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HIFLOAT Highlights

Spring is in the Air

Issue: #3 April 2008

At our manufacturing facility in Louisville, Kentucky, we are still waiting for signs of spring.  A few daffodils are starting to bloom, but on Easter Sunday they were covered with snowflakes.

 

Luckily we enjoyed some warm weather at the Transworld Halloween, Costume and Party Show in Las Vegas.  Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth.  We are always glad to answer your questions and we appreciate all of the positive feedback we received!

 

As we prepare for upcoming events like graduations and Mother's Day it will hopefully feel more like spring.  To get us in the mood our featured balloon artist for April is, appropriately, Troy Apprill.  His creativity makes him a one-of-a-kind and we appreciate Troy sharing this unique design with us.

 

Don & Marjorie Burchette

Co-Founders, HI-FLOAT Company Inc.

HI-FLOAT Tip Of The Month
New HI-FLOAT Method Saves 40% of Your Helium Supply
 

Save Helium Use HI-FLOATHave you heard?  HI-FLOAT has developed a new black clip for the HI-FLOAT Pump Dispenser specifically for use with 60/40 helium inflators.  By using ULTRA HI-FLOAT you can save 40 percent of your helium and have latex balloons that float several days longer than balloons filled with helium alone. 

 

Visit http://www.hi-float.com/savehelium.html for more information.

The black restriction clip will be included in new HI-FLOAT Pump Dispenser Kits.  For a free black restriction clip, e-mail info@hi-float.com.

 Featured Artist

Troy Apprill, CBA, Balloonville Productions

 

Troy ApprillTroy Apprill's career as a performer and balloon entertainer began in 1986. He is currently the owner and star of Balloonville Productions, which just celebrated its 22nd anniversary on April 1st.  Troy has the best of both worlds- busking appeals to his performer side and balloon décor and sculpture design truly appeal to his artistic nature.

 

Balloonville Productions is featured in Treasures of Missouri, an insider's guide to the best that Missouri has to offer.  His work has graced and transformed many venues and events across the country.  Troy and Tope' Abulude were IBAC's 2001 Designer of the Year for Troy's design of the "Peace Movement" large sculpture.

 

Troy is best known for sharing his creativity and techniques in sellable ideas by teaching throughout the USA as well as internationally.  He brings enthusiastic creativity in concepts that combine twisting and classic décor. 

 

"We use ULTRA HI-FLOAT in all latex balloons that are inflated in our shop," says Troy.  "The long float time that ULTRA HI-FLOAT provides for helium is well worth the effort it takes to apply this treatment to all of your balloon work."

 

"The result is enthusiastic customers who take the time to call us and let us know their balloons have floated longer than any other balloons.  The long-lasting balloons lead to long-lasting customers and a long-lasting business!"

 

UFO Alien Mobile

 

UFO Alien Mobile 

 


Materials:

ULTRA HI-FLOAT

Helium

Air Pump

40# Monofilament

1- 36" Agate Orange (or Clear Glow Stars)

1- 16" Geo Blossom Lime

13- 5" Alien Face Lime

3- 5" Round Clear

3- 321 Bee Body White

4- 5" Round White

14- 11" Agate Orange

6- 16" balloon sticks

18- 8" balloon sticks

Weight
 

Instructions:

1.     Pre-stretch (air inflate) the 36" Agate and check, then deflate.  Insert one full pump (without a restriction clip in place) of ULTRA HI-FLOAT and spread evenly.  Helium inflate to 29" and tie to monofilament line.  Use a large clamp to hold the 36" Agate down temporarily.

2.     Air fill the 16" Lime Blossom full, cut off the neck and bead this Geo on the monofilament line.

3.            Air fill 4- 5" Lime Alien sized to 4". Tie these into duplets and make a quad. Use this quad to attach and hold the Geo up directly under the 36" Agate.

4.            Build a big pyramid with 6- 16" sticks by beading 3 sticks with monofilament and tying into a flat triangle. Then add 2 sticks onto this line and tie end into one open corner. Continue by tying another line to one open corner, bead last stick on and tie it to the final corner. Tie big pyramid onto line down 4".

5.            Repeat the above assembly with the 8" sticks three times to make small pyramids.

6.            Hang the first small pyramid 3" down from one corner of the big pyramid.  Hang the second pyramid down 6" from another corner of the big pyramid.  Finish with the third pyramid down 9" from the remaining corner on the big pyramid.

UFO Alien Mobile Detail7.            Double stuff the 5" Alien into the 5" Clear. Air fill the 5" Alien and size to 3".  Add air to the clear and size to 5" and tie off. Make 3 doubled Alien heads.

8.            Air fill 3- 6" Lime Blossoms full and tie. (UFO)

9.            Air fill 3- White 321's 5" to 6". (Jet Blast)

10.        Loop the 321 neck through the Geo and attach to the Alien head.

11.        Push the Alien heads into bottom of small pyramid.

12.        Air fill 4- 5" White to 4" and make a quad.

13.        Air fill 4- 11" Agates to 8" and make a quad.

14.        Air fill the 16" Clear Donut (bubble gum style) with 6- 5" Lime Alien heads.

15.        Bead the line through the Clear Donut at bottom and attach to the weight.

16.       Twist the Agate quad around the base of the weight.

17.       Twist the White quad above the Clear Donut at the base to lock in place.


This unique design can be changed and modified for a variety of themes. It is great for baby showers, new born congratulations or a retro happy face. Any 36" and 5" print and colors create the theme. After the balloons are down, the pyramids can be suspended as a traditional kinetic mobile.

 
 
Industry Link

iba logoWhile in Las Vegas we attended the International Balloon Association's State of the Industry Breakfast.  Are you familiar with the IBA?  It is a network of qualified manufacturers, distributors, decorators, retailers, and twister/entertainers who believe in keeping the balloon industry safe, financially sound and steadfast for the enjoyment of future generations. Their next meeting is the IBA Annual Business Conference, September 18-21, 2008 in Bloomington, MN.  Visit www.ibaonline.net for more details.

Upcoming Events

Euro Design Tour Logo

Testimonial

"Troy did a very simple window display which actually lasted 30 days. The balloon was a double-stuffed 11" jewel ruby red inside another ruby red.  Of course, it was treated with ULTRA HI-FLOAT."

                    - Diane Burton, Ballonville Productions
 

Diane Burton Window Display

 

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