How to make a stress ball with a balloon (17+ ways)
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The Optimistminds editorial team is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health professionals. Each article is written by a team member with exposure to and experience in the subject matter. The article then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. This is someone with extensive knowledge of the subject matter and highly cited published material.
In this blog post, we show you over 17 ways of making a stress ball using only a balloon and different types of fillings.
What is a stress ball?
An anti-stress ball is a perfect solution for the moments when you feel very anxious.
This ball can help you get rid of stress and/or your nerves.
Just by squeezing this ball, you will feel your body free of negative emotions.
Making an anti-stress ball is very easy. You can give them as a gift or have them at home, at school or at the office.
If you want to make someone you love feel a little better, less stressed, and more relaxed, try these Best Gifts for Stress & Anxiety.
You can buy foam stress balls or make one with a balloon.
How to make a stress ball with a balloon step by step
What we need:
- A balloon
- Flour, starch, sand or other “filling material”
- A plastic bottle
- Markers, yarn and any soft decor
Before starting to work, check that the balloon is intact. Inflate it, wait a bit. If the balloon does not deflate – everything is okay, release it and continue to work.
How to make an anti-stress ball step by step?
First, you need to make a funnel from the plastic bottle. To do this, cut off its upper part and get rid of the cork.
If you have a plastic funnel in the kitchen, use it and skip this step.
Pull the base of the balloon over the neck of the funnel (or bottle) and begin to pour the filler in the future anti stress toy.
To make the flour (or another filling) compacted, help yourself with the back of your pencil or pen. Do this carefully so as not to damage the balloon.
The toy must be durable. To do this, tie the already filled ball with a tight knot and cut off its tip.
For reliability, you can additionally pull the knot with an elastic band or thread. And you are almost done!
You can make the stress ball funnier if you take a small piece of fur or fluff to make the ball a voluminous “hairstyle”, for example.
Also, using superglue, you can attach a ribbon or elastic band to the stress ball so that you can hang the toy.
And your stress ball is ready. Enjoy and relax!
If you don’t have a balloon available, you can still make a stress ball without a balloon.
How to make a stress ball with 2 balloons
Making a stress ball with 2 balloons is recommended if you want to be sure that your stress ball will be the most solid and durable!
The steps are similar to when you make a stress ball from a single balloon.
Choose your favourite filling (whether it’s flour, sand, baking soda or something else), and fill the first balloon with the required amount, until you are satisfied.
After you are done, tie the already filled ball with a tight knot and cut off its tip. For reliability, you can additionally pull the knot with an elastic band or thread.
Now take the second balloon and cut off its tip. Place one balloon in another.
Tying the second balloon is not necessary – if desired, it can be glued using superglue.
And that’s it, now you’ve made a stress ball with 2 balloons!
How to make a stress ball with a balloon and baking soda
What we need:
- A balloon
- For the filling: baking soda and hair conditioner
- A spoon and a bowl
- Scissors
- A funnel
- Markers
For the filling:
It is recommended to mix two cups of baking soda with half a cup of hair conditioner.
The hair conditioner will make the ball either very squishy or firm, so you can either increase or decrease the amount, depending on the result you wish for.
Pull the base of the balloon over the neck of the funnel (or bottle) and begin to pour the filler in the future anti-stress toy.
Before “closing” the balloon, make sure there aren’t any air bubbles left.
Tie the already filled ball with a tight knot and cut off its tip. If you wish a personalized toy, you can decorate it with markers.
How to make a stress ball with a balloon and cornstarch
Step #1: Fill your balloon until it is about 4 to 5 inches (10-12 cm) around. Do not tie it, but keep the balloon inflated as best you can.
Step #2: Pull the base of the balloon over the neck of a funnel (you can make one yourself from a recycled bottle if you don’t have a kitchen funnel).
Don’t worry if your balloon deflates a little, which tends to happen during this step.
Step #3: Now you can fill your balloon with the cornstarch. It is best if you add a little amount at a time. What you are trying to do here is to replace the air with cornstarch.
Careful, If you go too quickly, the air leaving the balloon will ventilate the cornstarch into the air and make a mess (well, a fun mess).
Step#4: You are aiming for about 3 inches (7.62 cm) of filling.
Step #5: Before tying the balloon make sure there are no air bubbles. Secure it tight as near to the filling as possible.
Step #6: Use the scissors to cut any excess balloon.
Step #7 (optional): You can decorate your new stress ball. You can make funny/angry faces, write your name on it, or anything else you might want.
How to make a stress ball with a balloon and flour
For this project we will need:
- A balloon
- Flour
- A kitchen funnel or a plastic bottle
First, you need to make a funnel from the plastic bottle. To do this, cut off its upper part and get rid of the cork.
