This week on BMTV we are joined by Natalie Saunders for the first time. She is the founder of The Balloon Room and we get to find out more about how she started her company and how she developed over the years to become an inspirational balloon decorator and creator. Greg also talks to her about her upcoming course, Lights, Balloons, Action where she will be joined by Mike Hurst, founder of Reds to deliver training on how to transform your décor with different lighting techniques. She also gives a demonstration using Cubez to make a present/gift box balloon bouquet and a column design using simple techniques – one helium filled design and one air filled.

Natalie has been in the business now for over 17 years and started out when her friend asked her to do the balloon decoration for her wedding. From there she decided to start up a business in the balloon industry and started by getting herself trained up in balloon decorating. One of her most recent projects was for Party City, which is one of the largest party stores’ in America. It was for a TV advert they wanted to put together showcasing their balloons and was filmed in Cape Town, South Africa. She and her friend Nikki carried out the project and they were there for 10 days to complete it.

She also shares her top tips for people starting out in the industry with her top tip being to go to training courses, as she says there is only so much you can learn via the internet. Networking and talking to other decorators and getting work experience with a decorator are also some of her another top tips when starting out.

Natalie demonstrates a design using Cubez which she likes using as they are different and versatile. She recently used them in December last year where she was asked to put together some designs along with BAPIA for Great Ormand Street Hospital. For the bouquet she uses Cubez inflated with helium and wraps around some florist ribbon as if you were wrapping a present. She then attaches a pull bow to the design where the ribbon meets together. She puts together two different coloured Cubez designs and attaches them to a present weight to create the bouquet, which when completed is a simple yet effective design.

For the air-filled design she uses the Cubez, again wrapping them with different coloured florist ribbon and a pull bow to make it looked like a wrapped present. These can then be stacked on top of one another with latex clusters in between to create a column design.

Natalie will be delivering the upcoming course Lights, Balloon’s, Action along with Mike Hurst where you can learn how to use different lighting techniques with balloons in creations such as organics, spiral garlands and balloon tunnels. The course is being held on Tuesday 19th March at AFC Totton, Southampton. In addition, you will also receive on the day a Balloon Market goody bag, a certificate of attendance, discount to use at Balloon Market along with a memory stick with photos from the day of designs made and of everyone networking. To find out more about the course and to book click here!

Anna-Jayne

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