Children’s parties are more popular than ever, but you don’t need to hire a party planner or go to extravagant expense to make your child’s party magical and memorable. Our seven top party-planning tips will show you how to ensure a successful birthday party. Tip 1: Involve the birthday girl in planning her party Surprise parties can work really well … but why take a unnecessary risk? You’ve got an opportunity to involve the birthday girl in planning her own party to make sure it the event she’s dreamed of. And that doesn’t mean you have to give in to every whim or flight or fancy. It’s an op ..read more

The ,string of pearl balloon arch is one of the requests we receive most frequently from our customers. Find out here how to use this piece of classic balloon decor to its full advantage, plus how to avoid some common pitfalls. Plus points - ideal for framing a focal point String of pearl arches are ideal for framing a focal point indoors, such as doorways, a cake or gift table, or a stage. The balloons are helium-filled and tied to a transparent monofilament line so they float, creating a wonderful sense of movement. We think the simple string of pearl arch looks best of all when it is made ..read more

Follow our Halloween party planning guide to ensure your Halloween party is a monster hit. Plus a video tutorial on how to make your own Halloween balloon spider to keep your young guests happy. Here's our Halloween Party Planning Checklist to help you plan your spooky party 1. Plan well in advance There's usually a lot going on at this time of year, so make sure your event is the one people know about first so that it is already in their diaries before they start receiving invitations from other people. Pick the date for your party early and make sure you let your family and friends know wel ..read more

"How long do balloons last? has to be one of the top five questions our customers ask. The answer is by no means straightforward and depends on a number of factors. Here, we explore some of the factors affecting the life expectancy of latex balloons. Helium-filled latex balloons When filled with helium, an 11 inch latex balloon will generally float for between 18-24 hours, however if your balloon has a metallic or pearl finish, its average flying time reduces to 16-18 hours. You can extend the flying time of your helium-filled latex balloons quite significantly by treating the un-inflated bal ..read more

If you don't want to have to redecorate after your party, the safest way to create your balloon arch is to use an arch frame. These days frames are affordable, reusable and, because you're not sticking anything to your walls, you won't end up having to repaint your house. What's the Best Size of Balloon Arch Frame? My favourite arch frame for indoor parties at home is the elegant round frame that is approximately 7.2 feet wide and 6 feet tall. I've found this size of frame to be the most versatile for at home parties. It's a great size for a standard conservatory or living room and, if you cho ..read more

I love polka dot print balloons and like to use them a lot in my work as a balloon artist in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. More and more often, I found that the colour combinations I wanted simply weren't available to buy. So I started to experiment with a few ideas I'd had to create my own polka dots. As with many experiments, my first attempts weren't altogether successful. Eventually I developed a technique I was happy with and that resulted in consistently shaped spots. Being able to make your own spotty colour combinations is a great way to add value to your designs. It also means you d ..read more

So, we may not be partying quite like we used to, but I've been keeping my balloon fingers busy by writing a storybook to help children get the hang of social distancing. We've all been struggling a bit with this, right? Anyone who knows me, knows I love my furry family (oops, and my husband, of course!), creating balloon-art, snapping photos of anything that moves and writing. So except for hubby, I've managed to combine all my loves into Quince Cottonball Keeps His Distance. Quince is a young bunny trying to get the hang of social distancing as he travels about the countryside meeting other ..read more

A balloon dog is probably the most requested balloon animal I am asked to make at parties and events which is why I've come up with my own design that's a bit fancier than people are expecting. This design always brings a smile and I share how to make it in this week's tutorial available here: https://youtu.be/874t13YT5AE ..read more

One of the first decisions couples have to make when planning a wedding is choosing what day of the week to get married. Whilst Fridays and Saturdays are the most popular days for weddings, the decision is not always as straight-forward as it first appears. There’s also a growing trend for Sunday weddings, particularly for more intimate ceremonies and celebrations. Here are the top factors that will influence your choice of wedding day. Venue availability You’ve probably got a preference for getting married at a particular time of year … after all, there’s a reason we talk about the ‘wedding ..read more

This week, I've been clowning around with some circus themed first birthday designs. I especially enjoy circus themed parties as my clients usually want something fun, fabulous and larger than life. I think this chap fits the bill. I've used the Qualatex foil clown head which I think is by far the cutest of the clown foil balloons I've seen. If you'd like to see how he came together, here's a link to my free tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChkZnCKjrOVR9AscqhGCyYA?sub_confirmation=1 If you'd like to discuss decor designs for your next special celebration, give me a call on 07903 910 ..read more