To make these balloon balls, you will need:
2 Balloons per ball
Scissors
Funnel (or you can Africanise and use a bottle with the end cut off like me)
Pencil or chopstick
Flour
Begin by sliding the funnel into the balloon. Push as much flour as you can into it, using the chopstick to work it down into the body of the balloon. The fuller the balloon, the better.
Tie a knot in the balloon, making sure there is no flour still in the neck. Twist the knot down and push it as much as you can back into the body of the balloon.
Cut the neck off of another balloon. Slide it over your full balloon so that it covers your knot.
Ta da! Made with flour these are lots of squishy fun and make good hacky sacks. You can also fill them rice or lentils, etc. for different textures.
I'm sorry, what exactly do you mean by "Africanize"? That can be construed as highly offensive lingo, even for cracker folk like myself. Poor choice of words.
Posted by: Allison Fouse | 11 June 2008 at 10:20
Thanks for a great and simple tutorial - I wouldn't have thought of doing this! Lucy x
Posted by: Lucy Locket-Pocket | 11 June 2008 at 11:06
ooohhh I had forgot about making these. we always used rice but be warned, they burst if you fill with rice, I always put an extra 3 or 4 balloons.
Posted by: jo 戎嶋 | 11 June 2008 at 11:20
I lOVE these. I'm going to try one right now!
Posted by: Julie | 11 June 2008 at 14:16
I think this is an excellent idea! I can't wait to try this with my 3 year old!
Posted by: Shellyfish | 11 June 2008 at 14:58
WOW "Africanize" As Amanda stated very poor choice of words. I too am a cracker and easily could see how that could be taken quite offensively. Hopefully you meant it in the nicest of ways like to mean "being very creative" "resourceful" or "ingenious".
Posted by: Robin | 11 June 2008 at 15:10
So cool, thank you. Clarice
Posted by: clarice | 11 June 2008 at 17:02
This looks like a fun project. Do you promise they are sturdy? It would be a long trip for you, from Africa, to clean up my kitchen:) Sorry you were misunderstood.
Posted by: Jenna | 11 June 2008 at 17:09
Really? It isn't okay for her to say "Africanize" but it is okay for you to say "cracker?"
Posted by: Christian | 11 June 2008 at 17:21
Very cool! I can't wait to try this. Great idea!
Posted by: Cami | 11 June 2008 at 17:25
I think she lives in Africa and probably meant "Africanize" as a way of saying how to do something in a less progressive nation where there isn't a convinience store selling funnels at every corner. :) As for me, I luckily have a funnel... and can't wait to make these for my little girl... comprimising her two favorite things: balloons and balls. Thanks for the great tutorial!
Posted by: Clare | 11 June 2008 at 17:47
GREAT idea- we will do this very soon!
Posted by: carol | 11 June 2008 at 18:46
Christain, it was a play on words, and a way to get my point across and get people thinking. Obviously it worked.
Posted by: Allison Fouse | 11 June 2008 at 19:37
Love this! We will be doing this later today!
Posted by: Claire | 11 June 2008 at 21:05
Katurah, I love these. Would you mind me linking to this tutorial from eLuckypacket? And could I used the last picture for my post linking to you?
Posted by: Sue at eLuckypacket | 11 June 2008 at 21:16
Love these - I'm going to try them with the kids as soon as they wake up from their naps!
Posted by: Angela Fehr | 11 June 2008 at 23:50
We made these before...I had forgotten all about them...thanks for the reminder...It's also fun to fill them with things like sand, un-popped popcorn etc...and play a "what is it" game :o)
~simply~
Posted by: simply | 12 June 2008 at 06:47
What a great project. I think I will try these today! Thank you :-)
Posted by: Jane Hurst | 12 June 2008 at 14:13
Oh these look fantastic - I am going to have fun with these, and my toddler will too!
Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: lexi | 13 June 2008 at 11:59
I watch my 2 grandsons age 10 and 8 from 11 am to 9 pm so this will be a fun project to keep the "I'm bored!" guys busy. I'm also going to have them make the plane and whirly bird. Thanks, Terri
Posted by: Terri | 13 June 2008 at 21:26
I can almost feel them through my screen... I'm definitely going to make these!
Posted by: Mirre | 15 June 2008 at 15:42
I have LOVED your guest stint on the Crafty Crow. Thanks for all of the wonderful ideas!!!
Posted by: Stephanie | 15 June 2008 at 19:23
Wow. That was a bit of a nasty surprise after four days without internet. I live in Malawi, which is in Africa for those of us who are geographically challenged, and to "Africanise" is a term we use here all the time. It is a bit tongue in cheek, yes, but also a bit proud of ourselves as we know how to make do. I am sorry if anyone found the term offensive. That would never be my intent. I must put it down to a cultural misunderstanding and move on, ok?
Cheers.
Posted by: luckybeans | 16 June 2008 at 09:29
Living in Africa is QUITE different than living in the US. No racism or put-downs in that comment - Just an observation of the obvious. Get over it, folks . . .
Don't stress, Stephanie - life isn't about making everybody happy, or I would be paranoid about ever writing a single thing.
Posted by: Jane | 16 June 2008 at 11:02
hi, i just want to leave a note saying i'm sorry you were misunderstood. anybody reading your blog on a regular basis knows how passionate and protective you feel towards Africa and their habitants. hope you fell better by now. by the way a love the tutorial. i might be making them during the summer holidays for my niece. take care, erika
Posted by: erika | 16 June 2008 at 11:13