Okay, to be honest, my prom was not in the 80’s. But I always wished it was! I would have been brimming with glee to douse my hair with obscene quantities of hairspray, throw on some shoulder pads, and dance the night away to the likes of Duran Duran or Wang Chung. Alas, I cannot travel back in time, so our team decided to bring our own 80’s prom party into 2018! We made these nostalgic balloon columns that are perfect for a party backdrop for a Galentine’s Day party! Read on to see how to make your own! (Psst… for more 80’s prom madness, check out our post tomorrow! Trust me, you won’t want to miss it!)

Materials Needed: 11” balloons (in 4 colors), hand balloon pump, balloon column stand kit, curling ribbon, scissors

Step 1: Inflate four 11” balloons until they are roughly 7” and knot.

Step 2: Tie two sets of two balloons of different colors together. Twist two sets of balloons together to form a cluster.

Step 3: Wrap the end of the ribbon in a figure-8 formation around each balloon knot in a cluster. Repeat a bunch of times. This will be the base of the balloon column.

Step 4: Place another balloon cluster on top of the wrapped balloon cluster and push down. This will minimize the space between the balloons. Rotate the cluster so that each color creates a spiral when stacked together. Wrap the ribbon in a figure-8 around two balloons in this set.

Step 5: Repeat for the remaining clusters. We used 12 clusters for each column. When you reach the last cluster, wrap the ribbon a bunch of times around the balloons as you did for first cluster.

Step 6: Fill up the balloon column bases with water.

Step 7: Assemble the PVC sticks and connectors to form one long rod. Lay the PVC rod on top of the balloon column and carefully push it down to the center of the balloon clusters, where the balloon knots are. The PVC rod should no longer be visible. Repeat for the other column.

Step 8: Stick the end of the PVC rod into the balloon column stand. Trim off any excess ribbon and you’re done!

SHOP THIS POST: Green Dress, Shoes, Silver Dress, Striped Dress

Crafting by Justine Pon and Erika Kjos