How to Make a Butterfly and Snail With Balloons

Balloon modeling may look tricky, but it's actually a lot easier than it may seem. A great way to pass the time for kids or adults alike, you can build your balloon repertoire one animal at a time, or in this case, two. In just a few simple steps you can learn how to create a balloon butterfly and snail.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 3 long balloons in contrasting colors

1. Blow up a long balloon in any color you would like your butterfly to be. Leave about 2 inches of uninflated balloon at the end. Form the balloon into a loop and then tie a knot using the knotted end and the extra portion of balloon.

2. Hold the knot of the balloon in one and and pull the loop flat to find the center. Hold the knot and the center and push the two pieces together. Squeeze the center and then twist the balloon to form to loops, or a bow shape.

3. Place your index finger under the twist and with the opposite hand, push about 3 inches of one loop toward your finger. Squeeze the balloon and twist so that a new loop forms near the knot. Repeat with the second large loop. You should now be able to see your butterfly, the large loops making the top wings and the small loops making the lower wings.

4. Inflate a balloon of another color for the body of your butterfly, leaving about 8 inches of balloon uninflated at the end. Squeeze the knotted end of the balloon, pushing the air forward, until the inflated portion is centered with free space on each end.

5. Fold the balloon in half and then pinch the two ends together about 2 inches below the uninflated portion. Place two twists into the balloon, forming a loop and your butterfly's antennae. Slip the loop around one large butterfly wing and center the bottom between the smaller wings to complete your butterfly.

6. Prepare a third balloon in the color you would like your snail, leaving about 4 inches free at the end. Squeeze about 1 inch below the knot and twist a bubble and then repeat below the first bubble to create a second.

7. Squeeze the balloon about 2 inches below the second bubble and twist. Fold the long portion of the balloon over and then twist both sides together at the base of the 2 inch bubble. Now squeeze about 10 inches below your double bubble and twist the balloon. Bring the twist around to the base of your double bubble and twist to create a large loop.

8. Roll the extra balloon towards your loops to create the snail shell. Tuck the roll into the large loop to finish the body of the snail. You can leave your balloon snail as is, or you can partially inflate another balloon and twist it onto the first bubble to create snail antennae as you did with the butterfly.