Not just for kids!

Happy Birthday M and S!

I twisted some simple balloons (heart wands, flower hats, and four-legged creatures) for two special birthday girls at IHOP after our softball game one night. I used to think balloons were just for little kids, but I'm starting to see adults can enjoy them too (to my surprise!) This past summer while visiting family, I twisted some balloons for my little cousins, and I think my grandpa enjoyed them just as much. :)

(D commented that my friends aren't really adults, but I disagree!)

The basic dog

The basic dog is a great balloon to start with if you're new to twisting.. It is also just a great balloon to start with in general (an easy warm up.)

The basic dog is made up of ten bubbles - one for the head, two ears, neck, 2 front legs, body, 2 back legs, and a small bubble at the end to keep the back legs in place. And it only requires three lock twists - one for the ears, one for front legs, and one for the back legs.

The great thing about the basic dog is once you have it down, you can easily make variations - point the ears down to make a basset hound or make a long body for Dachshund, etc. If you make one with a really long neck and small ears, it's a giraffe! Make a really small one with a long tail and it's a mouse! Many other four-legged animals have the basic structure of the dog but just have slightly different legs, tail, or ears... Adjust the amount of air you pump into the balloon for a longer/shorter body.

Another great thing about the dog is that it is one of the most requested items from kids!