Tips
Storage – We recommend storing your balloons in a location with moderate temperature, away from direct sunlight and preferably in a dark place. Leaving the balloons in the original plastic bags inside your shipping box at your home, away from a heat source is perfect. Improper storage can lead to balloon oxidation:
Determining Length – The first step to determining the right length of garland is to figure out what you are going to be decorating. If for example, you have a dessert table similar to ours at 39 inches, we wanted to frame the area by decorating the wall above the table, as well as down one side to the floor. We decided to hang the garland at a height of 6 feet and we also wanted the balloons to extend a little beyond both sides of the table, to 5 feet. If you add those two dimensions, the result is 11 feet, which is perfect for a 10 foot garland. Depending on where you place the balloons at the ends of the decorating strip, a 10 foot garland will end up measuring around 11 feet.
A second example would be a set of double doors. Common dimensions for a single door are 3 feet wide by 7 feet tall. If you are decorating across the top of double doors, down to the floor, we recommend hanging the garland a little higher than the door frame. Adding them all up, this is 6 feet across and 8 feet down. If you would like the garland to extend a little past the end of the doors, or have a little extra on the floor, a 15 foot garland is what you need. Decorating down both sides of the door would require a 20′ garland.
Lighting – Lighting is the most important thing to consider when selecting colors. If you are having an event outside with direct sunlight, versus an indoor event with incandescent lighting, balloons will have a vastly different appearance. For example, these next two pictures are the exact same balloons (from left to right – #60, #60 inside #2, and #60 inside #3), but you would probably never guess that if you didn’t already know this. When blending/double stuffing balloons (balloon inside of another balloon), it is particularly important to know where you will be hosting your event.
Creating Static Electricity For Confetti Balloons – The easiest and best way is to gently rub the inflated confetti balloon on your hair. Once you have generated sufficient static electricity, rotate the balloon to the area where you were rubbing and you’ll notice that the confetti sticks to the inside of the balloon. Repeat this until you are satisfied with the look and distribution of the confetti. We do not recommend using wool. While this will work, wool also turns clear balloons cloudy. We do not recommend using helium, as it will not always work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are balloons coming off of the strip?
Balloons will generally fall off the strip for one of the following reasons:
1) The balloons are too tightly packed. In this scenario, we recommend leaving one or two spaces empty before resuming your garland. In certain cases, you may need to leave more space.
2) Only the end of the balloon is threaded through the hole. If the knot is not already pulled through the hole as well, we recommend trying this.
3) The knot is not big enough for the hole. Every other hole is a different size. The first option is to relocate the balloon that is popping off to a smaller hole. If this does not work, the best solution is to double knot the balloon so that you have a larger knot.
Why are balloons popping?
Balloons tend to pop under the following scenarios:
1) They are exposed to sharp objects. We recommend taking off rings or other sharp objects when handling balloons.
2) Extreme temperature changes. If balloons are filled close to capacity in one temperature environment and then are exposed to large changes in heat (sunlight, heater, candles, etc.), the air inside will expand and potentially pop your balloon.
3) Overinflated. Adding too much air to a balloon will cause it to burst.
4) Pets and kids. Latex is no match for sharp claws or kids with toys.
Where are the glue stickers/dots?
Only certain kits use glue stickers. If you ordered the custom confetti balloon garland, we attached all of the balloons directly to the strip.
What is balloon oxidation/frosting?
Balloon oxidation is the degradation process that latex balloons go through over time, resulting in a less shiny appearance, color loss, a “frosted” look, and in some cases, cloudiness. Exposure to sunlight, high temperatures, and polluted environments will all increase the speed of balloon oxidation. In certain extreme cases of pollution, such as a smoky Las Vegas casino, balloons will show oxidation in the matter of hours.