Subject: Betallic review and squirrel recipe
Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2001 16:36:29 -0700
From: "Sandi ---  The BalloonGirl" <sandiballoon@hotmail.com>

First of all, I want to say that my heart goes out to all of our extended
family who were directly effected by this past weeks tragedy.  I have been
walking around the past week in a daze, like the rest of the country and
indeed the world.

But now back to balloons....

Lorna and I did have fun testing the new Bettalic balloons.  I LOVE the
neons, they're a great addition to my growing color wheel.  I didn't test
them under blacklight, but the green, blue and pink are so nice (and
bright-- but opaque), that I would use them as regular balloons.  They are a
compliment to the Q neons, not a replacement.

The NEW new formula is GREAT.  I think better than the Q's even.  I love the
opaque balloons, now all we need are the skintones...  (anyone?) (They've
got a great peach though).  They were a little difficult to mouth inflate,
and very strong, and not brittle feeling at all.  They tasted AWFUL.  It
could work as a deterrent.  I haven't tried giving one to a small child to
suck on (under very controlled circumstances) to see if they would keep it
away from their mouth.  I'll try with an uninflated one next time I see my
goddaughter.

So, that brings us to the squirrel test.  I make a one balloon squirrel with
a very deep hook twist tail, that is shaped and stretched.  It is my test of
the strength of a balloon, since there is so much stress put on the balloon
from the tail and everything else. Recipe at end.... The Betallic balloons
are also a tad bit longer than the Q's, so that can be nice too.

It does seem that Betallic is committed to listening to us, so I am hopeful
that we should be able to get single color bags very soon.


Squirrel (I have no idea who's this is originally, it was shown to me on the
streets in Japan)


Inflate the balloon a little over halfway, but less than 3/4.  Make the
biggest deepest curliest hook twist that you can.

Make two thumb sized bubbles and twist them together at the base of the hook
twist.  These are the legs.

Make a 1/2 inch bubble, hold it and make a chain of 3/4 inch, 1/2 inch, 3/4
inch bubbles.  Twist the last 3 together, above the 1/2 bubble.  This is the
back and arms, and acorn.

Make another 1/2 bubble, then pinch twist two 1/4 inch bubbles. This is the
neck and ears.

Make a 3/4 inch bubble and tie off.  This is the head.  Use remaining
uninflated balloon to wrap down through the three bubble arms, and around
the joint in the legs.

Now, you want the tail pointing down until now.  At this point you grab the
tail and kind of flip the string inside so that it pull it tight and shapes
the tail into a perfect squirrel tail.  Kind of like turning on a light
switch....  This is where the strength of the balloon is really tested a
good balloon will do it with few complaints, a weaker one will either get a
slow leak, or pop.  It sucks that you don't know until you have almost
finished if you will have to start over.  The tail is the key feature.

This is hard to describe in writing.  It's really cute and everybody can see
what it is without having to draw on it.  If you want to draw a face it's
cute too.  I just don't usually draw on balloons. (Mainly because I'm a
terrible artist when it comes to ink....).  I'll try to post a picture of
it.....

Anyway, the NEW new Betallic balloons stood up to the squirrel test.  I was
actually really impressed, because I liked them before, but they're really
perfect now.

The question now is when and where can I get those single color bags???
Please???

Have a GREAT day!!!
Sandi Masori
Balloon Utopia
Http://www.balloonutopia.com