Event Recap
Enchanted Woods
The first stop in Balloon Wonderland was the Enchanted Woods. Guests entered through a moongate arch covered in balloon wisteria that created a feeling of whimsy and awe that set the tone for the entire experience!
Balloon walls of rolling hills and castle walls surrounded the space, with large vines of balloon ivy entertwined throughout. A canopy of trees covered the area, which featured fairies, butterflies, mushrooms, dragonflies and a multitude of flower designs at every turn!
Ol' Elmer
Everyone's favorite snoring tree at Give Kids The World Village was recreated with a 6-foot wide trunk and 9-foot long branches of Mocha Brown latex. A garland of 3' green balloons created an overhang over the front of the trunk, which was filled in with triplets of 11" and 16" in various shades of green. Chains of 6" balloons hung from the tree to create the impression of vines hanging from the tree.
Enchanted Carousel
Three carousel horses made of balloons, tucked under a 17-foot wide mushroom cap, recreated the beloved Enchanted Carousel at Give Kids The World Village.
As a balloon professional, I enjoy creating designs that offer my clients unique and custom balloon decor, but Balloon Wonderland was nothing like I've ever seen. The fantastic, larger than life balloon creations showcased the talents of over 300 delegates who created a dreamlike 'world of wonders and multiple fantasy lands' made with millions of colorful balloons. Being able to attend such a massive balloon build event has given me a once in a lifetime experience. It was even more meaningful for me when I saw that it bought so much joy and excitement to all of the children who needed it the most.
Amanda Armstrong, CBA, Team Captain
Featured Techniques
Mushrooms
Smaller mushrooms were scattered throughout, based on a distortion technique shown by Sue Bowler, CBA, in this video.
Gnomes
You'll find these adorable guys perched strategically in the woods. Use this tutorial to make them yourself!
Dragonfly
Jackie Ochitwa, CBA shares how she makes her classis dragonfly, which you'll see placed throughout the woods.
Fairy
Jackie Ochitwa's proprietary fairy design is available to QBN members only in this Balloon Images article.
The Enchanted Woods Team
*Captain | ** Team Leader
Wina Alfonzo
Tobin Antpusat, CBA
*Amanda Armstrong, CBA
Alaina Babcock
Maria Barrera del Aguila
Jose Antonio Basora
Kerrie Baughman, CBA
Ashley Blanton
Diane Bolen
Melanie Boreham, CBA
Robin Bosma, CBA
Rebekah Boyles
Robyn Braha
Rudy Branchinelli
Christine Broderick
Sara Cabrera, CBA
Claudia Cano
Karin Capellan, CBA
Diana Cardenas
Janet Castillo
Jose Castillo
Tinya Cephas-Elliott
*Haley Damon
Lorena del Aguila Solares
Isaiah Elliott
Lori Ellis
Emily Feil
Lucy Fernandez, CBA
Loryn Fletcher, CBA
Espiridion Flores
Joette Giardina, CBA
Shanika Glover
Sonia Gonzalez
Stuart Gutter, CBA
Evelin Hernandez, CBA
Linda Kiss, CBA
Dale Moore, CBA
Johanna Moreau
**Mandana Moshrefzadeh, CBA
**Pilla Nuno, CBA
*Jackie Ochitwa, CBA
Salinas Orietta
Laura Palomares
Mariana Palomares, CBA
Taneshia Patterson
Francie Rosen, CBA
Karol Salazar, CBA
Donna Steele
Elvia Tellez
Hannah True, CBA
Rachel Williams
*Ray Wilson, CBA