Link-o-Loons Tutorial Luau Column

INTRODUCTION
First impressions are usually lasting impressions. As the guests enter the venue, what could make them feel more regal than a walkway of free standing balloon columns. These are simple to construct, easily transported and have a very long float time. Once all the guests have arrived, they may be moved to mark the dance floor, decorate the DJ or Band area, the main table or placed around the room - customers see great value in the double use of décor items.

APPLICATIONS

• Entrance walkway
• Either side of the stage
• Corporate displays
• Either side of buffet or cake table

MATERIALS & EQUIPMENT

• 7 x 30cm (12”) LINK-O-LOONS®
• 32 x 12cm (5”) Round Balloons
• 1 x Foil Helium Shape
• Weights
• Helium
• Balloon sizer
• Curling ribbon

STEP BY STEP

Inflate one LINK-O-LOON® to 30cm (12”) and attach to a weight

HINT. By blowing the LINK-O-LOON® with air to 15cm (6”) long then filling to 30cm (12”) with helium, the float time in this application is not compromised, but the balloons maintain their size for longer.

Continue adding LINK-O-LOONS® to form a chain of 7 using the LINK-O-LOON ® knot. (See b Decor titled ‘LINK-O-LOON® an Introduction)

Inflate the foil shape with helium and tie a 30cm (12”) piece of curling ribbon to the neck. Tie the ribbon to the tail of the top LINK-O-LOON®, leaving a gap of 0.5 to 1cm (0.2” to 0.4”) between the two balloons. Trim off excess ribbon. This will ensure that the foil helium shape will sit vertically on the top of your column at all times.

Inflate the 12cm (5”) round balloons with air and tie as duplets. Twist to form clusters of 4 and place between LINK-O-LOONS® to complete the column.

VARIATIONS
A cheaper but still effective column can be constructed without the addition of the 12cm (5”) collars.

CONCLUSION
These quickly constructed columns can be added to most venue décor and because of their multiple uses are attractive to your customers. With the wonderful range of balloon colors available in both LINK-O-LOON® and 12cm (5”) balloons, you can present your customer with an almost unlimited choice from the sophisticated black and gold to the outrageous multi-color mix.

Link-o-Loons Tutorial : Crystal Explosion

INTRODUCTION
The excitement created by the Crystal Explosion is unmistakable. At fi rst sight, your eyes are instantly drawn towards the growth-like features. As an entrance ‘welcomer’, room fi ller or outdoor decoration, the ability to move with the breeze gives the Crystal EXPLOSION a lifelike appearance. With either a multicolor or stylized combination the effect is awesome.

APPLICATIONS

• Entrance ways
• Stage Décor
• Room Fillers
• Pathways

MATERIALS & EQUIPMENT

• 28 x 28cm (11”) Crystal Rounds (8 x Red, 4 x Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet)
• 24 x 12cm (5”) Crystal Rounds (4 x Orange, Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet)
• 24 x 260 Balloons (4 x Orange, Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet)
• Infl ating equipment/Sizer
• Fishing line/dacron cord
• Color matching sand weight (Approx. 2 cups) or similar.

NOTE: Fishing line/Dacron cord is used to ensure a clean look is obtained in the center of the garland. If a ‘more stable’ structure is required for a display lasting more than several days it is better to build the garland on a more rigid base using a 30cm (12”) square wooden base plate with a 122cm (48”) x 1cm (1/2”) dowel or similar rod.

CONSTRUCTION
THE BASE
Fishing Line: Color matching sand weight (approx. 2 cups) or similar. Wood Base: Drill a hole in the baseboard and glue rod in place.

INFLATING THE 28cm (11”) BALLOONS

Infl ate 2 x crystal red to 23cm (9”) and join at the neck to form a duplet.

Repeat the process to make a second duplet.

Wrap the two duplets together to form a 4 balloon cluster.

Attach ‘sand weight’ and ‘line’ to center point of cluster as shown in Diagram 1.

Repeat steps 1-3 six more times making additional clusters of orange, yellow, green, blue, violet and red.

Attach clusters along the ‘line’ in the noted order as shown in Diagram 2.

MAKING THE EXPLOSION

Infl ate all 24 x 260s, tying them together at the neck to make a very large, colorful cluster.

