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How to make a Mickey Mouse Balloon Arch

by Amanda
(Massachusetts)

Mickey Mouse Balloon Arch

I would like to know how to make the frame work for a mickey mouse head arch? I can't seem to figure out how to get the pvc attached to the base so that its rounded and sturdy. Also how would i attach the ears if on pvc?

Mickey Mouse Balloon Arch

Hi Amanda,

I haven't done a Mickey Mouse balloon arch myself. But I found a neat tip over at BalloonHQ.com for making the frame.

Use a three-way compression coupling, also called tee compression coupling, for the two bases.

Insert the conduit into the opening that goes out in a 90 degree angle. Then bend the conduit into the round shape. That should help you in achieving a nice rounded arch shape at the bases.

You could try the same method for the ears. Use the compression couplings at both ends of the ears (where they meet the arch).

You might want to make the ears with 1/4 inch aluminum rod instead of PVC. The rod is easier to bend and the ears don't need to be as sturdy as the rest of the arch.

Nancy Goethel, who created the Mickey Mouse arch seen in the image, shared these helpful tips in the comments (thank you Nancy!):

The bases are extra-heavy 50 pound and are 24" wide. In the plumbing department of Home Depot buy a flange, attach it to the base with threaded screws. The middle of the flange has a threaded 1" metal pipe 3'in length. This is the base.

Insert into this base 1/4" pvc pipe. I make the ears with helium on filament line, and tie them in.

The base of the arch and the bulk of the balloons are air-inflated to 9" and attached to the pvc pipe.

It's a very popular design and simple to make. It is better to use mini-helium arches on top, thus eliminating any structural concerns.

Scroll down to the comments to get more tips about the size of the mickey (or minnie) mouse balloon arch, the materials needed for the base and frame, size and number of the balloons used, different methods for making the ears, and more.

And if you have any additional advice, please share it in a comment! The more the merrier!

Comments for How to make a Mickey Mouse Balloon Arch

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Balloon arch
by: Anonymous

How many balloons did it take to make this arch?

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Reply to Alisha about Number of Balloons
by: Margit

Hi Alisha,

The number of balloons you need depends on the size of the Mickey Mouse balloon arch you're planning to make.

You can calculate the length of the arch frame and the number of balloons with my balloon arch calculator.

Best,
Margit

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how many balloons
by: Alisha

Hi, I am wanting to do a Minnie mouse balloon arch, how many balloons should I purchase to complete the project?
Thanks

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Materials for the Frame
by: Margit

Hi there,

The materials for the frame are mentioned throughout the comments on this page.

You need:
Two heavy metal bases
Flange
Threaded screws
Threaded 12 inch rod
Flexible plain-ended PVC pipe
Monofilament and helium for the ears

Hope that helps,
Margit

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Mickey Mouse frame
by: Anonymous

I am planning on using pool noodles for the frame, $4.00 total and hot gluing them together and connecting the balloons with fishing line. I will let you know how it goes! I'm pretty crafty but this may be a challenge, then finally I will have to come up with a way to secure them to the floor...I'm up for suggestions!

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Mateirals
by: Anonymous

Can I get the specifice materials needed.... I guess you can say that I need to know how to make the frame of it

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Question for Nancy.
by: Jacquelyn

What materials are needed and how many balloons did you use? And will any pvc work ?

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Hardware Question Answer
by: Nancy Goethel

This is my photo (and I am pleased to see it all over the internet). You do not need to bend the poles because it is made with flexible plain-end PVC Pipe over very heavy/wide metal bases which have 12 inch threaded rods. I hope this helps.

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questions..
by: jackie

How do you make this ? I saw measurements already but what materials are needed and approx. How many balloons, how do you get poles to bend?
Son's first birthday ! Thank you

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Reply to Taylor: Balloon Size
by: Margit

I would recommend using 7" or 9" balloons.

Happy decorating!

Margit

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Size
by: Taylor

Last question what size balloon would you say to use for this

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Reply to Taylor - Arch Size
by: Margit

From looking at the photo's background, I would say that the arch (without the ears), is about 7 to 8 feet high.

It also seems to be taller than wide, so you would have to use a different formula to calculate the arch length:

(2 x height) + width = approximate total length.

Hope that helps,
Margit

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Thanks
by: Taylor

Thank you so much and one other question how big would say the one on the pic is

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Reply to Taylor
by: Margit

Hi Taylor,

To inflate balloons to the same size it is best to use a balloon sizer.

I would not recommend doing the complete Mickey Mouse arch with helium filled balloons. The arch wouldn't be stable enough.

As for breaking down the figure 2 formula for you... I am not quite sure what you mean.

