How to Make a Decorative Hot Air Balloon

Decorative hot air balloon are great talking points; are easy to make. They look good hanging in windows but don't have to be.

Steps

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    First blow up a balloon until it is slightly smaller than you want your finished one to be; knot it.[1]
  2. Image titled Make a Decorative Hot Air Balloon Step 2
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    Now get some papier mache and cover your balloon with it; leave a small section at the bottom clear. Make sure there are no wrinkles in your papier mache.
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    While you wait for the papier mache to dry, acquire (or weave) a basket the right size for your balloon and get some string.
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    When the papier mache has dried pop the plastic balloon and remove its remnants. Then make four equally spaced holes around the bottom of your papier mache balloon.[2]
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    After that, thread a piece of string through each of the holes; secure them by either gluing or tying. Then secure the string around the rim of the basket(equally spaced) with either glue or by tying. Make sure the basket hangs level under the papier mache balloon.[3]
  6. Image titled Make a Decorative Hot Air Balloon Step 6
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    Now paint the outside of the papier mache shell however you want; leave it to dry. You may have to paint different sections at different times and apply more than one coat of paint.[4]
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    Finally, glue a hook to the top of your decorative hot air balloon.[5]
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    Finished.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Could I use material instead of painting?
    T. Chinsen
    T. Chinsen
    Top Answerer
    Material over the paper mache needs to be well secured with glue. A layer of white needs to be put down first to brighten the colored material. Without this layer, the colors will appear dull or dirty, as the ink on the paper mache will show through.
  • Question
    What do I do if I don't have papier mache?
    T. Chinsen
    T. Chinsen
    Top Answerer
    Use layers of tissue with brushed on glue on the balloon. Start with a white base layer, then add colored tissue to eliminate the painting step. The white layer will brighten the colors applied. It will also be a more delicate structure, as this is not as thick as newsprint.
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Warnings

  • If a child is making one they should be under adult supervision and the adult should do any gluing, if with a glue gun, and make the holes in the papier mache shell.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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Things You'll Need

  • Glue
  • Papier mache - paper, water and PVA glue
  • A hook
  • String
  • A basket
  • Paint
  • A balloon

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRtBI-Na4XE
  2. ↑ https://www.firstpalette.com/quick-how-to/papier-mache-balloon.html
  3. ↑ https://www.firstpalette.com/craft/hot-air-balloon.html
  4. ↑ https://www.todaysparent.com/family/crafts/diy-papier-mache-balloon-bowl-craf/
  5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpLAI0LVMog
  6. ↑ http://safety.ucanr.edu/files/3260.pdf

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 18 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 96,764 times.
78 votes - 81%
Co-authors: 18
Updated: August 4, 2021
Views: 96,764
Categories: Decoration Projects
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