Balloon Chat

Uncategorized Boards => Competitions => Topic started by: Graham Lee on March 14, 2009, 08:37:53 PM

Title: Happy Birthday Competition
Post by: Graham Lee on March 14, 2009, 08:37:53 PM
As the balloon chat website is one year old today, 15th March. To celebrate this amazing fact we're having a competition with some prizes to win. DVD's, CD's and even a selection of balloons. There will be two competitions, one that is open to everyone and to try & encourage all those members who have not posted as yet we are having a seperate competiton for them.
The idea of the competition is just to post the sculpture/model that got you hooked or the first serious thing you attempted to twist. It's just a fun competition with all entries going into a hat with the winner being announced on the 1st April, no kidding, honest :lol:

The competition for those that have never posted is here; http://www.balloonchat.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=1388 (http://www.balloonchat.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=1388)
and the newbies can even join in with both competitions if they like so you get the chance to win both competitions.
The prize for each competition is any stocked DVD/CD from the website http://www.sempertexballoons.co.uk (http://www.sempertexballoons.co.uk)
and 3 bags 260's and 2 bags of 160's.
So good luck and keep the entries coming. You can also enter as many times as you like with different models
Title: Re: Happy Birthday Competition
Post by: Graham Lee on March 14, 2009, 08:51:48 PM
This is my entry, I believe I saw this at an IBM magic convention about 15 years ago and it was made by Kevin Rowe? I just sat through an evening show un twisting it to try & find out how it was made. I eventually found Kevin the next day and he showed me how to make it.
And from that day I've been totally hooked :D
Title: Re: Happy Birthday Competition
Post by: YvonneH on March 15, 2009, 08:09:24 AM
I started twisiting at one of Graham's Care & Share days but didn't really take it very much further until just after Christmas when I found a balloon book in a Woolies as part of a kit.  The balloons were rubbish but I was so proud when I made this frog:-

[attachment=1:1lxt3jcn][/attachment]Frog.jpg[/attachment:1lxt3jcn]

After this I got more interested but was scared of going out there and twisting for money but I was put onto Michael Flloyd's site and started going through all the model's on there and learnt how to make a monkey.  I still prefer this monkey over all other and make it all the time and usually offer it as a suggestion when kids are stuck as I love to make it.  I think it was when I learned how to make simple but effective models like the monkey that I realised I was already better than some of the "twisters" I had seen out there with thier 4 petal flowers and swords!

[attachment=0:1lxt3jcn][/attachment]Monkey for BC.jpg[/attachment:1lxt3jcn]
Title: Re: Happy Birthday Competition
Post by: Twysted Kreations on March 15, 2009, 02:05:22 PM
I dont remember the very first balloon - but I do remember the balloon I did that brought me back to this passion. It wasnt the best... to say the least, its not a very good balloon hat at all, rather sad really. But, she was recouperating in the hospital .... this little girl brought back the 'spark' . They say Sonshine did a lot for her, but I know she did more for me.
(//http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/6361/19386417538503155.gif)
Title: Re: Happy Birthday Competition
Post by: Tonya on March 15, 2009, 02:14:26 PM
great job on those faces Yvonne!  It gives the balloons so much character!  I love it!
Title: Re: Happy Birthday Competition
Post by: glendaoneill on March 15, 2009, 06:48:56 PM
This is the first time I've tried to post a picture so we'll see how it goes :)

(//http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/glendaoneill/rabbit.jpg)

The picture  is of the first model I did that really made me realise I could do better things with balloons than dogs and swords.  I think it was the carrot that sold it for me.  This is what brought me here to Balloon chat.  I'm still very much a novice but I'm getting there!  ;)
(Please ignore the surrounding areas of my living room too  :oops: )
Title: Re: Happy Birthday Competition
Post by: theFPlady on March 16, 2009, 08:11:42 PM
Before I started twisting, a local balloon artist was at a party and he did all the usual things and a big motorbike to finish. It stayed in my head as something very cool to do!  When I started, that was what I wanted to achieve and this was the result.....

[attachment=0:327bi0si][/attachment]000_0041.jpg[/attachment:327bi0si]
Title: Re: Happy Birthday Competition
Post by: Darwould on March 16, 2009, 08:43:02 PM
This Ball has been the most successful thing I have learned to make... It is a huge winner with the kids, and keeps a group of them busy rather than coming back for another animal!.  When made properly, the 3 balloons need to be burped to make them soft and more durable so the ball won't break easily.

All of the ends are hidden, so many become quite puzzled by how the balloon is made if they weren't watching.