Tie the cluster into the center of the top red cluster with an uninfl ated 260 as shown in Diagram 3.

NOTE. Be sure to tie the cluster fi rmly into the garland by pulling the 260 to at least the third cluster before wrapping and tying-off.

Infl ate all 24 x 12cm (5”) crystal and tie off separately.

With the 260 shooting in all directions it’s like picking apples in reverse, when tying the 12cm (5”) balloon to the ends of the 260. Color combinations can be uniform or random as shown in Diagram 4 & 5.

CONCLUSION
With minimum production and 76 balloons, an impressive room-fi lling piece of exciting décor can be constructed anywhere. By substituting or alternating the 12cm (5”) balloons with 10cm (4”) foil star or message balloons a complete new look and theme can be achieved.

Link-o-Loons Tutorial Ball Dodecahedron

INTRODUCTION
The LINK-O-LOON® is a geometric marvel. They are quick to inflate and join to form self-supporting, three dimensional structures. This ball uses only 30 x 30cm (12”) LINK-O-LOON® and 20 x 12cm (5”) balloons to form a 1.8m (72”) ball. By adding foil stars, a stunning mirror ball is formed. As it rotates, the foil stars glitter and shimmer.

APPLICATIONS

Dance floor centerpiece Use company colors for that corporate client Bursting balloon for special effects Round ball sports functions

MATERIALS & EQUIPMENT

• 30 x 30cm (12”) LINK-O-LOON®
Balloon sizer 20 x 12cm (5”) round balloons Air inflator

STEP BY STEP
All LINK-O-LOONS® airfilled and sized to 28cm (11”).

Make a circle of ten LINK-O-LOON®. Make two circles of five LINK-O-LOON®. Make ten single LINK-O-LOON®, each with a 12cm (5”) balloon on each end. Place the first circle of five on the ground. Using five of the balloons (from step 3) twist the 12cm (5”) balloons around each of the gaps in the circle (one on each gap). Add the circle of ten by twisting the 12cm (5”) balloons to every second gap in the circle of ten. Using the remaining 12cm (5”) ended LINK-O-LOON® twist a 12cm (5”) balloon on the remaining gaps of the circle of ten. Add the final ring of five by twisting the free ends left over from step 6.

VARIATIONS
MIRROR BALL

Air inflate 11 x 50cm (19”) foil stars and tape the ends out of sight. Using a low temperature glue gun or suitable adhesive, secure the stars in the star shaped gaps in the LINK-O-LOON® ball. HINT. Make sure you keep any heated glue away from the seams of the foil stars as heat may burst the seam. The space without a foil star is the top, and all rigging is done via this opening. The mirror ball is best when hung from a rotor.

BURSTING BALLOON

Construct the mirror ball as above using only 10 foil stars. The foil star at the base of the ball is replaced by a 40cm (18”) round latex balloon inflated to fill the gap firmly. The ball may be the filled or partly filled with air-filled 12cm (5”) balloons. The 12cm (5”) balloons can then be released by either bursting the 40cm (18”) balloon using an electric fuse or compressed air burster.

CONCLUSION
Once you've assembled a mirror ball you'll be surprised how simple it is. You can amaze your clients with your creativity and ingenuity. Be well advised and experiment beforehand if you are going to rotate the mirror ball and burst it as well.

Link-o-Loons Tutorial : Heart of Hearts Ceiling Mobile

INTRODUCTION
This design is very long lasting since the balloons are all filled with air. For precision-sized balloons that are filled fast and perfect every time, I prefer to use a Conwin Precision Inflator with nitrogen. The Duplicator 2 or Dual Split Second Sizer works with latex and foils and is perfect with helium or nitrogen.

APPLICATIONS
To fill big spaces, you can place four mobiles at all four points above a dance floor. Be sure to adjust the ribbon lengths according to your ceiling height. And, you can create beautiful dance floor decor by adding Link-O-Loons to join the mobiles for a perfectly defined dance floor that won't trip up the guests with base plates, poles, etc. This design adapts easily for a variety of themes. For instance, for New Years Eve, baby messages for birth theme displays, birthday designs and more.

