Balloon Crafts: 15 Magical Ideas From Glowing Snowman Lamps to Ornament Trees

Balloon crafts are taking over our feeds this month, and it is easy to see why. A cheap pack of balloons can become a glowing snowman, a lacy bowl, a stack of paper mache ornaments or a whole party arch. One snowman lamp made with a balloon and tissue paper passed 321,000 reactions and 31,000 shares in under three weeks, and we could not stop watching this snowman lamp video. Another clip of tiny balloons hung as tree ornaments got 78,000 reactions in just three days. These ideas are fun for kids and grownups, cost very little and fill a room with holiday cheer. One quick safety note: keep loose and popped balloons away from little ones, and use only battery LED lights inside anything you make..

Balloon Crafts for a Cozy Holiday Table

Here is what a little afternoon of balloon crafts can give you: a glowing snowman, a few yarn globes, a tiny tree dressed in mini balloons and a paper mache pumpkin left over from fall. Every piece started with a balloon that cost a few cents. Group them on a side table with some greenery and the whole room feels warm and happy. The best part is that kids can help with almost every step. Pick one idea below and start with that..

You will need: a pack of round balloons in a few sizes, tissue paper, white glue, yarn, newspaper, battery LED lights.

How to make it: 1. Pick two or three crafts from this list. 2. Make them in the same colors so they look like a set. 3. Group them on a tray with greenery and turn on the LED lights.

Tissue Paper Snowman Lamp

This is the one that went viral. Blow up a balloon, cover it with layers of white tissue paper and glue, let it dry, then pop and pull out the balloon. You are left with a light, papery shell that glows when you drop a battery LED puck light inside. Make a smaller ball for the head, add a felt scarf and a paper hat, and your snowman is ready. It stays cool, so it is safe on a shelf all evening. Who would you make one for?

You will need: two balloons, white tissue paper, white glue mixed with a little water, a brush, a battery LED puck light, felt scraps.

How to make it: 1. Brush glue on the balloons and layer tissue paper, four or five coats. 2. Let dry overnight, then pop and remove the balloons. 3. Glue the head on, add the LED light and dress your snowman.

Balloon Crafts With Yarn: String Globes

Yarn globes are a classic for a reason. Dip yarn in glue, wrap it around a balloon in every direction and let it dry hard. When you pop the balloon, the yarn keeps its round shape. Hang a few in a window at different heights or tuck tiny battery fairy lights inside for a soft glow. Red and white feels like Christmas, while white alone looks like snowballs. These balloon crafts are messy in the best way, so cover the table first. What colors would you choose?

You will need: small and medium balloons, yarn or cotton string, white glue, a bowl, petroleum jelly, battery LED fairy lights, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Rub a little jelly on the balloon so the yarn will release. 2. Pull yarn through glue and wrap it around the balloon. 3. Dry for a day, pop the balloon, pull it out and hang.

Paper Mache Ornament Balls

Small balloons make perfect molds for ornaments. Cover each one with newspaper strips dipped in a flour and water paste, let them dry, then pop the balloons. Paint the shells in red, white and green with stripes, dots or a simple snowflake. They are light, they do not break when they fall, and kids can paint their own. Tie on a ribbon loop and they are ready for the tree. This is one of the easiest balloon crafts for a rainy weekend. How many would you paint?

You will need: small balloons, newspaper strips, flour, water, acrylic paint, brushes, ribbon, glue.

How to make it: 1. Mix one part flour with two parts water. 2. Cover each balloon with three layers of strips and let dry. 3. Pop the balloon, paint the ball and glue on a ribbon loop.

Mini Balloon Ornament Tree

This idea got 78,000 reactions in three days, and it is so simple. Blow up tiny balloons, five inches or smaller, in metallic red, gold and silver. Tie each one with a short string and hang them on a small tree like ornaments. They are light, cheap and they shine under the tree lights. It is great for a party tree, a kids room or a quick holiday look in an office. Mini balloon crafts like this take about twenty minutes. Would you try it on your tree?

You will need: a pack of five inch metallic balloons, a balloon pump, thin string or ribbon, a small tree.

How to make it: 1. Inflate the balloons only about halfway so they stay small. 2. Tie a short string to each knot. 3. Hang them evenly on the branches and keep them away from little hands.

Balloon Crafts for Parties: Holiday Garland Arch

A balloon garland makes any party table look like it was planned by a pro. Blow up balloons in three or four sizes, then twist pairs and clusters onto a long strip of balloon tape. Mix red, white, green and gold for Christmas, and tuck in a few sprigs of faux greenery for a soft finish. Hang it with removable hooks over a dessert table or doorway. It goes up in an hour and costs far less than buying one. Where would you hang yours?

You will need: balloons in three or four sizes and colors, balloon decorating strip, a pump, faux greenery, removable wall hooks.

How to make it: 1. Inflate balloons in different sizes. 2. Push the knots through the holes in the balloon strip in tight clusters. 3. Hang with hooks and tuck greenery into the gaps.

Balloon Stamped Snowflake Art for Kids

Little ones love this one. Blow up a few small balloons, dip the round bottoms in white or blue paint and stamp them on dark paper. Three circles make a snowman, and a ring of small circles becomes a snowflake. Add a carrot nose and a scarf with a marker and you have a winter card or a picture for the fridge. Stay close and pick up any popped pieces. For more ideas, see our snowman crafts for kids. What would your kids stamp first?

You will need: small balloons, washable white and blue paint, paper plates, dark blue paper, markers.

How to make it: 1. Pour paint on paper plates. 2. Dip the balloon bottom and press it on paper. 3. Let dry and add faces and details with markers.

