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...

As a regular reader of our blog, you may be able to spot the truth from fiction very easily. If you're not sure or you're surprised by the answer, then you'll want to check out the dedicated blog post for that topic. Ready to test your knowledge? Let's go! 1. Mini-loons can be inflated with helium Verdict: Mostly false Many people reasonably believe that all balloons are designed to float. However, this is not the case with mini-loons. If you're unfamiliar with this term, allow me to define it simply. Mini-loons are foil balloons typically seen on sticks and included in flower arrangements. Though some are larger, they're known for ranging between 2" and 16" in size. They're available in several shapes and designs like most balloons. Recently, they've become more popular for the assortment of letters, numbers and words they're available in. Pinterest and Instagram have highlighted these trends and it's not uncommon to see these ...

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

Are you someone who throws parties often? Do you often have get-togethers and gatherings at your home on weekends? Do you love decorating and find yourself being asked by others to help decorate their events as well? If so, then you'll love this! Chances are you have a lot of fun, but you might also be spending more than you need to on balloon decorations. Disposable Balloon Time kits are popular at several retail outlets due to their portability. We think they're great for small, infrequent events and you can learn more about them here . However, if you find yourself hosting or decorating for several events throughout the year, it may be beneficial to purchase your own small cylinder. The HX Loyalty Program How does it work? Well, in a nut shell, you buy a small cylinder from us and we'll continue to refill it at a reduced cost. If you were to bring us an outside-sourced small helium cylinder, we could fill it for $57. However, if you purchase one of our small cyl...

Planning a party can be stressful. And the bigger the party, the more stressful it is. Sometimes it's nice to look back at the journey and laugh about the moments of panic, the late night projects and the good times shared. If you're still in planning mode, remember to breath deeply and laugh. Your party will be great! The Party Planning Process 1. The moment you find out (or remember) that a birthday is coming up and you have a spark of inspiration, you tell everyone! Much to your delight, they love the idea and even add to it, which makes you feel pretty awesome. 2. You delegate tasks and start planning. Where do you start? Online, of course! You scour the internet for all kinds of great decorating ideas to fit your theme. 3. Then, you run into your first road bump. As you begin shopping, you realize some great ideas cost much more than you thought. 4.After reviewing several DIY sites, you realize it'll be easy and fun to make some of the decorations yo...

If you've looked at our information chart on helium rentals and come to the realization that you simply don't need to inflate that many balloons, then you may want to purchase them inflated. We do not deliver inflated balloons, but we can sell them to you assuming you have a vehicle that will accommodate your desired amount. Likewise, we can also inflate balloons you have purchased elsewhere. However, if you plan on buying and transporting inflated balloons. please plan accordingly. Think Float Life For starters, keep in mind that balloons have a finite lifespan, or " float life ." However, as a general rule, latex balloons should not be inflated any earlier than the event date. There are exceptions such as 36" latex balloons, which will still be up from one day to the next (though smaller in size). Alternatively, foil balloons may be inflated days in advance with little to no change as they float longer. As of now, we are closed on weekends. If your ev...

As recently noted in another post, 'balloons on a stick' can be great substitutes in many situations. And while most people are familiar with the balloons, not many people know how to actually use them. It's easy to assume that they are inflated with helium, but some may be surprised to know that they are aren't intended for use with helium at all! In fact, they're quite different in a few aspects. Inflate So how does one inflate these small balloons? Well, quite simply, with air. The means by which this is done, however, is a matter of preference. You can use one of a myriad of air inflator options, from a simple and economical hand pump to a heavy duty electric inflator. Once you determine how frequently you intend to do this and locate an suitable inflator, you'll notice that the air doesn't stay inside the balloon by itself like it does with helium foil balloons. Because they are not self-sealing, you'll also need a heat sealer. Seal ...

Balloons come in a variety of shapes and sizes. And for the sake of making a grand gesture, most people like to give and decorate with larger size balloons. It's a valid reason and they do make quite an impression, but 'miniloons' can be just as dramatic and, in some cases, more suitable. What are 'miniloons'? In short, they're small foil balloons. Their sizes are usually described as 2", 4", 9" or 14", but there are many variations in between. One of the things that sets them apart from other balloons is that they are not intended for use with helium. Instead, they are to be inflated with air or nitrogen. As a result, these balloons will not float. While some may not be particularly fond of this, it does present some other notable advantages. If you're decorating outside, you may find that larger helium balloons (foil or latex) will move around quite a bit, particularly on windy days. Depending on the placement of the balloon ...

We are officially in the party season! In addition to the usual events and special occasions, we have back to back holidays to look forward to. Since everyone is gearing up for Halloween by looking for the perfect costume, buying candy and Halloween decorations, we thought to join in and help out. Over the past few weeks, we've come across a lot of great decorating ideas around the web, many of which we've shared on our various social media sites. If you're looking for food and drink ideas though, then keep reading. We've scoured the web and now we're sharing some of our findings with you. Scary Good Food. Photo courtesy of food.com Halloween is known for being a "sweet" holiday (mostly because of the candy routine), but you can have savory foods at a Halloween gathering. Instead of giving everyone a sugar rush, add some twists to your favorite foods. Still want a pizza night? Go for it! Pizza may not look spooky or seem very original, but pa...

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...

Planning is a crucial step in any gathering. We plan so many small details and sometimes overlook larger ones as a result. Besides knowing how many balloons you want for the effect and look you're going for (as well as what suits your venue), you'll also need to know how much helium you'll need. If you own your own helium tank and know you have some leftover from a previous event, don't guess as to how much pressure you have. Some people may remember exactly how many balloons they inflated last time, but most of us probably won't. Plus, you'd have to take into consideration the sizes of the balloons inflated and if they were over or under-inflated. Now it's getting trickier. To avoid any guessing, we suggest making an investment in a balloon filler with a contents gauge and quick tie needle (also known as a disc hook). Spoiler alert: We'll discuss the benefit of the balloon tie disc in Part IV of our series.  Chances are you own a balloon...

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...

Warmer weather makes way for more outdoor activities. These activities can include cookouts, birthday parties, graduations and summer luaus! Sometimes these gatherings can be quite large and you can find great deals on bulk party supplies. Other times, these parties are considerably smaller. Many packages of balloons contain 50 to 100 balloons and helium is typically bottled in large cylinders capable of inflating anywhere from 100-400 balloons! While that's great for large events, it's not the most cost-efficient option for smaller guest lists. We'd like to present you with a great, inexpensive option for small events, where just a pop of color is needed.  Available from Helium Xpress Balloon Wholesale for $39.95! This disposable helium tank by Balloon Time is lightweight, portable and convenient for any small party! Packaged, this kit weighs in just under 10 pounds and includes helium and a spool of white ribbon to get you sta...