If you have a plastic funnel in the kitchen, use it and skip this step.
Pull the base of the balloon over the neck of the funnel (or bottle) and begin to pour the flour.
You can use a spoon if it’s easier, and to make less mess. To keep the flour compacted, help yourself with the back of your pencil or pen.
Do this carefully so as not to damage the balloon.
Before closing the balloon make sure there aren’t any air bubbles. Secure it tight and that’s it!
Such a simple DIY toy, that you can personalize if you want to.
How to make a stress ball with a balloon and flower
What we need:
- A balloon of any colour
- Any filling (for example: flour, baking soda, sand)
- A funnel
- Paper flowers
- Superglue
- Choose your favourite filling (whether it’s flour, sand, baking soda or something else), and fill the balloon with the required amount, until you are satisfied. Use a funnel for this step, as it is easier and will make less mess.
- After you are done, tie the already filled ball with a tight knot and cut off its tip. For reliability, you can additionally pull the knot with an elastic band or thread.
- You can now decorate your stress ball with your favourite paper flowers, using super glue! Use your imagination, to create a beautiful and unique stress ball in the end.
And that’s how you make a stress ball with a balloon and flowers!
How to make a stress ball with a balloon and oobleck
Oobleck is a very interesting substance. It is both liquid and solid, depending on you squeezing it or let it free. It is a great material for a stress ball.
The materials we will need:
1. Cornstarch
2. Liquid Measuring Cup
3. Water Bottles full of water: You will be using both the water and the bottles
4. Balloons
5. A large plastic container for mixing.
To make the oobleck you first must mix cornstarch with water(from the bottles) in a large plastic container.
After you are done mixing, pour the content into the now empty bottles. Be careful not to make a mess!
The next step can be tricky, but you have to pour the content from the bottles into the balloon.
After you are done, tie your balloons. And that is pretty much it! Easy, right?
If you want to make sure your new stress ball is durable, you can squeeze it into another balloon, as it will serve as a shield.
Have fun with your new toy!
How to make a stress ball with a balloon and orbeez
What we need:
- A clear balloon
- Orbeez
- A funnel
- Large bowl
- Water
- Empty plastic bottle
First, you have to “grow” your Orbeez. Put them in a large bowl, fill it with water and leave overnight, so that the Orbeez can grow into big, squishy water beads.
The next day, fill the empty plastic bottle with the full-grown Orbeez. You can use a funnel to make it easier.
Inflate your balloon, and after that twists its opening to keep the air from escaping.
Pull the base of the balloon over the neck of the bottle, let it untwist, then turn the bottle upside down.
The Orbeez should start falling into the balloon one by one.
Once you are done, remove the balloon from the bottle, make sure there aren’t any air bubbles left before tying it.
And that’s it! Have fun with your new home-made stress ball!
How to make a stress ball with a balloon and play-doh/playdough
The materials we need:
- Two balloons
- 1/3 cup of play-doh
- Markers, yarn and any soft decor
Step #1: Fill the balloon with the play-doh
Step #2: Once the playdough is inside the balloon, take it and put it inside the other balloon so you have two layers of balloons around the play dough.
Step #3: You can make the stress ball funnier if you take a small piece of fur or fluff to make the ball a voluminous “hairstyle”, for example.
Also, using superglue, you can attach a ribbon or elastic band to the stress ball so that you can hang the toy.
That’s it! Enjoy your new stress ball!
How to make a stress ball with a balloon and rice
The materials we need:
- balloons
- Rice
- funnel
- scissors
Step #1: Fill the balloon with the rice
Step #2: Once the desired amount of rice is inside the balloon, take it and put it inside the other balloon so you have two layers of balloons around your filling.
Rice can be quite harsh, so this step is more than recommended.
Step #3: You can make the stress ball funnier if you take a small piece of fur or fluff to make the ball a voluminous “hairstyle”, for example.
Also, using superglue, you can attach a ribbon or elastic band to the stress ball so that you can hang the toy.
That’s it! Enjoy your new stress ball!
How to make a stress ball with a balloon and sand
What we need:
- A balloon
- Sand
- A plastic bottle
Before starting to work, check that the balloon is intact. Inflate it, wait a bit. If the balloon does not deflate – everything is okay, release it and continue to work.
How to make an anti-stress ball step by step?
First, you need to make a funnel from the plastic bottle. To do this, cut off its upper part and get rid of the cork.
If you have a plastic funnel in the kitchen, use it and skip this step.
Pull the base of the balloon over the neck of the funnel (or bottle) and begin to pour the sand.
The toy must be durable. To do this, tie the already filled ball with a tight knot and cut off its tip.
For reliability, you can additionally pull the knot with an elastic band or thread. And you are done!
