The HX Blog

These "glitter"-adorned balloons can add a touch of elegance and glamor to any function. They may look expensive (for a balloon anyway), but the good news is it's easy to re-create the popular trend for yourself. Adding the Sparkle All you need is soft, ultra thin foil confetti (make sure to avoid pointed or hard confetti), hi-float , balloons and helium . If you just want to add color, but don't necessarily want the glittery look, you can use any paper-based confetti, such as shredded tissue paper. The steps are as follows: pump hi-float into balloon, massage balloon to evenly coat the side of the balloon with product, pour confetti into the balloon, inflate, shake or whirl the balloon around to disperse the confetti and enjoy! One benefit of using hi-float to add "glitter" to balloons is that it will lengthen the float life of the balloon. After all, if you go through the trouble of creating custom balloons, why not enjoy them longer? The second be...

We've been asked if we offer balloon decorating training. Though we do not, many classes are available to teach basic techniques to get you started or refine your art. However, if you're looking to increase your appeal and boost your balloon decorating business, you may want to consider becoming a certified balloon artist (CBA). Qualatex offers this certification program, which not only teaches you valuable tips and techniques, but also provides several networking opportunities. In addition to the education you'll receive, your certification status will get you listed in a directory with other CBA's. If a customer is looking for someone who truly knows their stuff, they make be inclined to call on local CBA's from options listed in this directory. Plus, as a CBA, you'll have the opportunity to attend Qualatex-hosted events and receive exclusive discounts. Keep this opportunity in mind if you'd like to hone in on your skills and really grow your busines...

If you've ever thrown a party, you know it's a lot of fun. But it's also a lot of work. And it's easy to forget even the most basic stuff when your mind is trying to keep up with several tasks and thoughts at once. Sound familiar? Here's a tip: write things down. It's a simple tip, but very effective. Having an organized checklist will help you see the big picture without forgetting the small stuff. If you're not sure how to get started, download a copy of our party planning template. In it, you'll find a space to plan everything from a budget to your menu. And it's all yours for the price of a tweet! Or a Facebook shout-out, if you prefer. So pay with a tweet and get your copy now! If you find that it helps you in your planning, let us know! Written by: Miriam E. Medellin

How many of you hate cutting ribbon? We know the feeling. It's tedious and takes a lot of time. Fortunately, we've found a way of doing this that really speeds up the process. Just recently, we had to inflate 350 latex balloons for a customer. That required us to cut 350 strands of curling ribbon. We had one person assigned to this task. That's because it can be done so fast that one person is all it takes. In fact, we put a timer to it and it took all of 11 minutes and 5 seconds . That's right. In hardly no time at all, 350 ribbons were cut - all the same length. Oh and those 350 ribbons consisted of three different colors, so that also includes the time it takes to change out the spools. In our last installment of our five part efficiency series, we'd like to share this method with you all. It's a twist on the ribbon holder method of simply pulling on the ribbon from a stationary point, cutting at the length you need and repeating this step multiple times. I...

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you have more things to do than time allows for? Yeah, we have too. When it comes to decorating with balloons, many people find there's a bit of a timing issue. You don't want to inflate too soon before the event because you need enough time to inflate them all. On the other hand, you don't want to inflate them too early and prevent the balloons from looking their best during the event. The best time to start decorating with balloons will always vary a little, depending on the quantity and size of the balloons used. If you're utilizing hi-float, this will also play an important factor. The first step in deciding when to start your balloon filling is knowing how long it will take to inflate the balloons. You can then backtrack to determine a good time to start. The second step is knowing the float life of the balloons you're going to inflate so that you don't inflate too early. Read more about the float life of ...

Centerpieces are a great way to accent and solidify any party theme. If you're an experienced decorator, you know that finding creative and relevant pieces is often easier said than done. Many times we have a vision or an idea of what we'd like to display, but our options in color, size, texture and price level sometimes take our ideas in a different direction. Sometimes this change is for better, but other times it's not and we have to make countless trips to return or exchange an item and find the perfect replacement. Because all this experimentation takes time, we'd like to introduce you to one item that won't take any time at all: the pull-string bow. Light Pink Bow (Large) $3.95/ 5 bows The pull-string bow is by no means new. In fact, florists have been using them for many years. They're available in almost any color and in different sizes to complement any arrangement or centerpiece. Of course, the most amazing part is that they assemble themsel...