How to Make Balloon Animals:

Beginners Addition

Prepared by:
Fred Scott, Peyton Steele, Sam Taggart, and Christian Tapia
TEMC 2700.006 MWF 10-10:50

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Table of Contents
Contents
Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ ii
Introduction .................................................................................................................................... iii
Warning: ................................................................................................................................ iii
Chapter One: .................................................................................................................................. iv
Three-Twist Dog ............................................................................................................................ iv
Materials: ................................................................................................................................... iv
Warning: ................................................................................................................................ iv
Chapter Two: ................................................................................................................................. ix
The Swan ....................................................................................................................................... ix
Materials: ................................................................................................................................... ix
Warning: ................................................................................................................................ ix
Chapter Three: .............................................................................................................................. 16
The Spotted Giraffe....................................................................................................................... 16
Materials: .................................................................................................................................. 16
Warning: ............................................................................................................................... 16
Chapter Four: ................................................................................................................................ 25
The One-Petal Flower ................................................................................................................... 25
Materials: .................................................................................................................................. 25
Warning: ............................................................................................................................... 25
Frequently Asked Questions: ........................................................................................................ 30

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Introduction
In this instruction manual, you will learn how to make balloon animals at the beginner level.
Children ages 12 and up will efficiently learn how to make a dog, swan, giraffe, and flower
balloon animal. The materials needed to complete each animal varies and will be listed at the
beginning of each chapter.

Warning:
• Since this manual uses latex balloons, balloons should stay out of reach of children
younger than 12 years of age. If swallowed, seek medical attention right away.
• Be aware that balloons have latex texture. People with latex allergies should stay away
from balloons.
• The air pump is for pumping air into balloons only. The pump cannot resuscitate air into
lungs, tires, etc.
• Balloons with too much air can burst when twisting or pumping. When making balloon
animals, makers should keep pump balloons away from nearby ears.

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Chapter One:
Three-Twist Dog
The set of instructions below will show how to construct a dog in three simple twists.
Materials:
• 1 balloon of any color
• 1 balloon animal pump
Warning:
• Since this manual uses latex balloons, balloons should stay out of reach of children
younger than 12 years of age. If swallowed, seek medical attention right away.
• Be aware that balloons have latex texture. People with latex allergies should stay away
from balloons.
• The air pump is for pumping air into balloons only. The pump cannot resuscitate air into
lungs, tires, etc.
Step 1: Inflate the balloon using either a
balloon air pump, or manually with your
mouth. Inflate the balloon leaving 6 inches
at the end uninflated (Side B). The balloon
air pump will take about 10-12 pumps,
depending on how hard you pump the air.
Tie off the end of the balloon from where
you pumped the air (Side A).

B
A

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Step 2: Fold the balloon 5 inches from the fully
inflated side (Side A).

B A

Step 3: Squeeze the balloon together in the

middle of the 5 inch fold.

Step 4: Twist the folded part of the balloon

two times completely around the squeezed
middle point of the 5 inch fold. 2X

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Step 5: After twisting the folded part around the middle
point of the 5 inch fold, there will be a rounded top, and
an extended point that was not squeezed. Face the
rounded top towards the extended point, which is also
side A, to form the head of the dog. A B

Step 6: Fold the head of the balloon back towards the

body 6 inches down from the head.
A

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Step 7: Squeeze the balloon together in the middle of
the 6 inch fold.

Step 8: Twist the folded part of the balloon two times

around the squeezed middle point as in step 4 to form
the front legs.
A

2X

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Step 9: Fold the body again 6 inches from side B
towards the head.

Step 10: Squeeze the balloon in the middle of the 6 A

inch fold.

Step 11: Twist the folded part of the balloon two times B
around the squeezed middle point as in step 4 to form the
back legs.

2X

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Step 12: The 3-twist dog is now
complete

B
A

Chapter Two:
The Swan
In this chapter……. Refer to chapter one for how to summarize what they will make.

Materials:
• How many balloons will they need? Any color?
• How many pumps?
• Will they need a marker to draw a face?
• Anything else?
Warning:
• Put a few warnings from above that apply to your animal

Step 1: Pick out the balloon.

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Step 2: inflate the balloon with air pump 18 times.

Step 3: Pinch and hold 1 inch of the balloon and twist it 3 times

.
Step 4: At about 6 inches of the first knot, fold the ballon together.

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 Step 5: On the opposite of the first twist, twist the balloon 3 times and hold it in your hand.

Step 6: Hold the top of the balloon and the 1 inch with your right hand, and with your left hand
twist the balloon together counter clockwise 3 times.

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Step 7: It should look like this!

(top view) (side view)

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Step 8: Fold the longer part of the balloon over “0” shaped piece.

Step 9: Tuck in 5 inches of the balloon into the “0” to form the Swan’s neck.

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 Step 10: At the opposite end of the base will be the head of the swan

Step 11: Twist and fold the head downwards towards the base of the swan, until you reach about
an inch from the bottom of the swan.

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 Step 12: Let go after a few seconds, your swan should look something like this.

Step 13: Readjust to your prefrence of a swan, and tada! You’re done.

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Chapter Three:
The Spotted Giraffe

Materials:
• 1 Balloon of any color
• 1 Pump
• 1 Black marker
Warning:
• Avoid twisting over recommended
amount specified in this chapter to
prevent the balloon from popping.
• Do not use the latex balloon if you’re
allergic to latex.
• Balloon pump should only be used for
inflation of the balloon.