How to make a stress ball with a balloon and shaving cream
There is nothing simpler than doing a stress ball with a balloon and shaving cream.
The two materials you need are:
- A balloon
- A bottle of shaving cream
The steps are simple: Put the balloon over the shaving cream container. All you have to do is “pour” the cream into the balloon.
Be careful because it usually comes out very quickly, it being extremely fluffy.
After you consider that you have put enough shaving cream in your balloon, carefully remove it from the container.
Wipe the balloon if it got dirty, and tie it very tightly. Children should do this under adult supervision.
Congratulations! You made your own stress ball using only a balloon and shaving cream.
How to make a stress ball with a balloon and slime
The materials we need:
- Two balloons
- 1/3 cup of slime
- Markers, yarn and any soft decor
Step #1: Fill the balloon with the slime
Step #2: Once the slime is inside the balloon, take it and put it inside the other balloon so you have two layers of balloons around the slime.
Step #3: You can make the stress ball funnier if you take a small piece of fur or fluff to make the ball a voluminous “hairstyle”, for example.
Also, using superglue, you can attach a ribbon or elastic band to the stress ball so that you can hang the toy.
That’s it! Enjoy your new stress ball!
How to make a stress ball with a balloon and toothpaste
To make a stress ball with a balloon and toothpaste you will need:
– A balloon of your favorite color
– A tube of toothpaste
Children should be supervised by an adult. Toothpaste is not food!
That being said, let’s get to work.
It is very simple to do this type of stress ball. All you have to do is fill your balloon with toothpaste.
Before doing this, I recommend that you inflate the balloon to make sure it is not damaged, and to make it even more elastic.
After that, put the balloon over the toothpaste tube, and start filling it until you think it is enough!
The next step is to tie the balloon as tightly as possible, wipe it with a napkin if it has become dirty, and decorate it as you like!
How to make a stress ball with a balloon flour and water
For this project we will need:
- A balloon
- Flour
- A kitchen funnel or a plastic bottle
- Water
First, you need to make a funnel from the plastic bottle. To do this, cut off its upper part and get rid of the cork. If you have a plastic funnel in the kitchen, use it and skip this step.
Pull the base of the balloon over the neck of the funnel (or bottle) and begin to pour just a little bit of water.
This will make the balloon heavier. Next, add a little amount of flour, and massage the balloon, making sure the ingredients mix together.
Keep adding water and flour until you are satisfied with the size of your stress ball.
Before closing the balloon make sure there aren’t any air bubbles.
Secure it tight and that’s it! Such a simple DIY toy, that you can personalize if you want to.
How to make a stress ball with a balloon without cornstarch
You can make a stress ball with a balloon without using cornstarch. Instead, you can use other filling such as: flour, baking soda, sand, rice, playdough or slime!
All you have to do is to fill a balloon with the type of feeling you like most. Use a kitchen funnel to make this step easier.
Make sure to not leave any air bubbles before tying the balloon. Secure it tight, and decorate it if you like!
There is no simpler DIY out there!
How to make a stress ball with a balloon without flour
You can make a stress ball with a balloon without using flour.
Instead, you can use other common fillings such as: cornstarch, baking soda and hair conditioner, sand, rice, playdough or slime!
Choose your favourite filling (whether it’s cornstarch, sand, baking soda or something else), and fill the balloon with the required amount, until you are satisfied.
Use a funnel for this step, as it is easier and will make less mess.
After you are done, tie the already filled ball with a tight knot and cut off its tip.
For reliability, you can additionally pull the knot with an elastic band or thread.
You can now decorate your stress ball to make it funnier. Use your imagination, to create a beautiful and unique stress ball!
How to make a stress ball with a long balloon
To make a stress ball with a long balloon you will need:
– A balloon of your favorite color
– Filling material (which can be flour, slime, baking soda or anything else)
– Scissors
– Funnel
– Decorating materials (optional)
To make things as simple as possible, for this project you will need a funnel. If you don’t have one in the kitchen, you can make it from a plastic bottle.
To do this, cut off its upper part and get rid of the cork.
Pull the base of the balloon over the neck of the funnel (or bottle) and begin to pour the filler into your future anti stress toy.
Fill the balloon until you reach the size you want your toy. But my recommendation is to fill about a third of the balloon.
The toy must be durable. To do this, tie the already filled ball with a tight knot and cut off the remaining balloon.
For reliability, you can additionally pull the knot with an elastic band or thread.
And that’s it! Congratulations, you made your own stress ball with a long balloon.
Conclusions
Stress balls are fun to make with your kids, partners, colleagues. They are also very handy in times of stress.
In this blog post, we showed you over 17 ways of making a stress ball using only a balloon and different types of fillings.
If you liked our ideas, do not hesitate to leave a comment!
