How to Make a Hot Air Balloon Centerpiece

Easily create a whimsical hot-air-balloon-themed centerpiece using fresh flowers, a small basket and a balloon.

DIY Hot Air Balloon Centerpiece

Fresh cut flowers, a small basket, a balloon and some ribbon come together to make a charming centerpiece.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

By: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Materials Needed

balloon
helium
fresh flowers
floral foam
large knife
small bowl
pruning shears
small basket
several yards of ribbon
scissors
hot glue gun and glue sticks
(1) 1/4" wooden dowel
double-sided tape

Prep Foam

Use the knife to cut the block of floral foam in half. Shape the foam to match the shape of the basket by gently squeezing on the halves with your hands (Image 1). Place the floral foam in a small bowl filled with water. Allow the foam to soak up water until it is saturated (Image 2). Gently insert the wet floral foam into the basket (Image 3).

Use the knife to cut the block of floral foam in half. Shape the foam to match the shape of the basket by gently squeezing on of the halves with your hands.

Place the floral foam in a small bowl filled with water. Allow the foam to soak up water until it is saturated.

Gently insert the wet floral foam into the basket.

Cut Floral Foam for Hot Air Balloon Centerpiece

Use the knife to cut the block of floral foam in half. Shape the foam to match the shape of the basket by gently squeezing on of the halves with your hands.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Soak Foam in Water

Place the floral foam in a small bowl filled with water. Allow the foam to soak up water until it is saturated.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Place Wet Floral Foam in Basket

Gently insert the wet floral foam into the basket.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Prep Flowers and Dowels

Trim the flowers' stems with the pruning shears, leaving enough length to securely anchor the flowers in the floral foam (Image 1). Set the flowers aside. Place the wooden dowel next to the basket. Use the pruning shears or other heavy-duty scissors to cut the dowel to a length that leaves 2”- 3” of the dowel showing above the top of the basket (Image 2). Set aside until the balloon is ready to be attached. Tip: The cut dowel should be shorter than the height of the flowers.

Cut the stems of the flowers with the pruning shears, leaving enough length to securely anchor the flowers into the floral foam. Set the flowers aside.

Place the wooden dowel next to the basket. Use the pruning shears or other heavy-duty scissors to cut the dowel to a length that leaves 2” – 3” inches of the dowel showing above the top of the basket. Set aside until the balloon is ready to be attached. TIP: The cut dowel should be shorter than the height of the flowers.

Flowers for Hot Air Balloon Centerpiece

Cut the stems of the flowers with the pruning shears, leaving enough length to securely anchor the flowers into the floral foam. Set the flowers aside.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Cut Dowel With Pruning Shears

Place the wooden dowel next to the basket. Use the pruning shears or other heavy-duty scissors to cut the dowel to a length that leaves 2” – 3” inches of the dowel showing above the top of the basket. Set aside until the balloon is ready to be attached. TIP: The cut dowel should be shorter than the height of the flowers.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Prep Balloon

Inflate the balloon with helium and tie off. Cut 2 lengths of ribbon that are long enough to go around the balloon from top to bottom and allow the ends to meet several inches below the bottom of the balloon (Image 1). Tip: Have a friend hold the balloon for you to make measuring easier. With your friend still holding the balloon, place a piece of double sided tape on the top of the balloon (Image 2).

Inflate the balloon with helium and tie off. Cut two lengths of ribbon. Each length should be long enough to go around the balloon from top to bottom and have the ends meet several inches below the bottom of the balloon. TIP: Have a friend hold the balloon for you to make measuring easier.

With your friend still holding the balloon, place a piece of double sided tape on the top of the balloon.

Cut Ribbon for Hot Air Balloon Centerpiece

Inflate the balloon with helium and tie off. Cut two lengths of ribbon. Each length should be long enough to go around the balloon from top to bottom and have the ends meet several inches below the bottom of the balloon. TIP: Have a friend hold the balloon for you to make measuring easier.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Hot Air Balloon Centerpiece

With your friend still holding the balloon, place a piece of double sided tape on the top of the balloon.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Add Ribbon

Lay the middle of one ribbon across the tape and press down to secure. Place a second piece of tape crosswise over the first ribbon and press down to secure (Image 1). Cut a 6” piece of ribbon and tie around the four long, loose ribbon ends (Image 2).

Lay the middle of one ribbon across the tape and press down to secure. Place another piece of tape on top of that ribbon and lay the second ribbon crosswise over the other. Press down to secure.

Cut a 6” piece of ribbon and tie around the four long, loose ribbon ends.

Hot Air Balloon Centerpiece

Lay the middle of one ribbon across the tape and press down to secure. Place another piece of tape on top of that ribbon and lay the second ribbon crosswise over the other. Press down to secure.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Ribbon for Hot Air Balloon Centerpiece

Cut a 6” piece of ribbon and tie around the four long, loose ribbon ends.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Add Dowel

Add a small amount of hot glue to one end of the dowel and insert it into the middle of the gathered and tied ribbon ends (Image 1). Insert the dowel into the middle of the floral foam (Image 2).

Insert the dowel into the middle of the floral foam.

Glue Dowel to Gathered Ribbons

Add a small amount of hot glue to one end of the dowel and insert it into the middle of the gathered and tied ribbon ends.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Hot Air Balloon Centerpiece

Insert the dowel into the middle of the floral foam.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Add Flowers

Add the cut flowers to complete the centerpiece by inserting the stems into the floral foam (Image 1). Display your finished centerpiece, lightly watering the foam every few days to keep the flowers fresh (Image 2).