Step 1: Place the end of the balloon onto the tip

of the pump

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Step 2: Begin inflating the balloon by pumping 30
times.

Step 3: Once inflated, pinch the balloon above the

tip of the pump, and remove the pump. This will
keep the balloon from losing any air.

Step 4: Tie a knot where you began inflating the

balloon to seal the air in.

Your Balloon should now look like this

Step 5: 2 inches from the knot, pinch and twist to

create a bubble. Twist the bubble 3 times and
hold.

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Step 6: Pinch and twist two, 1 inch bubbles. Twist
the bubbles 3 times. Remember to hold onto each
bubble so that they don’t come undone.

1
21
3

2
3
1

You should now have 3 bubbles

Step 7: Fold the balloon placing the 1 inch

2&3
2 & 318
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bubbles side by side. Twist completely around to lock and make ears (2&3). Twist
3 times.

2&3

2&3

The head and ears of the Giraffe

Step 8: Pinch and twist around a 5 inch bubble to

create the neck (4) of the giraffe. Twist 3 times. Make 2&3
sure to hold onto the bubble. 1

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 4

5 inches
4

Step 9: While still holding

onto the neck bubble (4),
pinch and twist two, 3 inch
bubbles to create the front 4
legs of the giraffe (5&6). 5 6
Twist the front legs 3 times.

3 inches 3 inches

4 6
5

Step 9 Continued:
Fold the two, 3 inch 1
bubbles over the
neck (4) and twist
to create the front
5
&
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legs of the giraffe (5&6). Twist 3 times.

2&3 4

4
5
&
6

4
5
&
6

Your Giraffe should now have the head,

ears, neck and front legs.
2&3

5&6

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Creating the body and rear legs of the giraffe are the exact same steps as the neck and front legs.

Step 10: Pinch and twist a 4 inch bubble to create the body of the giraffe (7). Twist 3 times.

4
7
4 inches
5&6

Step 11:While holding onto

the body of the giraffe (7),
pinch and twist two, 3 inch 7
bubbles to create the legs 8 9
(8&9). Twist each bubble
around 3 times.

3 inches 3 inches

. 7 8
9

Step 11 continued: Fold the two, 3 inch bubbles

over the body (7) and twist to create the rear legs 1 2&3
(8&9) and tail of the giraffe (10). Twist around 3
times. 4

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 8
10
&
7 9

10
8
&
7 9

10
8
&
7 9

You should now have the body, rear

legs, and tail of the giraffe

10

7
5
&
6

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Your giraffe is now complete; you may add your own design using a marker to complete the look.

2&3
1

4
10
7

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Chapter Four:
The One-Petal Flower

Materials:
• Two balloon animal balloons of any color.
• One balloon animal pump.
Warning:

How to Make the Petals:

1. Choose one colored balloon and connect the balloon to
the tip of the pump.

2. While holding the balloon onto the tip with one hand, pump
20 full air pumps into the balloon with the other hand. There
should be about four inches of deflated balloon left.

3. Remove the balloon from the pump, and tie a knot to

keep the air in the balloon.

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4. Bring the two ends together to form a ring and tie them
together.

5. Push the knot you just tied together and the parallel
side together.

6. Twist the two sections together by holding one hand on

one side of the loop and the other hand on the other side,
and turn one of the balloon loops two 360 degree turns.

7. Your oval will turn into a figure 8 shape, and should look
like this.

8. Now, take one of the two loops, and pinch the outer rim to the
center.

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 9. Twist the sections you pinched together into two 360 degree turns.

10. This will form your first two petals.

11. Repeat steps eight and nine to form the adjacent petals. Your flower
should now have four petals and look like this.

How to Make the Stem:

1. Choose one colored balloon and connect the balloon to the tip of the pump.

2. While holding the balloon onto the tip with one hand, pump 20 full
air pumps into the balloon with the other hand. There should be
about 1 inch of deflated balloon left.
3. Tie a knot in place of the pump to seal in the air.

4. Take either end side of the balloon, and insert the end in
between one of the petals on your flower.

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5. Push your stem to the center of the petal. You may have to move
the other petals by twisting by moving them over to make room
for the stem. Since all of your petals were twisted to the same
center, the stem will give an allusion that it is in the center like
this.

6. Once your stem is in the center of your flower, take the

bottom side of the stem and fold it in half.

7. Twist the half with two 360 degree turns to form a petal.

8. You should now have completed a stem with a petal that looks like
this.

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9. You now have a complete flower.

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Frequently Asked Questions:
If you have problems completing one of the mentioned balloon animals, a solution may be
available for you.
1. What do I do if my balloon pops while I am twisting?
a. You may have too much air in your balloon. Consider putting fewer pumps in
your balloon then the advised amount of pumps.
2. When I twist my balloon animal, my turns will not stay. What do I do?
a. Try twisting the turns three to four 360 degree turns instead of the advised two.
3. If I put a turn too close together, do I have to start over?
a. No, you can simply untwist the turn, and start over.
4. One of my balloons popped in someone’s ear. What do I do?
a. Go to a quiet area, and rest the ear. If hearing does not return, you should seek
medical attention.
5. A child has swallowed a balloon. What do I do?
a. If the balloon is visible, you can attempt to remove the balloon from the airway. If
the balloon is invisible, you should seek medical attention immediately.

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