How to Make Balloon People for Decorations

Balloon people make festive party decorations. They can keep your guests company on the dining table or be placed in strategic places about the house or dance hall. Balloon people's style and characteristics are limited only by their maker's creativity, so use different colors and materials to make men and women. Don't be afraid to experiment as you follow this basic blueprint.

Things You'll Need

• Round balloons
• Construction paper or cardstock in many colors
• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Permanent pens in different colors
• Glue
• Yarn
• Odds and ends

Instructions

1. Blow up balloons. Each balloon person will use one balloon, so to make three balloon people, blow up three round balloons.

2. 

   Cut feet out of a piece of cardstock or construction paper. The template pictured is for a pair of shoes. You can also cut out toes for barefoot balloon people, and paint their nails with a marker or paint.

3. Puncture a small hole in about the middle of the feet, and push the tie of the balloon through. Glue the balloon to the feet. Glue a piece of cardboard under the feet to make the balloon person more stable.

4. 

   Choose another color of paper and cut out two hands such as pictured. Fold each hand along the dotted line. Glue the section of wrist after the fold to the each side of the balloon person. The hands should be sticking out.

5. Cut yarn and glue the "hair" to the top of the balloon person's head.

6. Finish by giving the balloon person facial features. There are lots of ways you can do this. Use permanent markers to draw facial features, or cut out facial features from colored paper and glue onto the balloon. Alternatively, get creative with odds and ends. Old buttons make great balloon person eyes. Red pipe cleaners make nice glue-on mouths. And more yarn can be glued on to make mustaches and beards.

7. Adorn your balloon person with a costume jewelry necklace or bow tie.