What is a Balloon Base?
- There are fifteen origami base folds and the balloon base is one of them. The balloon base is also known as a water bomb or paper balloon. Start with a square sheet of paper. If your paper is rectangular, take the top right-hand corner and fold the paper, so the corner meets the left-hand side of the sheet. Make sure top edge of the paper is parallel to the left side. Crease the paper. A strip of paper will extend below the resulting triangle. Cut or tear this piece off. The result is a square piece of paper with a diagonal crease in it which is the starting fold of the balloon base.
- The balloon base is considered an intermediate base. It uses two basic folds: valley and mountain. It can be awkward to fold, if you are using a small sheet of paper. When properly done, there is a small hole which is used to blow air into the finished base.
- The balloon base is the foundation for a variety of origami models such as angel fish, buildings, turtles, frogs, tulip blossoms, a winged box, and a swallow. Not all models require that the balloon base be inflated.
- The balloon base is also known as the water bomb. Instead of filling the balloon base with air, some have filled it with water (or milk, or other liquid) and tossed it at others. The paper disintegrates fairly quickly, so there is not much time to find a target. Never toss a water bomb at an animal or at someone's face.
