Hi!

I have searched the archives and have not found the answers to my questions. My goal is to make hot air balloon decorations for my babies room. I am planning on using latex balloons and posterboard (straightening out towards the bottom to make that hot air
balloon shape) - and after whatever I use has set, cut each balloon in half so I have 2 halves to put on the wall... The finishing touch after painting them is using baskets underneath to hold stuffed animals.

Ok so I have a few choices for the "hardening" medium. I could use paper mache. I have done it for crafts with kids, I actually got ill of making it one summer, mixing and boiling water and flour ( the smell and look of it really started to get to me)... I really don't want to repeat that. I want these to be really strong and not get yucky after 6 months or 2 years even. I am planning this room to last him till he is at least 4 or 5.

I have looked up plaster craft... $53 for 20lbs of strips... I am planning some pretty large balloons. One balloon I got at a party store enlarges to 3ft across... And I will probably do one or 2 16-18 inchers and one smaller one as well. I looked up online medical grade plaster bandages... And to me looks more expensive for what one is getting, maybe I am just looking in the wrong spot.

I have some potters plaster... Opened the bag this summer and dutifully put it in a sealed plastic container... Like an old drywall bucket. Could I use this with gauze? If so, what is the water/plaster ratio? Or in this case or use is plaster of paris the same thing? I have heard they are different. Will this end up being too heavy? We plan on using wall brackets and putting some sort of hook on the inside of each half so they slip on and latch down... Being hooked to the wall.

Any info is really appreciated... I want to have a feeling I am on the right track before I start down one road and feel like I have made a mistake...

LJ

3 suggestions. one is that you don't have to boil the flour and
water. regular wall paper past is super fine whole wheat flour I
think. three thin layers of paper will hold forever

if you want to do the plaster this would be a good time to get rid of
old sheets and pillowcases that are past their prime. the plaster
needs to be about the consistency of sour cream or yoghurt. if you
use the plaster email me and I can give you the proportions. my stuff
is in boxes because we are painting and re-carpeting but I can find it..

last---if you want to use fiber. there is a product called "Stiffey"
it is an industrial strength starch/glue/secret ingredient thing. get
it at craft stores, Joann's, Michaels, etc. dip fabric in it and put
it over a form. sets up like a rock.

Another alternative, would be to wrap string / cord dipped in
paste round and round a balloon. Once thoroughly dried, you first
makes sure you have prized off the resulting string "cage" from
the surface of the whole balloon, which you can then safely
deflate without the shape caving in. This not only makes a
lightweight structure you could use as a base for just about
anything, you can also cut it in half to use the two halves as
forms to lay flat against the wall. Half balloons with half
baskets below.

Another thought on fixing your balloon to the wall no matter what
you make it from... Pillow fights, throwing objects and all the
pretty natural, wayward actions of young children would make most
wall-hung objects a possible source of injury. So... You screw it
to the wall, rather than depending on hooks. Mirror plates will
possibly be the best solution, depending on your structure, but
it needs forward planning.

I see a great deal of painstakingly made work let down by the
artist/maker having not put enough thought into how it will be
hung securely and safely. An integral hanger is always preferable
to something glued on later IMO...

I also itch to ask why not take a whole balloon and basket
construction and hang it to the ceiling? Why the wall? But that
is none of my business! Good luck with your project. I hope it
works out to your satisfaction.

Medicinal Plaster Bandage will be expensive because it has to be Sterile.

Potters Plaster and Gauze may be the best option and the way to go.

To get such large shell structures you may need to consider some form of internal support framework to prevent collapse. For this I would suggest a Balsa Wood geodesic frame a la Fuller domes.

Best regards,

Ivor Lewis.
Redhill, South Australia

Recently found a site that sells plaster bandages for cheap:

http://www.orthotape.com/