How to Make a Balloon Turtle

You can transform this balloon turtle into a ladybug by using a red balloon and coloring spots on its body.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Scissors
• Scissors
• Sharpie Pens
• Balloon Pumps
• Green (and Red) 260Q-type Balloons

1. Blow up a green 260Q-type balloon (the long, skinny kind), leaving about 3 inches of uninflated balloon at the end.

2. Tie a knot at the end of the balloon.

3. Hold the inflated balloon in one hand while twisting the balloon three times around with the other hand to make the body-part bubbles.

4. Make a twist in the balloon about 1 inch from the knotted end. This bubble is the turtle's head. Don't let go.

5. Make four more twists, each one about 1 inch farther down from the knotted end. Hang on - don't let go.

6. Twist the first and the last of the four bubbles together. These are the four legs of the turtle.

7. You may now let go.

8. Make one last twist that's roughly 1 1/2 inches long.

9. Roll this bubble section between the two sets of legs until it passes all the way through.

10. Don't pass the remainder of the balloon through in this fashion. Instead, make sure that the last twist you made matches up with what will be the turtle's rear end. You've made the turtle's shell.

11. Puncture the very end of the balloon carefully to produce a small leak, not a loud, explosive bang.

12. Allow the air to leak out to the point that is the turtle's rear end.

13. Tie a second knot and cut off the deflated portion.

14. Color the turtle's eyes and shell with a Sharpie pen.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a balloon pump to blow up the balloon. Pumps are available at party supply stores. You can find 260Q-type balloons next to the balloon pumps.
• When twisting a balloon, use one hand to hold the balloon and the other to twist. Twist the balloon in the same direction each time and twist three times around.
• Sharpies are the pens that work best on balloons.
• Keep balloons out of the reach of young children. They can swallow pieces of a balloon and choke.

[balloonanimals]

on 11/6/2006 I have a video posted on my site http://www.balloon-animals.com that shows you how to make a two balloon sea turtle.

:)

on 3/16/2006 When you tie your balloon you want to wrap the elastic around your finger and then put the end through the elastic. It is much easier that way.