Darwould
Title: Re: Happy Birthday Competition
Post by: Pam Pearce on March 17, 2009, 09:41:42 PM
Gosh your first models are elaborate;



Pam
Title: Re: Happy Birthday Competition
Post by: Darwould on March 21, 2009, 11:35:08 AM
Got trying to make the simple dog in the dog and rabbit thread, heres another entry with the first try.

Darwould
Title: Re: Happy Birthday Competition
Post by: Darwould on March 21, 2009, 11:39:52 AM
This one is modelled after Twistina's in the dog and rabbit thread... but I am having trouble with getting the nose the right size... and the pinch twist for the nose seems fiddly... any suggestions for an easy way to tie the inflation end into that first pinch twist?

Darwould
Title: Re: Happy Birthday Competition
Post by: Twistina on March 21, 2009, 03:35:11 PM
Try doing it in a different order. Do the two bubbles of the head first, lock twist, passing the nozzle through the middle to to stop them un- twisting, then do the pinch twist for the muzzle making it about 3 ". Now make the ear bubbles and carry on as before!
Good Luck
Twistina
Title: Re: Happy Birthday Competition
Post by: Pam Pearce on March 22, 2009, 09:00:47 AM
been told off - its not the model that got us started its the one that got us hooked:  to be honest it has to be the Teddy bear in the heart - in whatever format or with whatever extras we add to it as in flowers hearts etc etc - when ALL those years ago we where taught the Mind blowing lesson of 'Add another balloon!' - I know these days it sounds MAD bu tin those days most of us did one balloon  models and it really was the WOW factor: to be taught we could add balloons and balloons other than 260's (which again was all we had then, no 160's 350/60's 646/60's then):

I have to say it has still got to be the ballon model we do most when out on mix & mingle and still when made some one will say AAAAHHHHHHH

Pam
Title: Re: Happy Birthday Competition
Post by: Smiggle on March 24, 2009, 08:00:49 PM
this littlefella has earned me a few OOOHS!

And he got me a booking too because he was peeping out from a bunch of flowers I did :D
Title: Re: Happy Birthday Competition
Post by: Tony Twist on March 28, 2009, 12:26:36 PM
this has to be the one that inspired me to start balloon modeling (THE GREAT DON CALDWELL MONKEY)  I was totally surprised it was possible to make sculptures out of balloons I was hooked and never looked back I can honestly say a day don't go by without me making a model it is the one and only thing I have been so passionate about ...
Title: Re: Happy Birthday Competition
Post by: daisydoos on March 29, 2009, 11:21:46 PM
It was a very good friend of mine (the fplady  ;) ) who got me into balloons and I went away pretty hooked from the start, but it wasn't until I had mastered the weave football that I really started to take myself seriously and now I can't stop twisting!
Title: Re: Happy Birthday Competition
Post by: Natalie on March 30, 2009, 12:54:39 PM
I can't believe it's not even 1 year since I twisted my first balloon and it's had such a massive impact on my life. It's awakened my creativity and brought me so much joy.
Like Yvonne, this little critter by Michael Floyd had a big impact on me. It was my very first Care & Share day last year in Northampton and Graham asked us shy first arrivals to warm up by making our favourite one-balloon sculpture. I made Monkey and put him on the table. Later on a chap with a half twisted mocha came up to me and said "we give up, can you show us how it's made?" and took me over to where a few of the guys were having a problem with figuring out his head - so this newbie got an unexpected opportunity to 'share' and it was great. A fantastic welcome into the community of twisters. Monkey is still my favourite!
Title: Re: Happy Birthday Competition
Post by: Graham Lee on April 03, 2009, 12:10:55 AM
The draw was done at my local magic club tonight by Adam with Mark looking on to make sure everything was above board so to speak and the the winner of the competition is...............Daisydoos
Thanks for taking the time & trouble to enter, if you PM me your address I'll send on the prize to you.
Title: Re: Happy Birthday Competition
Post by: daisydoos on April 03, 2009, 08:46:46 AM
Oh my word! I can't believe my name was drawn out, I can't even win an argument usually  :D

Graham I have pm'd you - thanks very much!

It was worth posting then eh??

Thanks,

Lisa
Title: Re: Happy Birthday Competition
Post by: daisydoos on April 08, 2009, 06:02:47 PM
I received my winning parcel yesterday - thankyou very much!!! It's ace!

I'm well impressed with the DVD and watched it in full today while 'tidying up' now I'm just off to have a practice - cheers.  

Lisa x
Title: Re: Happy Birthday Competition
Post by: theFPlady on April 12, 2009, 01:46:37 PM
Well done Lisa (Daisydoos!)
I will be coming round to see you for a coffee and to view your dvds soon!
ha ha.
Ali.