How to Make a Balloon Party Garland

Last Updated: May 22, 2022 References

Garlands are decorative wreaths that you can hang throughout your house and can help create a celebratory vibe. You can create garlands out of a variety of different materials even though they have traditionally been made of flowers or leaves. Balloon party garlands are made by stringing balloons together with a piece of string or yarn. If you follow the directions and are cautious not to pop the balloons, you can create your own celebratory garland by threading your balloons with a needle and thread or using twine to hold them together.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using a Needle and Thread

1
Blow up your balloons to different sizes. The more variation in the size of the balloons, the more natural your garland will look. Experiment with different color variations and different patterns. You can use a hand pump to blow up your balloons.^{[1]
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Research source} Blowing them up manually is an option, too.^{[2]
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2
Experiment with different colors and patterns. Try out different hues and colors of balloons to see what looks best for your particular event. Get colors that compliment each other and try out different combinations until you get the colors you want. Consider what the occasion is and use colors that fit within a theme.
- For Halloween, you can use black and orange balloons.
- For Valentine’s Day you can use red and pink balloons.
- For Independence Day, you can use the colors of your country's flag.
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3
Thread a needle with clear fishing line. Cut your thread or fishing line to the length that you want your garland. Use cheap fishing line or thread from the store and put it through the eye of your needle. Tie a knot at the end of your thread so that it doesn’t get pulled through the eye of your needle.^{[3]
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- Applying beeswax to the end of a thread can help bring it to a point if you’re having difficulty threading your needle.^{[4]
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4
Penetrate a balloon at the knot. Penetrate the small knot at the bottom of your balloons and make sure to avoid popping the actual balloon. Pull your fishing line through the hole that you created until it reaches the end of the thread or line. Once you don’t have any fishing line left, tie a tight knot around the bottom knot of the balloon. This will be the start of your garland.^{[5]
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5
Continue to tie balloons together until your garland is long enough. Continue to lace your needle and thread through other knots at the bottom of your blown up balloons. String as many balloons as you want together until the garland reaches the length that you want.
6
Glue more balloons along the empty spaces of your garland. Apply glue to the sides of any extra balloons and try to fill empty spaces along your garland. You can either use a clear glue stick or gorilla glue. Refrain from using a hot glue gun because they can pop the balloons.^{[6]
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- If you do use a glue gun, make sure it’s a low-temperature glue gun.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Creating a Garland With Twine or Yarn

1
Blow up your balloons. Use a hand pump or blow up your balloons manually. Do not use helium because your garland will float in the air.
2
Cut out pieces of yarn. Make the length of yarn a couple of feet longer than how long you want your garland to be. You’ll also want to cut 4 inches (10.1 cm) pieces of yarn for each balloon you intend to hang. If you run out of these small strips of yarn, cut them as you go.^{[7]
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Tie the 4 inch (10.1 cm) to the knot on the balloon. Use a standard knot and tie the 4 inch (10.1 cm) pieces of yarn to the knot on the balloon. Make sure there is close to equal thread on each side of the knot.^{[8]
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4
Tie a square knot to the long piece of yarn. A square knot is a basic knot that uses two pieces of string. Use the small 4 inch (10.1 cm) pieces of yarn that you tied to the knots on the balloons and tie them to the long strand of yarn that you cut out before.
5
Tie all your balloons to the main string. Continue to tie your balloons along the long piece of yarn. Vary the sizes and design of the balloons to make your garland more interesting. Bunch your balloons together and remember to use smaller balloons to add variance to your garland.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Arranging Your Garlands

1
Determine where you want your garland to go. Think of creative places to hang your garland. If you are having a celebration, make it the focal point of the room. You'll also want to make sure that there's enough space to accommodate the size of the garland. Measure the area where your garland will go and ensure that your garland is not too long.^{[9]
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Hang your garland between pieces of furniture. You can tie both ends of your garland to hooks on your wall, or you can tie it to two pieces of furniture. If you don’t have anything to hang it on, use a clear piece of scotch tape to hold it up.
3
Attach your garland to a wall. Tape up both ends of the string that you used to create your garland. To secure your garland completely, connect the yarn to the wall between some of the balloons with tape.^{[10]
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- Push thumbtacks into the wall to act as makeshift hooks for your garland if you don't have tape.
4
Hang your garland on the ceiling. You can hang your garland on your ceiling by taping the garland string onto it. Tape both ends to the ceiling and go in between some of the balloons to further reinforce your garland. Another option is to purchase a birthday party banner that hangs on the ceiling and to attach your garland to the banner itself.^{[11]
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Expert Q&A

Question

How do you inflate foil balloons at home?

Ahzahdeh Neshat
Party Decorating Specialist
Ahzahdeh Neshat is a Party Decorating Specialist and the Owner of Confetti & Sprinkles LLC based in Los Angeles, California. With over three years of experience, she specializes in creating extravagant balloon decor for parties and events. Ahzahdeh has created balloon decor for businesses such as MediaLab and Insomnia Cookies.

Ahzahdeh Neshat

Party Decorating Specialist

Expert Answer

You can use a hand pump with an angled nozzle and just insert it into the balloon's opening. If you don't want to spend money, just insert a straw in the balloon and gently blow air into it.
Question

How many balloons do you need to make a balloon garland?

Ahzahdeh Neshat
Party Decorating Specialist
Ahzahdeh Neshat is a Party Decorating Specialist and the Owner of Confetti & Sprinkles LLC based in Los Angeles, California. With over three years of experience, she specializes in creating extravagant balloon decor for parties and events. Ahzahdeh has created balloon decor for businesses such as MediaLab and Insomnia Cookies.

Ahzahdeh Neshat

Party Decorating Specialist

Expert Answer

That will depend on the aesthetic you're going for. For a basic garland, each foot is going to take about six to eight balloons. If you want a more deluxe garland, each foot is going to take from ten to twelve balloons.