I was in line at the party store picking up balloons when I spotted giant pink heart balloons and nearby gold starbursts. The combination immediately screamed SPARKLY HEART EMOJI. It felt like fate. I also noticed a larger starburst and knew a sparkles emoji balloon was possible. I made both, and since the emoji face balloons were so popular, I hope you’ll love these bright, playful versions as much as I do.
P.S. There’s a funny outtake reel at the end of this post — definitely worth a look!
Sparkle Heart Balloon Pack
Sparkle Balloon Pack
Helium
String or ribbon
Glue dots, hot glue, tape and/or strong adhesive
Scissors
I bought my balloons locally at Joker Party Supply (Los Angeles) — buy what’s available near you.
1. Inflate the balloons with helium. Note: the smaller starbursts usually won’t float on their own, so fill those with air if you prefer. Tie the heart and any large starbursts with ribbon.
2. To make the heart sparkle: attach two small starbursts to the heart using glue dots or a low-temperature hot glue gun. Be careful not to press the glue gun tip directly to the balloon surface.
3. To create the sparkles effect: secure a small starburst to the top-left point and another to the bottom-left point of the large starburst using tape or hot glue. If the large starburst leans, add a small counterweight to the opposite point. One easy trick is to cut 1–2″ from a large popsicle stick and tape it to the tip to balance the balloon.
Shooting balloon photos takes patience. We prefer outdoor shoots for natural light, but wind, traffic, and passersby add challenges. Sometimes you just wait for the perfect moment. We’ve developed a few tricks over time, but many of the best shots come from persistence and timing — and plenty of outtakes.
Photos by Jeff Mindell
This emoji pairing is one of my favorites. I’d love to include the dancing lady emoji someday, but that’s a tougher balloon project — I’m working on it. For now: sparkly emoji balloons for the win!
P.S. Check out more emoji balloon ideas for additional inspiration.