, I'm now using very thin floral wire. I trim the wire in half lengthwise and bend down about 1/4" on both ends before inserting it into the uninflated white 160. I tie a knot at the end of the wire and trim the excess. I pre-made 50 webs and sets of eye stickers before one event and used them all during that evening.

Kids love balloons and they really like the miniature creations because the size is more like many of their other toys. But adults are fascinated and appreciative of the detail and speed possible using only 160s. I recently twisted at a "half-birthday" party for a lady who turned 30½.. Her birthday is in late December and rarely is celebrated. For this event, her husband hired Heart Throb to twist balloons for the birthday lady and her adult guests. To celebrate the event, I made her a "Bedtime Bunny" prior to the event so I could spend the party time entertaining her guests. She loved her special balloon and her guests were very excited about getting their own detailed miniature design.

Bedtime Bunny is wearing his favorite clothes - his comfy terry cloth bathrobe and his favorite slippers. I now have a variety of clothing items for my miniature designs. I make these special creations for the special person prior to the event. They would work very well for table decorations or delivery items, too. The extra time is worth the ohhhs and ahhhhs and tips. The recipient can save the clothing items to remember the event.

I've attached photos of Doctor Scrubs wearing his most comfy footwear and Jeanine Geni sporting a traditional look. I'll post more costumed photos next month.

Not ready to twist only with 160s? Use the smaller balloons for hair and accessories for your 260 or 350 balloonicatures. Or make a miniature design with 160s and a larger version with 260s or 350s or even 646s for a parent-sized design.

It would be very nice to have all the colors in all the sizes. Someday soon, I hope.

See you next month.

Linda Berman

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.