Balloon Flowers

• 18-inch-long pieces of 20-guage floral wire
• White floral corsage tape
• Very small pink latex rubber balloons
• Small yellow and green latex rubber balloons
• Green floral corsage tape
• Wire cutters
• Red permanent fine-line marker
• Pen or pencil
• 3 to 4 yards of 1- to 1-1/2-inch-wide ribbon

Step 1

1. Wrap 20 to 30 wires with white floral tape (step 1, right).

Step 2

2. For each petal or leaf, cut the rolled end (open end) off the desired color balloon. Bend one piece of white-taped wire in half and insert it into the balloon. Stretch the balloon against the loop while securing it in place using the green floral tape (step 2). Cut off one end of the wire and continue taping to the end of the other wire. Bend the flower petal into desired shape (step 3).

Step 3

3. For pink impatiens, using pink balloons, shape five oval petals for each flower. Make each petal 3/4-inch long and 1/4- to 1/2-inch wide. For stamen, snip through the rolled end of a yellow balloon, forming a fringe and tape to a wire. Tape one petal and the stamen together using green floral tape. Tape remaining petals to flower, one at a time.

Step 4

4. For yellow pansies, use yellow balloons to shape five petals for each flower. Make each petal diamond shaped, 3/4-inch long and 3/4-inch wide, with rounded corners. With red marker, draw short straight lines across the center of each petal (step 4). Tape two petals together using green floral tape. Tape remaining petals to flower, one at a time.

For leaves, use green balloons and shape each leaf into an oval that is slightly pointed on the end and 1 1/4- to 1 1/2-inches long and 1- to 1 1/4-inches wide. Attach to flowers, if desired.

For green spirals, wrap wires with green floral tape. Wind wire around a pen or pencil several times to create spirals. Pull spirals apart and bend as desired.

Wrap the package as desired. Tie a ribbon around the wrapped package, leaving a looped bow on the top. Secure flowers, leaves, and spirals to package by twisting the stem wires around the ribbon bow as desired.