MATERIALS & EQUIPMENT

• Megaloon X Silver 102cm (40") Foil Shape
• Red 260 latex
• 28cm (11") crystal red round latex
• MagMover™ Ring Magnet
• Red Heart 46cm (18") Foil, Holographic
• 117cm (46"") Foil Shape, Holographic
• Holographic curling ribbon
• MagMover™ Adhesive Hang Tabs

STEP BY STEP

To begin, secure a MagMover™ Adhesive Hang-Tab in the center on both sides of the Megaloon™ X and one each at all four ends of the Megaloon™. Add hang tabs at the top of each of the remaining foils. Next, air-fill all of the foil balloons and set them aside. Fill two 28cm (11") round red latex balloons and tie the necks together to form a duplet. Repeat and twist the two duplets together at their necks to create a cluster.

To assemble the design, tie a 260 to one of the hang tabs on the Megaloon™ X leaving equal lengths of 260 tails. Tie the 28cm (11") cluster in place with the 260 tails and then a MagMover™ Ring Magnet about 10cm (4”) from where the cluster is tied in place.

Suspend the holographic shape foil from it’s top hang tab to a length of holographic curling ribbon attached to the hang tab in the center of the Megaloon™ X. Measure and cut four equal sections of ribbon and tie the ends of each to the hang tabs on the ends of the Megaloon™. Tie each of the four 46cm (18") foil hearts to the four ribbons making sure they are suspended evenly.

To place the design on the ceiling, use a telescoping pole like the MagPole™ with a MagMover™ magnet at the end. Secure the design's Ring Magnet to the MagMover™ and attach it to a metal point on the ceiling. Viola! A long lasting design that can be assembled days ahead, transported and then quickly installed on site at your convenience.

Company Holiday Party Tips

The annual Holiday Office Party can sometimes seem like a ho-hum event.  This year, turn
that around, surprise your employees and throw a GIANT PARTY they will remember! 

Location

• Choose a location that is completely separate from the day-to-day work environment.

The purpose of the party is to thank your employees, and give them a chance to relax
and have a good time. That’s hard to do when they are in their work environment.

• If your budget allows, rent a room or hall at a restaurant or hotel.  These facilities will

often have options and packages for food and beverages.

• Plan an outing that includes an activity:
• Rent a bus, bring snacks and refreshments, and take a tour of holiday lights.
• Rent a room at a bowling alley and have a big bowling tournament
• Go ice skating; see if there is a room or space you can rent at your local ice rink,

or go skating first and then meet for food and festivities at a local restaurant.

• Attend a holiday play, musical or concert.
• Check your area for local attractions, parades, and holiday activities.
• Get creative, think about local museums, art galleries, or historical sites.

Theme

• As soon as you have your location secured, its time to pick a theme. Theme parties make planning

easier for you, and make the party more entertaining for your guests.

• The options are endless, but some ideas include; Casino Night, Hollywood Soirée,

Back to the 50’s, Fiesta, Western Round Up, Totally 80’s or Parisian Paradise.

• Keep in mind that your theme does not have to be Holiday related.
• When you have a theme in mind, you can incorporate it into the invitations, decorations

and events. You may even want to invite your guests to dress according to the theme.

Season of Giving

Decide whether you want to incorporate some sort of charity giving. You could ask guests to
bring a toy, food or monetary donation, or you could take the whole gang to serve at a local
shelter or soup kitchen, before commencing with the planned festivities. Try incorporating contests,
for example see who collects the most toys, or create teams and see who gathers the most food
            items or pounds. 

Decorations

Your décor options will depend on your venue. No matter where it is, make sure to go all out!
This is one time when going overboard is okay! 

• Choose décor that compliments your theme.
• Add the wow factor with an elaborate theme kit.
• Fill your space with festivity! Decorate with mini-lights, gossamer, festooning,

balloons and streamers.

• A custom banner welcoming your guests, and thanking your employees

is a great added feature.

Food

Your food options will also depend on your venue. 

• If your party location serves food, look at their catering and buffet menus. They

may offer specials for holiday functions, or may have packages that include
the room rental and food.

