Quick Link Cross Routine

by Ralph Dewey

Quick Link Cross Routine By Ralph Dewey

This month’s challenge is to use the Qualatex Quick Links to make a design.

Colin Myles is a creative balloon artist and one of his ideas is to use a series of 24 balloon bubbles which can be fashioned into a cross. I enlarged his idea to make a balloon cross from Quick Link balloons. As it turns out he has done the same thing. I often use the balloon cross to present a gospel routine. The following idea has been presented several times and was always a hit with the audience.

The Preparation For The Show

All you need is the 6″ white Qualatex Quick Link balloons. You’ll need 24 white balloons and a cardboard with a hole for sizing. Before doing anything with them you’ll need to rinse the uninflated balloons in a bowl of water several times and then pat them dry with a towel. This removes most of the slippery coating from the balloons. Let them completely dry, inflate them all to the same size, like 5-1/2 inches. I used a sizing hole to maintain consistency. Next, tie them all end to end making a giant pearl necklace. Be sure to tie the ends of the balloons snuggly next to each other without leaving any space. If you leave varying amounts of space between them, the cross will look distorted and may not have enough friction to stay twisted together. I store them in a big plastic bag or big cardboard box before the show. When I come out on stage, the first thing I do is lay down a soft blanket where I will be standing to keep the balloons off of the floor. If any one of the balloon bursts, you won’t be able to make the cross.

The Presentation

I read the scripture verse about the pearls of great value. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” – Matthew 13:45-46 NIV

But how can we get to the kingdom of heaven?

Have Amazing Grace background music start playing as you begin twisting the 24 balloons into a cross. Twist together 4 balloons (top of the cross), skip one and twist together the next 4 balloons (one arm of the cross). From the other side skip one and twist together the next four balloons (the other arm of the cross).

Skip one from under both of the arms of the cross and twist together. Twist together the next four balloons below it. The last four balloons will be at the bottom of the cross.

Then explain that the cross represents the only way we can enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus died on the cross to save sinners. When we repent of our sins and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He will save us.

To display the cross, I usually hang it on a microphone stand with the microphone between the four-balloon cluster at the top of the cross.

Crown of Thorns

An option is to make a crown of thorns from two brown #160s (30″ each) and spiral-braid them into a loop. Then angle-cut some 3″ pieces of brown #260s and place them in between the two spirals as thorns.

Place the crown of thorns on the top of the balloon cross. Point to the completed cross and say, “Jesus died on a cross for our sins. Those who repent and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will be saved. They will inherit eternal life and live with God in Heaven.”