From U10486@UIC.EDU Tue Apr 26 07:58:31 1994 Received: from UICVM.UIC.EDU by mother.ent.rochester.edu with SMTP id AA21623 (5.65/IDA-1.4.4 for /usr/local/lib/lists/balloon.archive); Tue, 26 Apr 1994 07:58:31 -0400 Message-Id: <9404261158.AA21623@mother.ent.rochester.edu> Received: from UICVM.CC.UIC.EDU by UIC.EDU (IBM VM SMTP V2R1) with BSMTP id 0931; Mon, 25 Apr 94 18:05:02 CDT Received: from UICVM (NJE origin U10486@UICVM) by UICVM.CC.UIC.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 5547; Mon, 25 Apr 1994 18:05:02 -0500 Date: Mon, 25 Apr 94 16:27:02 CDT From: steve hattan Subject: Sculptures To: Mailing list Hello!! Today's discussion will be on the use of rubber cement and a few balloon sculptures that require rubber cement. There is a good chance that some of us don't know how to use rubber cement (on balloons anyway) so I'll tell you all that I know about it. Afterwards, I'll give directions on a few sculptures that require the use of it. USING RUBBER CEMENT I'm not sure that any one brand is better or worse for balloons. The kind that I use is Elmers. Before I brush any of the cement on the balloons I take off the cap and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes. This is to decrease the chance of the balloon breaking when it is applied. (If there are any chemistry majors out there please explain why). When applying the cement to the balloon make sure you keep it away from your fingers because it's a real bitch to handle the balloon when it keeps sticking to your fingers. Anyway...When applying the glue use the brush that comes with the bottle--just be careful not to POKE the balloon. Also only use a minimal amount to get the job done. Too much makes the sculpture look messy, other things (dust, particles etc.) can get stuck to it, and people can see where the glue is at. Wait a few seconds until the glue loses it's clear look and becomes whitish. Now just connect the two balloons together. Make sure the balloons being con- nected are in the right place because it's hard to take the balloons apart with out breaking. If there are any questions about using glue just ASK. I probably forgot some- thing... Now, what can we do with the use of rubber cement?? How about making a rabbit, a three layered cake and a gumball machine? EASTER RABBIT To make the rabbit it requires three 360 balloons (For those of you who don't know what 360's are, they are just as long as the 260's but much wider) with the color being the same. (Unless, of course, you grew up in the 60's and are into that colorful stuff....). First thing to do is inflate the balloon just over half way. (You'll be making a total of 11 twists so you might want to experiment with the amount of infla- tion and the sizes of the bubbles.) Second is to make the bubbles. Start with two 3-inch bubbles, then 2 1/2-inch bubbles and then another 3-inch bubble. Now connect the last twist with the first twist. Next, make another two 3-inch bubbles, 2 1/2-inch bubbles and finally the last 3-inch bubble. Connect the last twist with the twist between the the two 3-inch bubbles. Deflate whatever is left of the balloon so that is the same size as the 3-inch bubbles. You should have a poodle with no head. It should look something like this (bare with me, this computer doesn't have any graphic capability...) First Twist (3inch) <-------- 0 3rd and 4th twist (1/2inch)-----> o0 ------->second twist (3inch) 0 ------->3 inch twist Two 1/2 inch twists--> o00 ------->last twist (deflated if needed) |------3 inch twist This is the body. In between the top and bottom o's you can glue in the easter egg or whatever you want that fits. Now for the second balloon... Inflate/leave 3 inches at end. Make three 1-inch bubbles and twist them so it looks like the ears and nose of a basic dog. (This is actually the nose and two buck teeth of the rabbit). Take the knot and twist it to the first twist. (All this does is make the balloon appear to have no opening). Now make two 5 to 6 inch bubbles (These bubbles should be long instead of round). Twist the last twist to the base of the three 1-inch bubbles and the first 5-6 inch bubble. You should have about five or six inches of inflatable balloon left (if not make it that way).Pull the uniflated part of the balloon thru the twist between the two 5-6 inch bubbles. Wrap it around that twist and tuck it away. The last thing to do with this is to shove the 2nd and 3rd 1-inch balloons 1/2 way between the two 5-6 inch balloons. Now for the third balloon (and by far the easiest...) Inflate the balloon so there is three inches uninflated. Twist the balloon ex- actly in half. Tie off the uninflated part and cut off the extra. (Thats it for the third.) Now for the glueing. Place the first balloon on the table like it is shown above. Place the second balloon on top of the first balloon so that it is centered and the two 1-inch bubbles of the second are directly above the two 1/2 inch bubbles of the first balloon. You should have something (from the front view) that looks like a rabbit. Now all you have to do is place the third balloon somewhere in the middle of the two 5-6 inch bubbles of the second balloon. Now you have a completed rabbit. I apologize if the directions are confusing. I read them back to myself and wondered what kind of drug was in my Wheaties this morning. If there are any questions feel free to ask. I've been making these rabbits for three years now. I learned it from Roger Siegal in Chicago. Out of ALL the things I've ever made out balloons this is my most wanted. Adults act just like kids when they see one and want one. I was going to give instructions on how to make a birthday cake and gumball machine but my hands are tired and I need to save my strength for later... Until the next time.... Steve. PS If anyone lives in the Chicagoland area let me know and thanks for the tips on balloon busking. I'll be sure to let everyone know how it turns out....