Ok - here come the questions . . . .

1) Has anyone used a glitter spray on a balloon? is there a good make to use? (I want to make a ride in unicorn with a glittery horn)

2) How much is a reasonable price for a ride-in pony (the David Brennion design one)? I'm thinking £8-10 minimum - but non-balloon making friends are arguing that they wouldn't pay more than £5 for something that is likely to pop quickly . . . .
(The calculation at the Robbie Furman tour comes out at around £13.50 - Pam's equation in another thread comes in at £24.50, & the formula for products at a manufacturing company I used to work for has it at around £18!! confused.com!)

3) I may (fingers crossed) have a contract for hanging balloon models in a local childrens attraction. In order to make it work I need the models to last as long as possible - how long would hifloat and balloon shine increase the lifetime of the models? Does the hifloat make the modelling balloons to difficult to work with? Is there anything else I could try??
(I should point out that the contract would be completely down to the freebies we were given at the Robbie Furman tour! So many thanks to everyone who sponsored/organised that.)

Just thought of a fourth! Sorry!

4) Does anyone know of any 11", 15" or 16" brown or black latex balloons? If so are they any good and how do I get them (UK)?

Many, Many Thanks
Tat

I find that if i spray hairspray on the  sculptures (any hairspray cheapest as possible) it keeps the balloons inflated at lot longer. I would not use hair spray if you have drawn on any of your sculptures, as it will streak it off.

Quote from: "Tatkemp"Just thought of a fourth! Sorry!

4) Does anyone know of any 11", 15" or 16" brown or black latex balloons? If so are they any good and how do I get them (UK)?

Many, Many Thanks
Tat

Hi there Tat,

In the 2013 Qualatex catalogue, they have...

Onyx Black in 5", 11", 16" and even 24" should you need them
Pearl Onyx Black in 5" and 11"
Chocolate Brown in 11"
Mocha Brown in 5", 11" and 16"

I use them for décor, and they're pretty durable. They should be available from your wholesaler or failing that, on t'internet

Cheers,

Steve

Hi-float, nitrogen, balloon shine.

Thanks guys,

Kenny - that sounds like a great plan - there are some glitter hair sprays too which I could try for the bits I want glittered :-)

Steve - Are you sure it's Qualatex? I just phoned them and they said that they only do 6" latex hearts in those colours.
(PS love your name - I did some of my growing up in the Medway towns and pottering around on the river :-) )

Ian - thanks I've heard that the nitrogen doesn't work as well with modelling balloons due to the larger surface area and I'm unsure about trying Hi-float as my workshop is presently located in my bedroom . . I dread to think of the results if a balloon popped before the Hi-float was dry ;-) I'll give the balloon-shine, hair spray, dashboard sprays a try.

Thanks again

Tat xx

Should I say maybe look at the sites at the top of the header, I think they may sponsor the forum so it would be nice to help them as well.    

Hi Tat,

I had another look at the Qualatex catalogues from 2011/12/13 and the colours and sizes I mentioned are in all of them, as well as the 6" hearts!

As Graham so rightly points out, try clicking on the ad. banners top right of the page (sorry Graham, was in a hurry with my last post, forgot to mention them!).

Cheers,

Steve

Just realised I missed a key word from the question re the coloured balloons..... I need 11", 15" or 16" hearts!

Sorry my mistake :S

I'd love qualatex to do them - but I'm fairly sure they don't

Graham if you can get hold of any from somewhere (qualatex or not) I'd be very interested!

(I thought I was going slightly mad for a minute then ;-) )