LEPRECHAUN MASK

Magical Balloon Michael

Michael Philo

Hello again everyone! In honor of the month of March and the St. Patrick’s Day Holiday, I have chosen to share with you a Leprechaun Mask. You will need to know how to do a two-balloon flat weave, which I am going to show you here.

You will need a total of eight balloons (or seven depending on how you choose to do the nose): Two standard green 260s, two mandarin orange 260s, two blush 260s, one blush 5″ round, and one ivory silk 5″ round (or any color that you want for eyes.)

EXTRAS:

One white 260, a black marker, and a Qualatex Gold marker.

Start by inflating the two green 260s, leaving about a three to four inch tail. Make a one inch bubble in both balloons and ear twist them. Now make a seven to eight inch bubble in one of the 260s and twist the ear twist from the other 260 around it.

Make another seven to eight inch bubble in the second 260 and wrap it around the ear twist in the first green 260. Now make a one inch bubble in one of the green 260s followed by a seven to eight inch bubble and hold this while you make a one inch bubble in the other green 260. Wrap the seven to eight inch bubble around the one inch bubble. Make another seven to eight inch bubble in the other green 260 and a one inch bubble in the first 260 and wrap the twists around each other.

Continue this until you have about four rows of the flat weave then make a one inch bubble on both sides and cut and tie off the rest of the balloons.

Now take a black 260 and cut it in half or use two black 260s. Either way inflate both, leaving about a two inch tail. Make a one inch bubble in both balloons and ear twist them. Make a seven to eight inch bubble in one of the black balloons and wrap the ear twist from the other black 260 around it. Make a seven to eight inch bubble in the other 260 and wrap this bubble around the other ear twist. Make a one inch bubble on both sides and cut and tie off the rest of the balloons. Tie the tails of the green 260s around the black balloons.

Repeat this with a mandarin orange 260.

Now inflate a blush 260 leaving about a two inch tail. Make a one inch ear twist, followed by a seven to eight inch bubble, and then another one inch ear twist. Measure the remaining balloon to the person’s head (or your own), make a twist, and wrap the twist around the first ear twist. Break off the remaining balloon (you may want to save this part for the nose). Tie to the orange 260 with the tails on the orange balloons.

There are a few ways to do the nose but they all start the same way. Inflate a blush 260 leaving a three inch tail. Make a two inch loop twist for one ear and twist this into one of the ear twists. Make a soft seven to eight inch bubble and wrap it around the other ear twist. Split the soft bubble in half; This is the nose socket. Make another two inch loop twist for the other ear.

Nose 1: Instead of making a soft seven to eight inch bubble make a three to four inch bubble, followed by a three inch loop twist for the nose, and then another three to four inch bubble.

Nose 2: Take the scrap of blush that I told you to save, reverse inflate to about three inches and tie off. Twist a one inch bubble and wrap this around the nose socket that you made.

Nose 3 (The one I used): Take a blush 5″ round and inflate it to about 3 inches around. Twist a one inch bubble in it and wrap it around the nose socket.

No matter how you made your nose you will need to add eyes. Inflate the 5″ round that you chose for your eye color to about 3 inches, tie it off, then split it in half. Wrap it around your nose. Draw on eyes with a black marker.

Fully inflate the other mandarin orange 260 and give it a good burp so it’s fairly soft. Squeeze the tail a little and tie the mouth to the tail to form a big loop. Wrap this around the nose as well. Now make a three to four inch bubble on each side and wrap them around the ears.

EXTRAS

Inflate a white 260 to about ten inches and tie off. Tie onto one of the ears, make a row of teeth (one inch bubbles make great teeth), and wrap around the nose. Make another row of teeth and wrap it around the other ear and break and tie off the rest of the balloon. Use a Qualatex Gold Marker to draw on the buckle on top of the hat. Until next month, Keep on twisting.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone.

As always questions and comments are welcomed at: [email protected]
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