Rainbow Balloon Arch
by Debby C.
(Medway, Ohio)
It's a really nice touch to add a rainbow balloon arch to the Care Bear baby shower. You can do it by yourself but it's much easier if you ask for help.
You'll need a monofilament line (nylon fishing line, a 50lb one or 100lb one - depending on how heavy you make the balloon arch), colorful latex balloons (the 10-12 inch ones are great), a helium tank (you can rent one at a party supply store), and some bricks or other weighty objects for the ends of the arch.
For the balloon colors you'll need: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple. Try to make all of the balloons the same size.
To make the balloon arch, tie one end of the string to a secure place (about waist high; this is to make it easier for you to create the balloon arch - later you'll tie the balloon arch to weights from both sides). Then inflate two balloons, start with red, and twist together at necks. Do the same thing with another pair of red balloons and then tie both pairs together for a four-balloon cluster of red balloons.
Then take the four-balloon cluster and tie to the string (slide and tie carefully to the end of one side of the fishing line). Now repeat the process to make another four-balloon cluster (this time of another color, go for orange). Tie and slide to be close to the red cluster of balloons. It's best to continue with a rainbow pattern (First red, then orange, then yellow, green, blue, and then purple).
You continue making the arch until it is as long as you want it to be. Then tie one side to a few bricks or a weighty object, and then do the same with the other side (you can also attach and secure them between two other objects - a fence, gate, post, etc.).
A nice touch is to add a huge cluster (even 10 or more) of white balloons together to each side of the rainbow (as if the rainbow is coming out of a puff of clouds from both sides).
