Papier-Mache Hot Air Balloons
The sky is the limit with these charming papier-mache balloons: Use them at children’s parties, baby showers, nurseries, or any place your decor needs a lift.
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Updated on December 1, 2018
What You’ll Need
Materials
- 12-inch balloon
- Large bowl
- Newspaper
- Half-water/half-white-glue mixture
- Scissors
- Sandpaper
- 1/4-inch tape
- Craft paint in 3 to 4 colors
- Paintbrush
- 1/4-inch ribbon
- Fabric glue
- Paper cup
- Pencil
- 1/4-inch hole punch
- Scrap of pom-pom trim
- Monofilament
- Small 2-inch scrap of dowel or piece of wood
- Wooden bead
Instructions
Blow up balloon and place in a large bowl for stability. Cut newspaper into long, skinny triangles.
Dip newspaper strips into glue mixture and papier-mache 3 layers of newspaper onto balloon. When papier-mache is completely dry, cut a small hole in bottom and slowly deflate the balloon. Even out the bottom hole with scissors. If the dry papier-mache is too wrinkled or bumpy, sand it smooth.
Section the papier-mache balloon into 8 equal lengthwise parts with 1/4-inch tape.
Alternating colors, paint sections of balloon with craft paint.
Remove tape. Attach 1/4-inch grosgrain ribbon over tape lines with fabric glue. Glue two long pieces of ribbon in an X over top of balloon, with ends hanging down to hold basket.
To make the hot-air balloon basket, mark a paper cup 2 3/4 inches from the bottom, all the way around the cup. Cut off the top of the cup with scissors. Paint cup with craft paint to match the balloon. Make four equidistant marks around top of cup, and then use a hole punch to make a ribbon hole at each mark. Add pom-pom trim around outside of cup with fabric glue.
Tie monofilament to a 2-inch length of dowel, then thread through top center of balloon for hanging. Hang balloon before attaching basket. To attach basket, thread four hanging ends of ribbon through each hole on the basket, from the inside out, then pull and slide ribbons until basket is level. Thread all ends of ribbon through a painted wooden bead under basket; tie in knot.
DIY Hot Air Balloon Decor
This DIY hot air balloon decor is perfect for parties or just as a centerpiece for your table at home. You can even place candies or chocolates in the basket! How fun is that? It’s a super easy project you can make at home using simple materials you probably already have in your craft supplies. This wonderful art idea is by Super Idea on Youtube. Watch the video below for detailed instructions.
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Materials:
- iris thread
- balloon
- PVA glue
- cardboard
- cloth
- hot glue
- satin ribbon
- decorative ribbon
- felt
- newspaper tubes
- wood skewers
- container
- scissors
- plastic wrap
- rope or cord
Step 1:
Place the iris wool inside a container, and pull the thread outside. Next, fill the container with PVA glue, then cover it with plastic wrap. Poke a small hole in the middle and insert the thread. Secure the plastic wrap using rubber bands.
Step 2:
Inflate the balloon and tie. Pull the end of the thread and start wrapping around the balloon. Once you covered the whole balloon, cut the thread and leave it to dry for about 24 hours.
Step 3:
Cut 1 piece of 3.94 inches cardboard square. Next, cut 4 pieces of cardboard with a trapezoidal shape with these measurements: bottom – 3.94″, top – 4.72″, slanted sides – 3.15″.
Step 4:
Cover the square cardboard with a cloth, then cover the back with felt paper. Attach the pieces of cardboard to make the basket of the hot air balloon using hot glue. The part covered with a cloth should be on the inside.
Step 5:
Wrap the rope around the basket using hot glue.
Step 6:
Using newspaper and the wood skewers, create 4 long tubes measuring 12 inches. Get one string of the rope, then wrap it around the newspaper tubes. Insert bamboo skewers inside to reinforce the tubes. Next, glue them to the inside corners of the basket.
Step 7:
Pop the balloon and remove it by poking it with a stick. Glue it on the tubes.
Step 8:
Glue the decorative ribbon on top of the satin ribbon. Once done, glue it around the ballon to connect opposite tubes. It will form an x on the top, then glue more ribbon strips in the middle of those. Lastly, wrap a ribbon around the end of those ribbon strips.
Step 9:
Create 8 bows from the satin ribbon and glue them on the ends of each ribbon strip.
Step 10:
Wrap a decorative ribbon on the basket and you are done.
