how to make a balloon giraffe

How to Make a Balloon Giraffe.

Have you ever wanted to make a balloon giraffe, but didn't know where to start? Practice these simple steps, and you'll be a pro in no time!

Steps.

1. Inflate the balloon. Leave about two to three inches/5-7.5cm un-inflated at the end before you tie-off. A hand pump works best for this - not only is it more sanitary, but it is also difficult to inflate long balloons by mouth.

2. Make the nose. Starting at the knot, take a section about three inches/7.5cm from the top and twist two to three times. Hold the section to keep it from unraveling.

3. Shape the ears. Twist off 2 two-inch sections. Keep holding all of the sections.

4. Twist the ears together. Fold between the ears so the nose and first ear section are along the length of the balloon. The ends of the ears should line up. While holding the nose and body in one hand, twist the ears with the other hand. Now you should have a nose, ears, and a long body.

5. Make the neck. The length of the neck should be about nine inches/23cm - long enough to make it clear that this is a giraffe! Twist off the neck section and hold it (like in Step 2).

6. Twist off 2 leg sections. These are usually about 3-4 inches/7.5-10cm. Continue to hold all of the sections.

7. Twist the legs together. Using the same method as you did in Step 4, fold between the leg sections and twist them together.

8. Make the body. Take enough balloon to create the body (but keep in mind that you'll need 6-8 inches/15-20cm for the hind legs!) and twist off the section.

9. Make the hind legs. Twist off 2 three-four inch sections for the legs. Fold and twist using the method from Step 4; the remaining balloon becomes the tail. Done! You have a giraffe!

10. Finished.

Question : How do I make a cat?
Answer : Follow the steps listed in this article. If you find video tutorials to be more helpful, the YouTube channels "Balloon Animals" and "The Balloon Bandit" both have clear and concise videos addressing this topic.

Question : How were balloon models created?
Answer : The concept of creating balloon animals is usually attributed by historians to Herman Bonnert from Scranton, Pennsylvania, who started twisting balloons into animal shapes at magicians' conventions in the 1930s. The groundwork for this was laid by Michael Faraday in 1824, who invented the rubber balloon. Prior to this, balloons were usually made using animal intestines.

Tips.

Get creative! The giraffe is a long-necked variation of the basic balloon dog. Once you've mastered this shape, you can tweak it to make dogs, dinosaurs, lions, etc.

Don't worry if the balloon pops. This happens often, especially in the beginning. If you have an audience, laugh it off.

Practice a lot. It may take a long time to become comfortable twisting and manipulating balloons, but it does get easier!

Warnings.

Balloons can be a choking hazard for small children and pets. Keep out of their reach and clean up popped balloon mess quickly.

Things You'll Need : Long balloons, Hand pump, Sharpie (optional, for drawing a face), Eye stickers (optional).