• Choose gourmet options, fancy appetizers and Hors devours, special desserts,

and hot meals; this isn’t an occasion for chips and potato salad.  Your goal is to
treat your employees. Serve them a meal that is better than everyday food.
Make them feel special and appreciated.

Favors and Gifts
Gifts and favors are important, even required by most standards.
This is your time to thank your employees for their service all year long. Consider what their contribution has meant to your company. Avoid company products, or items with the
company logo. It will appear cheap and uncaring. Instead opt for more personal gifts, individual selections, or generous gifts of money or gift cards to local restaurants, stores and events. 
Depending on your venue or theme, you may want to incorporate gifts and favors into the
activities of the event. If you’ll be bowling or hosting a casino night, consider prizes
for the winners, or tickets that can be used towards larger prizes at the end of the night.
Just make sure that everyone has something in hand when they go home.

With a little ingenuity, you can throw a company party that your employees will
Enjoy and appreciate. Planning ahead is key, and incorporating party supplies that will
enhance your event or theme will make all the difference.

Recipe for a Valentine

Ingredients:

• Small red, pink and white plastic shovels.
• Candy Hearts
• Red, pink or clear cellophane, cut into 10” squares.
• Red or pink ribbon.
• Black or white marker.
• Red Heart Stickers (optional)

Step 1

With your marker, write "I Dig You!" on each shovel, as pictured to the right. If desired, decorate with Red Heart Stickers.

Step 2

Cut cellophane into a 10" square. Wrap a small amount of Valentine's candy with the cut cellophane. Tie candy bag with ribbon to base of plastic shovel.

Variations:

Who says only pink and red are appropriate for Valentine’s Day? Get creative with different colored shovels, cellophane and ribbon. Instead of candy hearts, use jelly beans, gummy bears or small chocolates. If your child’s school only allows wrapped treats to be handed out, substitute wrapped candies or bubble gum.

Retirement Party Tips

Invitations

• Create unique and personal invitations with photos.
• Send an index card and ask each guest to write down a memory or funny story about the Retiree and bring it to the party. Put out a Card Box for the memory cards, or put them all in an album with photos from the party for the retiree.

Decorations

• Photos of the retiree make great decorations. Use them on tables with photo holders, and on walls and windows.
• Balloons, streamers, festooning, crepe, confetti and banners will add a festive touch.
• A Custom Banner is perfect for a Retirement Party. The retiree will feel honored seeing their name in print, and they will have a memento to keep.

Tableware

• Use disposable tableware to make your job easier.
• Plastic glassware is fancy looking, but affordable and disposable. Great for any party.
• Don’t forget to order extra tablecovers for the food and gift tables. Table skirts are a nice touch too; they add a more finished and festive look.
• Retirement Party Packs make are a great way to get everything you need.

Food

• When planning any party, simple is better. Don’t go overboard on the menu,

Do a few things great and your guests will be impressed.  (See our simple party recipes)

• Pretty trays and serving pieces make any food look nice!  Check out our affordable crystal-look plastic serving pieces.

Entertainment

• The best entertainment at a retirement party is coworkers, bosses and employees sharing stories, memories and laughs with the whole group.
• Set up your own mini golf course for golf tournament, or play Casino and Bingo games.

Extras

• Treat the retiree like royalty with a Tiara or Crown.
• Hang a balloon drop and use lots of confetti for some extra festivity.

Theme Party Tips

Theme Parties are a great way to celebrate just about any occasion. They entertain your guests, and encourage participation. They create conversation, and they simplify decorating.
No matter what theme you choose, a theme will spice up any event!

Start by choosing your theme. Create invitations that capture your theme, a giant sun or pineapple for a Luau Party, a playing card or poker chip for a Casino Party. Choose a small trinket or themed balloon to send with your invitations. Or create your invitation with a novelty item. Write on an inflated beach ball
for a Summer Fun Party, then deflate and send them the beach ball. Write on play money for a casino party, a bandana for a western party, or on chopsticks for an Asian party.

Serve food to go along with your theme, and go crazy decorating. You’ll have as much fun preparing for your party, as your guests have will attending it!

Let your imagination go wild! Check out our full line of themed novelty and decorations for more ideas.

So many themes to choose from!