Paper Mache Pumpkins for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a month away, and these balloon crafts are a fun way to get ready. Cover a balloon with paper mache, then wrap string around it while wet to make the pumpkin ridges. Once dry, pop the balloon, paint the shell orange, cream or soft green and glue on a real twig for a stem. Make three sizes and they look lovely on a table runner with fall leaves. They will last for years if you store them in a box. Which color would you pick?

You will need: balloons, newspaper strips, flour paste, string, acrylic paint, twigs, glue (adult help for hot glue).

How to make it: 1. Cover the balloon with three layers of paper mache. 2. Tie string around it in sections to make ridges and let dry. 3. Pop the balloon, paint and glue on a twig stem.

Balloon Wreath for the Front Door

Among all the balloon crafts here, a wreath is the biggest surprise for guests, and it is perfect for a holiday party or a winter birthday. Blow up small balloons in white, silver and icy blue, then tie them in clusters onto a wire wreath ring. Fill in the gaps with a few smaller ones and finish with a big satin bow. Hang it inside a storm door or on a covered porch where wind cannot reach it. It lasts a few days, so make it the day before the party. Who would love to see this at the door?

You will need: a wire wreath ring, five inch balloons in three colors, a pump, string, a wide satin ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Inflate the balloons and tie them in groups of four. 2. Tie each group tightly around the ring. 3. Fill gaps with single balloons and add the bow.

Balloon Crafts With Lace: Doily Bowl

This one looks so delicate that people never guess how it was made. Soak a lace doily in fabric stiffener or glue and water, drape it over the top of a balloon, and let it dry. Pop the balloon and you have a lacy bowl that holds its shape. Fill it with pine cones, small ornaments or wrapped candies for the coffee table. Old doilies from a thrift store work great. It is one of the prettiest balloon crafts for a vintage look. What would you put inside?

You will need: a cotton lace doily, fabric stiffener or white glue mixed with water, a balloon, a cup to rest the balloon on.

How to make it: 1. Soak the doily in stiffener and squeeze out extra. 2. Drape it over the balloon set on a cup and smooth it. 3. Dry for a day, pop the balloon and fill the bowl.

Paper Mache Gingerbread Hut

This gingerbread house will never go stale. Cover a big balloon with paper mache, let it dry, then cut a little door shape at the bottom (adults only with the knife). Paint it warm brown and add white puffy paint for icing trim. Glue on paper candies, felt gumdrops and pom poms. Set it on a tray of faux snow with a tiny bottle brush tree. Kids can decorate it again each year. This is one of our favorite balloon crafts for a long winter weekend. What would you put on the roof?

You will need: a large balloon, newspaper strips, flour paste, brown acrylic paint, white puffy paint, felt, pom poms, glue.

How to make it: 1. Paper mache the balloon with four layers and let dry. 2. Pop the balloon and an adult cuts a door. 3. Paint, add icing trim and glue on the candy pieces.

Hot Air Balloon Ornaments

These sweet little ornaments look like they floated in from a storybook. Make small paper mache balls over water balloons, paint them in bright stripes, then hang a tiny basket below with twine. A bottle cap or a small cut paper cup makes a great basket. Hang them high on the tree so they look like they are flying. They also make a lovely mobile for a nursery. Would you paint yours in stripes or polka dots?

You will need: water balloons, newspaper strips, flour paste, acrylic paint, twine, bottle caps or small paper cups, glue.

How to make it: 1. Paper mache the small balloons and let them dry. 2. Pop and remove the balloons, then paint stripes. 3. Tie four pieces of twine from the ball to a little basket.

Balloon Centerpiece for the Christmas Table

Balloons on a dinner table can look elegant when you keep them low. Tie a cluster of small gold, champagne and white balloons to a weight, then nestle them into a long line of greenery and pine cones down the middle of the table. Keep them below eye level so guests can still chat across the table. It looks festive in photos and costs much less than fresh flowers. Do you like a glam table or a simple one?

You will need: five inch balloons in gold, champagne and white, balloon weights, faux greenery garland, pine cones.

How to make it: 1. Inflate the balloons and tie them in small clusters. 2. Attach each cluster to a low weight. 3. Lay the greenery down the table and tuck the clusters in.

Easy Balloon Crafts for Kids: Reindeer

Here is a giggly idea for a class party or a cousin sleepover. Blow up brown balloons, trace little hands on paper for antlers, and tape them on top. Add googly eyes and a red pom pom nose with glue dots. Line them up and you have a whole herd. Write each child’s name on a paper tag so nobody mixes them up. An adult should handle the pump and pick up any popped pieces right away. These balloon crafts make kids laugh every time. Which one would be your reindeer?

You will need: brown balloons, a pump, brown or tan paper, googly eyes, red pom poms, glue dots, tape, a marker.

How to make it: 1. Inflate the balloons with a pump. 2. Trace and cut hand shaped antlers and tape them on. 3. Stick on the eyes and nose with glue dots.

Gift Box Balloon Surprise

Want a gift that makes everyone gasp? Put a clear bubble balloon filled with tiny red and gold balloons and a little confetti inside a big gift box. When the lid comes off, it floats up like magic. You can tie a small envelope or a gift card to the string. It is perfect for a birthday in December or a fun family reveal. Keep the box closed until the big moment for the best effect. It is a happy last idea for this list. Who would you surprise?

You will need: a clear bubble balloon, small balloons, a little confetti, a large gift box, ribbon, a helium fill from a party store.

How to make it: 1. Stuff the small balloons and confetti into the bubble balloon. 2. Have it filled with helium at a party store. 3. Tie it inside the box and close the lid until gift time.