If you duplet square pack with different sized balloons, the garlands curve automatically like the lobes of a heart. This recipe creates a beautiful striped heart that uses only the balloon size to create a 4-foot sculpture from 5" non-pearlized balloons... First, carefully set the second stage regulator on the Dual Sizer at approximately 12 psi. Set the machine to inflate for 0.4 seconds on one side and 0.8 on the other. IMPORTANT: CHECK THAT THE 0.8 SIDE YIELDS A BALLOON SMALLER THAN 4.25" IN DIAMETER! Adjust pressure if needed. (If the balloons are too fully inflated they won't duplet square pack properly). Once the best pressure is found, lock it in place.

Then, inflate 166 balloons carefully the settings below.

6-balloon cluster added at top peak:
2 balloons (one of each color) at size 0.2 and 4 balloons (all the inside color) at size 0.1

4-balloon cluster at bottom:
3 size 0.8 (all outside color) and 1 size 0.6 (inside color)

In order, pack two garlands with very consistent tension, making 2 MIRROR IMAGE "candy canes" with 39 duplets on each side. Tie off the garlands to keep the end balloons in position. Place the "candy canes" facing each other so the mirror image balloons line up. Attach the top and bottom peak clusters using Glue Dots for Balloons:

At the Top Peak
Position the size 0.2 balloons up and down. Nestle one 0.2 facing up so it fits into the hole created by the uneven duplet packing (this could be on the front or the back depending upon how you started your garland). The other will form the peak of the heart.

At the Bottom
Position the 0.6 in the gap on top and one of the 0.8's at the bottom of the peak. The other 0.8's should fill in the sides. Ensure all touching balloons are secured with glue dots. The finished sculpture is stunning as long as you follow the directions carefully. Best of luck!

Bruce Walden
Walden Productions Inc.
http://www.uplifter.com