how to make a animal ballon monkey

How to Make a Animal Ballon Monkey.

Learn how to make balloon animals and share your skill at a festival or party. People love making a special request and seeing a colorful balloon animal come to life. Get familiar with the twisting techniques that form the foundation for every balloon animal, then put your knowledge to use by making a balloon dog, monkey, and swan.

Learning the Fundamental Twists.

1. Make a basic twist. Inflate a balloon and tie it off at the end. Grasp it near the tie in your non-dominant hand. Use your dominant hand to twist the balloon a few times so that you create a separate balloon segment. In order to keep the balloon from untwisting, hold the two segments with one hand.

Use #260 balloons, which are long balloons designed for the purpose of being made into balloon animals. These are available at party stores and costume stores. Water balloons and party balloons can't be twisted into animal shapes.

You can inflate the balloons using your lungs, but it's far easier to use a small hand pump. These are available at toy stores and party stores that sell balloon supplies.

You should be able to grasp the balloon firmly without it popping. Keep your fingernails and jewelry away from the surface of the balloon so they don't catch on the rubber and pop it. If the balloon seems to pop at the slightest touch, try using a higher-quality brand. Less expensive balloon brands use less rubber in their balloons, and the thinner surface area is much easier to pop.

2. Make a lock twist. Inflate a balloon, tie it off and make two basic twists close together, so that the balloon has a total of four segments. Hold all four segments in the same hand to keep them from coming untwisted. Use your other hand to grasp the two middle segments and gently hold them apart from the two end segments. Twist the two middle segments together three times, then hold up the balloon. The segments are now locked in place.

The lock twist is used to hold the balloon sculpture together, since without it the balloon comes untwisted.

The lock twist is also used to make small balloon animal ears and other animal features.

3. Make a fold twist. Inflate a balloon, tie it off and make one basic twist near the end. Holding the twist in place with one hand, use your other hand to fold the top of the balloon down. Grasp the twist and the top of the balloon and twist them together three times so that you form a loop. The balloon now has three segments: two end segments and one loop segment.

The fold twist functions like a lock twist, in that it prevents the balloon from becoming untwisted.

The fold twist is often used to create ears, noses, and other animal features.

Steps Making a Balloon Monkey.

1. Inflate the balloon and leave a 6-inch tail. Leaving a shorter tail might result in the balloon popping halfway through the sculpting process, so make sure you have plenty of uninflated balloon at the end. Tie off the balloon with a knot.

2. Make a basic twist. Twist the balloon a few inches from the knot to create a small segment that will be the monkey's face. Hold both segments in one hand to prevent them from untwisting.

3. Make a short fold twist. Start by making a second basic twist close to the first one so that you have a small segment in between the twists. Fold the segment so that the two twists line up. Use your free hand to grasp the folded segment and twist it three times to lock it in place. You've just made the monkey's first ear.

4. Make another basic twist. A couple of inches from the first ear, make another basic twist to create a short segment. Hold it in one hand so that it doesn't untwist. This new short segment will be the monkey's forehead.

5. Make another short fold twist. Start by making a second basic twist close to the first one so that you have a new small segment between the twists. Fold this segment so that the two twists line up. Use you free hand to grasp the folded segment and twist it three times to lock it in place. This is the monkey's second ear.

6. Twist the ears together. Carefully grasp the two ears by the twists at their bases. The forehead segment will be sticking out between them. Twist the ears together three times to lock them in place. The monkey's head is now complete: it has a nose, a forehead, and two ears.

7. Make three more basic twists. Make the first twist a few inches below the head to form the neck segment. Make two more twists lower down to form two segments that are equal in length. These will become the monkey's arms. Hold all of the segments in one hand to prevent them from untwisting.

8. Twist the arms together. Fold the balloon at the twist between the two arm segments. Grasp the segments and twist them three times at the base of the neck segment to lock the arms and neck in place. The balloon should now resemble a monkey with a head, neck and arms.

9. Make three more basic twists. Make the first twist a few inches below the arms to form the body segment. Make two more twists lower down to form two segments that are equal in length. These will become the monkey's legs. Hold all of the segments in one hand to prevent them from untwisting.

Leave plenty of room at the end of the balloon for the tail, which should be the longest segment of all.

10. Twist the legs together. Fold the balloon at the twist between the two leg segments. Grasp the segments and twist them together three times at the base of the body. The body and legs are now locked in place, and the tail is hanging down from the body.

11. Make a coconut tree trunk. Choose a balloon in a contrasting color and inflate it completely, then tie it off. There's no need to leave a tail at the end. Slide it between the monkey's arms and legs so that the monkey appears to be climbing it.

FAQ.

Q : How do I tie a balloon?

A : Wrap it around your two fingers first, and then swoop it around in between your two fingers, then pull your fingers out and you will have a knot.

Q : How do I make a balloon ring?

A : Just tie the two ends of a long balloon together and put it around your finger. If it's too big, use a smaller balloon.

Q : How do I make a balloon sword?

A : Inflate the balloon so there is no tail and straighten the last portion of the balloon. Make a handle towards the knot using a basic twist to help lock it. Use the dog ear/leg pattern twice to make the hand guard. Maneuver the two "ears" gently as so they are opposite from each other and face perpendicular from the handle. Keep the hand guards small and the handle just big enough for your hand to fit on, otherwise you will end up with something closer to a knife.

Q : How do I make a balloon owlet?

A : Make the balloon dog, but leave it round and glue a felt or paper beak on it.

Q : How can I make a balloon caterpillar?

A : Choose a long, sausage-shaped balloon and inflate it. Make antennae by getting another balloon, twisting it into a V-shape and put it in place at the head end. Also, draw the eyes and mouth with a marker.

Tips.

Carry balloons in your pocket to school, wedding receptions, any place where children may roam.

Put glitter inside the balloons so when they pop there will be a glitter explosion that people will like.

Carry a permanent marker and make a smiley face on your animal.

If balloon pops, laugh, make a joke about "blowing up" some balloons for fun and start over. Children will back up a step but they won't leave.

If it pops, pretend that it was part of the entertainment; play it cool.

Use an inexpensive balloon pump from a toy store. Some people can inflate a #260 by mouth, but not many. Hand pumps are more sanitary.

Experiment with other sizes and shapes of balloons to make apples and bumblebees.

Every child in the room will want one. Seriously. Do not send children home crying if it can be avoided.

Use new balloons rather than stored ones. Older balloons are more likely to pop when you are inflating or twisting.

It helps to inflate the entire balloon until air is spread throughout, then to deflate it slightly, leaving about 3 inches (7.6 cm) at the end as mentioned in step 3.

Warnings.

Balloons are not for little children due to danger of choking.

Things You'll Need : Uninflated #260 balloons, Balloon pump.