Date: Fri, 18 May 2001 06:20:19 -0700 (PDT)
From: glenn tompkins <magicglenn@yahoo.com>
Subject: Teaching simple balloons
To: balloon@balloonhq.com

Some have asked about teaching balloon twisting.  This is
what I use when I do not want to get complicated.  These
use only 260s.

ULTRA SIMPLE BALLOON TWISTS
As done by Glenn Tompkins

In every balloon twist, you will inflate the balloon
leaving an uninflated end for expansion, and you will let a
little air escape before tying the balloon.  Letting the
air escape is called, "burping" the balloon. It is for the
purpose of softening the entire balloon.  This material
will deal with one, two or three twist sculptures.  One
twist means that there is only one place where the balloon
is twisted.  It may have more than one turn in the twist. 
There are other ways of twisting balloons, primarily by
making bubbles of various sizes, and then twisting them
together.  The twists used in this lesson are mostly
referred to as fold twists.  There are others used by
balloon twisters that are more complex.  I find it best to
use a pump for inflating balloons.

SINGLE TWIST SCULPTURES

1. THE SWORD OR CROSS.  Inflate except for about one inch.
Burp. Make a Z-shaped fold near one end.  Twist in the
middle of the fold.

2. FISH.  Inflate almost fully.  Burp.  Fold in the middle,
and twist near the two ends making the tail.

3. FOUR-WAY HAT (Indian, Davie Crockett, Unicorn, Elephant)
Inflate almost fully. Burp. Measure around child's head and
twist with a very short bubble on one end, and the rest
sticking up.

TWO TWIST SCULPTURES

4. BIRD or 5. BEE.    Inflate all but about one inch. 
Burp. Fold so that there is just a little less of one end
than the other. Twist 2 or 3 times. Then fold the large
loop into the twist, and twist again.  Shape to form
wings.  If the uninflated end is in one direction, it is
the bird's beak, and the other way, it is the bee's
stinger.  Use a sharpie marker to decorate appropriately.

6. ALLIGATOR.  Inflate to all but about 2 inches. Burp.
Make a Z fold near one end and twist in the middle of the
Z. Do the same near the other end.

7. BALLOONASAURUS. (An imitation of a dinosaur) Inflate to
within 1 inch of the end.  Burp. Make a loop of most of the
balloon. Twist near each end of the loop.  Decorate with
eyes on the shorter end.

8. THREE FOLD DOG (SPEED DOG) Dogs come in various shapes,
and the same pattern can be used for some other animals
like a giraffe.  The first fold and twist makes the head
and ears.  The second makes the neck and front legs, and
the third makes the body, back legs, and tail.  Add eyes
and mouth.

MORE DIFFICULT TWISTS

9. THE TULIP.  Inflate only a very short bubble. 1 to 2
inches long. Using one finger, push the knot through the
bubble into the uninflated part.  With your other hand,
grasp the knot through the balloon, and twist 
several times.  Pull your finger out.

10. JONAH AND THE GREAT FISH. Inflate almost fully. Burp.
Twist a small bubble at the nozzle end (where you put the
air in) several turns.  Push the bubble into the main body
of the balloon with three fingers, and then farther in with
one finger. Grasp the little bubble with the other hand and
pull away from finger. As you remove finger, give it a
sharp twist, and the ball will break loose inside the long
balloon. Re-tie the end.     Fold in half and twist ends
together to make a fish.