Stagger 3 20" stars 6" apart. Attach a 4' length of curling ribbon to each star below the valve. Knot the ribbon together approximately 8" below the bottom star as pictured. Carefully insert a balloon straw into each balloon valve to open the valve and allow for easier inflation later.

Roll the stars into a tube and insert into an uninflated 3' latex balloon. Tip: Have one person hold the latex balloon open while a second person stuffs the stars into the balloon. Holding the ribbon aside, inflate the 3' latex balloon to approximately 2' using an Air Force 4 inflator.

With the Trigger Valve Snap-On Outlet on the 10' Extension Hose Inflator, carefully inflate each foil star with helium. The 8" Extension Tip bypasses the foil balloon valve and avoids damage to the valve during inflation. Let the ribbons extend through the neck of the balloon.
 

Use the Insider Tool to insert 5" latex balloons into the 3' balloon. Place the 3' balloon on the holding tool. The ribbons attached to the foil stars will be between the balloon and the holding tool. Place the ribbons toward the bottom of the holding tool to prevent interference with the inflation tool. Using the air hose and Air Force 4 inflator, fill the 3' balloon with air.

Attach the inflation tool to the Dual Split Second Sizer and set it to 01. Stretch a 5" latex balloon over the inflation tool. Insert the balloon through the one-way valve and inflate. Pull the inflation tool out of the balloon, tie a knot in the 5" balloon and release it into the 3' balloon. Insert approximately 50 5" balloons. Remove the 3' balloon from the holding tool and inflate with air to its full size. Keep the knot that was tied in the curling ribbon even with the neck of the 3' balloon. To seal the 3' balloon twist the neck of the balloon several times (with the ribbons extending through the neck) and wrap with duct tape. Tie an uninflated 260 balloon onto the neck of the 3' latex. Use this to attach the 3' balloon onto the top of the column.
 

To cover pole, air-fill 4 5" Sapphire Blue balloons to 4" and tie into a quad. It is important these balloons are precision sized. Set the Precision Air inflator to 0.6 seconds to make the quad. Push the quad onto the column starting at the base and continue adding quads to the top of the pole. For the bottom of the column, use a random combination of white and clear 9" balloons. Air-fill 2 balloons to uneven sizes. Tie the 2 balloons together, forming a duplet. Inflate a single balloon and tie it into the duplet to form a cluster of 3 balloons. Inflate a second duplet and twist together with the cluster of 3 to form a cluster of 5 balloons. The balloons should be slightly different sizes. Make 6 5-balloon clusters from 9" balloons. To attach the clusters to the column, tie an uninflated 260 balloon into a circle. Wrap 2 clusters into the 260. Using the 260 like a rubber band to stretch and wrap the clusters around the column. You can reposition the clusters later if needed. Make 12 5-balloon clusters from 5" balloons with white and clear balloons. Attach 6 of the 5" clusters just above the 9" clusters at the bottom of the column. Attach the remaining 6 clusters to the top of the column.

Air-fill and seal 4" and 9" foil stars. Tie a star onto each end of an uninflated 260 balloon. Using the 260 balloon as a rubber band, stretch and wrap the stars into the cloud clusters.
 

Air-fill 2 260 balloons and tie the balloons together. Wrap the balloons around the Sapphire Blue portion of the columns. Tip: Curl the 260 balloons first. Use cool glue if necessary to secure the ends of the 260 into the top and bottom of the column. Air-fill 2 5" Sapphire Blue balloons to 2". Tie the balloons together and tie onto a 4" air-filled foil star. Wrap the 5" balloons around the knots in the 260 balloons. This covers the joint on the 260 balloons and adds interest to the center of the column.

Using the uninflated 260 balloon, tie the column topper onto the column. Use the steps listed on the following page to attach The Exploder to this column for a surprise special effect! When the 3' balloon is broken, 5" balloons rise to the ceiling.
 

A beautiful balloon bouquet remains as a column topper!