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This article was co-authored by Marissa Fidler. Marissa Lynn Fidler is a home decor and seasonal decor expert based in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has a genuine passion for making a house a home and making holidays special for her family. She built her current home, and fell in love with designing, decorating, and styling every square inch of it (especially for the holidays). In addition to being a busy mom of four, she is a home decor content creator. Her lively content focuses on festive and colorful home and holiday decor and finds, along with seasonal inspo and ideas. Her Instagram page, @fidlinaroundhome, has over 73K followers, and she has a community of over 48K followers on her Facebook page. Her home and her work were selected for a feature in Better Homes and Gardens’ Christmas Issue, in stores October 2025. She’s worked with a multitude of brands and retailers, including Ballard Designs, Balsam Hill, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Mackenzie-Child’s, Michael’s, Kroger, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Packed Party, Mud Pie, Ruggable, and more! She’s been featured in HGTV Magazine, Cottages & Bungalows, Southern Lady, and Better Homes and Gardens.
There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 124,846 times.
Decorative hot air balloon are great talking points; are easy to make. They look good hanging in windows but don't have to be.
Steps
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First blow up a balloon until it is slightly smaller than you want your finished one to be; knot it.[1] -
Now get some papier mache and cover your balloon with it; leave a small section at the bottom clear. Make sure there are no wrinkles in your papier mache.Advertisement -
While you wait for the papier mache to dry, acquire (or weave) a basket the right size for your balloon and get some string.[2] -
When the papier mache has dried pop the plastic balloon and remove its remnants. Then make four equally spaced holes around the bottom of your papier mache balloon.[3] -
After that, thread a piece of string through each of the holes; secure them by either gluing or tying. Then secure the string around the rim of the basket(equally spaced) with either glue or by tying. Make sure the basket hangs level under the papier mache balloon.[4] -
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Finally, glue a hook to the top of your decorative hot air balloon.[7] -
Finished.
Community Q&A
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QuestionCould I use material instead of painting?
T. ChinsenTop AnswererMaterial over the paper mache needs to be well secured with glue. A layer of white needs to be put down first to brighten the colored material. Without this layer, the colors will appear dull or dirty, as the ink on the paper mache will show through. -
QuestionWhat do I do if I don't have papier mache?
T. ChinsenTop AnswererUse layers of tissue with brushed on glue on the balloon. Start with a white base layer, then add colored tissue to eliminate the painting step. The white layer will brighten the colors applied. It will also be a more delicate structure, as this is not as thick as newsprint.
Tips
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If possible, use a glue gun for gluing.[8]Thanks
Warnings
- If a child is making one they should be under adult supervision and the adult should do any gluing, if with a glue gun, and make the holes in the papier mache shell.Thanks
Things You'll Need
- Glue
- Papier mache - paper, water and PVA glue
- A hook
- String
- A basket
- Paint
- A balloon
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about holiday decorating, check out our in-depth interview with Marissa Fidler.
References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRtBI-Na4XE
- ↑ Marissa Fidler. Seasonal Decor Expert. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://www.firstpalette.com/quick-how-to/papier-mache-balloon.html
- ↑ https://www.firstpalette.com/craft/hot-air-balloon.html
- ↑ Marissa Fidler. Seasonal Decor Expert. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://www.todaysparent.com/family/crafts/diy-papier-mache-balloon-bowl-craf/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpLAI0LVMog
- ↑ http://safety.ucanr.edu/files/3260.pdf
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