Christmas Hot Air Balloon Hanging DIY Kit

About the balloon kit

A hot air balloon made of layered felt, built up in overlapping panels and finished with a character riding in the basket underneath. It hangs vertically, so unlike a flat ornament it has a front, a back and a shape, and it needs a door or a wall rather than a branch to do itself justice. Eight characters to choose from, and the felt panels, trims, basket and hanging loop all arrive in the box. It is a craft kit rather than a finished decoration.

What the kit builds

The balloon body in scalloped felt panels in red and green, a small woven basket, the ropes between the two, a bow at the top and a felt character sitting in the basket. The trims run to beads, sequins, stitched edges and a scatter of little details across the panels, which is what gives a finished piece its depth. Nothing is printed flat: the whole thing is built up in layers, so it reads as a small scene rather than as a picture of one.

The eight characters

Santa, the Holy Family, a gnome, a cardinal, a Highland cow, a dachshund, a snowman and a reindeer. Each one is assembled the same way and sits in the same basket, so the character is what changes the mood of the finished piece rather than the balloon. Santa and the holy family are the two that get bought as gifts; the dachshund and the Highland cow are the two that get bought by people who already have the rest.

Building it

The layering is the slow part and the trims are the quick part. Each panel goes on over the one above it, so the shape grows from the bottom up and the pieces that will show later go on last. Beads and sequins want a fine needle and a couple of stitches each, and they are worth placing after the panels are finished rather than as you go, because the balance of the finished piece only becomes obvious at the end.

Where the balloon hangs

A front door, an interior door, a wall by an entryway, a window, the side of a mantel, a craft room. Because it hangs down the length of a door and has visible depth, it takes up the vertical space that a row of small ornaments cannot. It is a hanging piece rather than an outdoor one, so a covered porch is the limit in terms of weather.

Specifications

Type	Felt craft kit for a hanging balloon decoration
Build	Layered felt panels with a woven basket underneath
Character	One of eight, seated in the basket
Trims	Beads, sequins, stitched edges and a bow
In the box	Felt panels, basket, trims, hanging loop and instructions

Making it up

1. Panels from the bottom

   Layer upward and keep the trims back, so the shape is settled before the detail goes on.

2. Beads last

   Fine needle, two stitches each. Placing them once the panels are finished keeps the balance even.

3. Hang it on a door

   It is built for vertical space, so a door or a wall suits it better than a tree branch.

4. Keep it for a covered spot

   Indoors or a sheltered porch. It is felt, so rain is the thing to avoid.

In the box

• Felt panels for the balloon body
• 1 small woven basket and the ropes
• 1 felt character in the style you choose
• Beads, sequins and the top bow
• Hanging loop and a written guide

Care

Felt catches lint and the trims snag on cloth, so it wants brushing rather than wiping. It should never go into water. Store it flat or hanging rather than folded, and keep weight off the balloon panels, which are the part that takes a crease.

Before the first stitch