• Island Luau
• Summer Fun
• Casino
• Hollywood
• Western
• Fiesta
• International
• Asian Celebrations
• Viva L’Italian
• Mardi Gras
• Celebrate America
• Fabulous 50’s
• Spectacular 60’s
• Retro 70’s
• Safari
• Western
• High Seas/Pirate
• Sports

Halloween Party Tips

Invitations

Start spooking your guests with the invitations!

• Use black construction paper to cutout a coffin shaped invitation, open it up for the party info.
• Use a small Halloween container like Mini Pumpkin Baskets, or ½ Pint Pumpkin Pails, fill with some Halloween goodies and a scrolled note listing party details.
• Cutout simple silhouettes of a haunted house, ghosts, skeletons, tombstones or monsters, attach to the front of your invite.
• Send a small Halloween trinket with your invite like a bat ring, a spider ring, bendable skeleton, or bouncy eyeballs.

Decorations
Outside Décor will spook them coming and going!

• Window Posters are a customer favorite! They’ll WOW you and your guests! Cut to fit your window size, then illuminate with an interior light. They come alive and appear to be coming through the window!
• Pumpkin Columns, Monster Columns, and the Haunted Forest Theme Kit are perfect for creating an eerie entrance!

Haunt your house with Indoor Décor!

• Creep them out with a 50” Posable Spider or Black Crow.  
• Add accents to your tables with LED Halloween Pillar Candles.
• Halloween cutouts are an affordable way to add an eerie atmosphere. Try the 7ft Frankenstein and Vampire, or these funny Halloween Road Signs.
• This Life-size Frankenstein is a conversation piece.
• Spider Webs are a Halloween necessity.
• Halloween Scene Setters will transform your space into a spooky setting.  

Tableware

• Halloween Tableware and Accessories will make your table scream!
• Don’t forget to order extra Halloween Tablecovers for the food tables.
• Halloween Party Packs are a great way to get everything you need.

Food
Halloween is a great time to have fun with food!

• Make witch fingers using refrigerated breadstick dough, and half of a black olive for the fingernail.
• For a fun prank put out Gore-May Crackers on a serving tray.
• Ghost cookies are cute, dip peanut or elf shaped cookies in melted white chocolate and use two mini chocolate chips for eyes.
• Fill rubber gloves with red juice and freeze, then remove the rubber glove and float the bloody hands in a punch bowl filled with Witches Brew. You can also freeze ice cubes with gummy worms to float in the punch.

Witches Brew:

• 2 quarts apple juice
• 1 envelope lime green drink mix
• 1 can frozen lemonade
• 2 liters of ginger-ale

Serve your ghoulish goodies on Halloween Serving Trays!

Graduation Party Tips

Invitations

• Create unique and personal invitations with photos.
• Include the school colors, fight song or mascot
• Send an index card and ask each guest to write down a memory or funny story about the Graduate and bring it to the party. Put out a Graduation Card Box for the memory cards, or put them all in an album with photos from the party for the graduate.

Decorations

• Balloons, streamers, festooning, crepe, confetti and banners will  look great in your school colors. Fill your space with fun decorations. It’s time to celebrate!
• A Custom Banner is perfect for a Graduation Party. The graduate will feel honored seeing their name in print, and they will have a memento to keep.

Tableware

• Use disposable tableware to make your job easier. Order plates, bowls, silverware, napkins, and cups in your school colors.
• For ease of ordering, look for tableware party packs.
• Plastic glassware is fancy looking, but affordable and disposable. Great for any party.
• Don’t forget to order extra tablecovers for the food and gift tables. Table skirts are a nice touch too; they add a more finished and festive look.

Food

• When planning any party, simple is better. Don’t go overboard on the menu,

Do a few things great and your guests will be impressed.  (See our simple party recipes)

• Pretty trays and serving pieces make any food look nice!  Check out our affordable crystal-look plastic serving pieces.

Entertainment

• Games or activities for all ages are great for a graduation party.
• Classic party games are always a hit. Try gunny sack races, ring toss and beanbag toss.
• Set up your own mini golf course for golf tournament, or play Casino and Bingo games.

Extras

• Treat the graduate like royalty with a Tiara or Crown.
• Hang a balloon drop and use lots of confetti for some extra festivity.