I guess you are referring to this formula on the balloon arch instructions page:

For an arch that has the same height and width:
(1.5 x height) + width = approximate total length.

So if your arch should be 6ft tall and wide, the arch length wold be 9ft + 6ft = 15ft.

Hope that helps,
Margit

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Help
by: Taylor

Hi im planning on making a mickey arch for my sons birthday and i know how to make balloon clusters but im having trouble getting all the balloons the same size.

Then my second question is: can i make the arch completely of helium filled balloons? If not, can you break down the figure 2 formula for me please?

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Balloon Arch Step-By-Step
by: Nancy Goethel

The Mickey/Minnie arch can be done either with helium ears tied in or with a wire bent and air-filled for the ears twisted/tied in. I do this both ways.

You can see the photos of the base/threaded conduit and pvc/emt pipe fittings on my FB page. The key to all structures is safety, so use heavy/wide bases for Mickey/Minnie.

Happy Twisting!
Nancy "The Balloon Lady" Goethel

Added by Margit:

Here's an image of one of Nancy's Mickey Mouse balloon arches.

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need to know
by: Anonymous

Can I know how many balloons It took to make this Arch

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Mickey mouse ear arch
by: Annabelles Balloons

We made our ear arch frame using 2 x 20mm conduit stems fixed onto a wooden base then inserting garden canes inside to make it more rigid. Probably a little extreme but it worked for us...

Then 19mm conduit inside the top of these these giving us the arch. We used black gaffer tape to hold into place. So we then had our arch structure, added air filled balloons, then the ears we added helium filled clusters to monoline.

They looked okay...but I'm sure I would have done better if they weren't so big.

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How to attach the Mickey Mouse ears
by: Margit

Hi Moonpie's Nannie,

Another reader, Nancy, had suggested to create the ears with helium filled balloons. You'd simply put the balloon clusters onto a fishing (monofilament) line and tie the line to the PVC frame.

Judging by Nancy's photo on her Facebook Page, this seems to work just as well as creating another sturdy frame for the ears.

Hope that helps,
Margit

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Minnie Mouse Balloon Arch
by: Moonpie's Nannie

Hello, I am making a minnie mouse balloon arch and have used your calculations & suggestions to come up with the PVC and number of balloons.

You stated to use helium balloons for the ears.....how do you attach the ears to the PVC arch?

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Good Luck, Annabelle!
by: Margit

Fingers crossed that your Mickey Mouse balloon arch and other themed designs will turn out fabulously!

Can't wait to see the photos. :-)

Margit

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Mickey Mouse Ear Arch
by: Annabelles Balloons

I'm making a mickey mouse arch , along with loads of mickey mouse items on Wednesday....wish me luch because I'm so nervous, more about the ears...I'll be sending you photos once it's all done x

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ears
by: Sweet69

What did you use to make the ears what kind of frame

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MICKEY BALLOON ARCH
by: LISA

I PURCHASE MY ALREADY MADE BASE AND WAS WONDERING HOW I WOULD ATTACH THE MICKEY EARS...

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Size of Micky Mouse Arch
by: Margit

Regarding the question about the average size of the Micky Mouse arch...

Use these formulas to calculate the size of the arch and how many clusters of balloons you need.

You can even get my free balloon arch calculator (on the page I link to above) to help you with those numbers.

Hope that helps,
Margit

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i need the average size of the mickey arch
by: Anonymous

what was the length and width of the arch to ensure you can fit your balloons properly?

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Mickey Mouse balloon arch base
by: elise

what kind of base did you use for the mickey mouse arch, did you use a wood block or a steel plate? I used a wood block & 1/2 inch pvc pipe attached to a flange on the wood block but it won't stand on its own just like yours.

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Mickey Arch Specifics
by: Nancy Goethel

I think this is my photo from years back here in Rochester. Most recently done in rainbow colors for a wedding.

The bases are extra-heavy 50# and are 24" wide. In the plumbing department of Home Depot buy a flange, attach it to the base with threaded screws. The middle of the flange has a threaded 1" metal pipe 3'in length. This is the base.

Insert into this base 1/4" pvc pipe. I make the ears with helium on filament line, and tie them in.

The base of the arch and the bulk of the balloons are air-inflated to 9" and attached to the pvc pipe.

It's a very popular design and simple to make. It is better to use mini-helium arches on top, thus eliminating any structural concerns.

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The design
by: Anonymous

I would like to know how the cupcake design was done out of the balloons? thanking you in advance

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thanks
by: Anonymous

thank you so much i was thinking the same thing (i made a run to home depot) just wasnt sure if it would work or not. again thank you!

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