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If you find yourself working with balloons here are a few balloon ribbon tips you might find helpful; from what type of ribbon to use and learning how to tie balloons and ribbon at the same time to learning how to curl ribbon tails.
What Type Of Ribbon / String Is Used With Balloons
Whether you are making a balloon column or a balloon bouquet; curling ribbon is used with balloons as the preferred choice of balloon professionals worldwide. Curling ribbon (also known as balloon string) and monofilament line (also known as fishing line) are the two most used strings for helium-filled balloons. In certain instances, you may use a 260 or a thin cotton string for helium-filled balloons.
There are many different balloon situations and sometimes you may have to get creative with your balloon string.
How To Quickly Cut Ribbon
Perhaps you find yourself in need of making a bunch of evenly cut ribbons; this ribbon hack is going to be a big help. Quickly and efficiently cut even lengths of ribbon for your balloons.
What You Need
- ribbon
- scissors
- empty box
Place Box On The Floor
Place the empty box on the floor or ground. Any box will do, for this example, I will be using a clear plastic bin.
Holding The End Of Ribbon
Holding the cut end of the spool of ribbon, place the spool of ribbon inside the empty box.
Wrap Ribbon Back And Forth
With your arms extended, wrap the ribbon back and forth between each hand until you have the desired amount of ribbons.
The spool of ribbon will roll easily in the box but not roll away, allowing you to easily measure ribbons.
Cut The Ends
Cut the end of the ribbon to remove it from the ribbon reel. Remove the ribbons from each hand, being careful not to tangle the ribbon. Cut the ends of the ribbons from each hand until you have individual ribbons.
Enjoy!
Now you have a bunch of ribbons quickly cut to the same size.
Quickly Cut Ribbon Evenly Video
All About Pre-Cut Ribbon
What Is Pre-Cut Ribbon
Pre-cut ribbon is ribbon that has been cut beforehand or before an event. When I first started in the balloon business I cut ribbons the night before an event but once I started getting regular balloon jobs I just like to have lots of pre-cut ribbons on hand.
During slow times, lots of ribbons can be cut at once and stored for later use. This can be a big time saver.
In this picture, the ribbons have been looped through shower curtain rings by color.
This is a great way to keep ribbons color coordinated and at the ready.
How To Tie A Ribbon And Balloon
If you are like me you may find yourself in need of tieing a bunch of ribbons to a bunch of balloons. You could tie the balloons and then tie the ribbon to the balloons, however, why not skip a step and just tie a ribbon and balloon at the same time? Saving you time, money, and a little bit of sanity.
What You Need
- balloon
- helium
- ribbon (cut to size)
Inflate Your Balloon
Inflate and size your balloon. If you need further instruction on how to properly size your balloon check out my blog post Best Way To Size A Balloon here.
Run The Ribbon Alongside The Neck
Run the ribbon alongside the neck of the balloon, leaving enough of a ribbon tail to curl (approximately 3″-4″ depending on design).
Using Two Fingers
Using two fingers, sometimes the pointer and middle finger, sometimes the pointer and thumb, just figure out what feels most comfortable for you.
Stretch/Wrap Around Two Fingers
Next, take two fingers and stretch/wrap the neck of the balloon and the ribbon around two fingers.
Flip Hand, Lip Under And Between Two Fingers
Then flip your hand and take the neck of the balloon only, leaving the ribbon behind, and go between the two fingers.
Pull Your Fingers Out
This can be a little tricky sometimes as your fingers may tend to stick to the balloon.
Pull The Knot Tight
Lastly, pull the knot tight. You may have to pull on the ribbon from one end or the other in order to get the ribbon tight around the knot.
Pro Tip: You can adjust the length of the ribbon tail, just becareful because sliding the ribbon through the balloon knot can cause friction and pop your balloon.
Enjoy!
You did it!
How To Tie A Ribbon And Balloon At The Same Time
Why Would I Want To Tie A Balloon And String At The Same Time?
Speed and accuracy are two very important reasons why you might want to tie a balloon and ribbon at the same time. This technique might not be useful in every situation but it can definitely shave some valuable time off an otherwise time consuming task.
I decided to find out exactly how much time it takes to tie a balloon and then tie a string to said balloon vs how long it would take to tie a balloon and string at the same time. Also, it should be noted that I have been not only tying balloons for many years but I have also have been tying balloons and their strings at the same time for many years. Therefore these numbers would not be the same for someone just starting out. It took me many years of practicing and really honing my technique to get these numbers.
On average it takes an experienced balloon tier, 7.5 seconds to tie a balloon. It takes the same experienced balloon tier 17.7 seconds to tie a balloon and then tie a ribbon to that balloon. On average it takes an experienced balloon tier, 14 seconds to tie a balloon and string at the same time. 3.7 seconds difference may not seem like a lot but when you have several hundred balloons to inflate it can add up quickly.
Time Saved By Tying Balloon And Ribbon At The Same Time
| Balloons Tied | Tie A Balloon Then Tie A Ribbon | Tie A Balloon And Ribbon At Once | Time Saved |
| 1 | 17.7 sec | 14 sec | 3.7 sec |
| 10 | 3 mins | 2-1/2 mins | 35 sec |
| 50 | 15 mins | 12 mins | 3 mins |
| 100 | 30 mins | 23 mins | 7 mins |
| 150 | 45 mins | 35 mins | 10 mins |
| 200 | 60 mins | 47 mins | 13 mins |
| 250 | 1 h 15 mins | 58 mins | 17 mins |
| 300 | 1 h 30 mins | 1 h 10 mins | 20 mins |
| 500 | 2 h 30 mins | 1 h 56 mins | 34 mins |
| 1000 | 5 h | 3 h 53 mins | 1 h 7 mins |
Some of these numbers have been rounded to the nearest minute or half a minute. This experiment does not take into account tired or cramping hands from tying so many balloons at once.
How To Curl Ribbon On Balloons
What You Need To Curl Ribbon
- ribbon
- scissors
Determine Curl Direction
The curling ribbon has a natural curl to it from where it has been wrapped either around itself or the reel. When curling ribbon we want to use the curl to our advantage.
Position Scissors On The Ribbon
Position the scissors on the inside of the natural curl. You want your scissors at approximately a 45-degree angle along the ribbon.
Pro Tip: Don’t use the sharpest part of the scissors. I often keep the scissor closed.
Rub The Scissors Down The Ribbon
Place your thumb over the ribbon, holding the ribbon against the scissors. Rub the scissors down the ribbon in one single, smooth motion.
Enjoy
You did it! Now you can make your very own curled ribbon for balloon tails.
How To Curl Ribbon On Balloons Video
Figuring Out The Unit Cost Of Curling Ribbon
This will depend on the size spool of ribbon you are using. For this example, I will use this 250 yard spool from Amazon.
Take the full price of the spool of ribbon (at the time of writing this article was $7.41) and divide that by how many 5′ ribbons you could get from each spool. I use 5′ because that is the approximate length of my arm span.
How Many Ribbons You Could Make From A Spool Of Ribbon
| Ribbon Length | Ribbon Spool 250 yards | Ribbon Spool 500 yards |
|---|---|---|
| 4′ | 187 | 375 |
| 5′ | 150 | 300 |
| 6′ | 125 | 250 |
Unit Cost Of Ribbon Based On Spool Size
| Ribbon Length | Ribbon Spool 250 yards ($7.41) | Ribbon Spool 500 yards ($7.65) |
|---|---|---|
| 4′ | $0.04 | $0.02 |
| 5′ | $0.05 | $0.03 |
| 6′ | $0.06 | $0.03 |
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Some other posts you might be interested are All About Balloon Releases: Exploring Environmental Impact, Regulations, And Alternatives, Balloon Games And Challenges: Fun Activities For All Ages, and The Ultimate Guide To Planning The Perfect Party.
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