Silly Solutions

BREAKING NEWS: Mr. Joe detained after suspicious amounts of fun, laughter, and balloon-related chaos were reported. 🚔🎈😂

Big thanks to Arizona Rangers - North Valley Company!for the great conversations, camaraderie, and unforgettable good times!

I guess he didn't read the sign? NO WATER GUNS. Unfortunately, Silly Solutions Mr. Joe had to be taken into custody.

The rules said no sq**rt guns… So Mr. Joe couldn’t resist making a balloon super soaker! ;)

The greatest balloon artist, Mr. Joe of Silly Solutions. Sadly, this is going to end very differently because of this sq**rt gun. Scroll through to find out.

Mr. Joe entertaining the young & old out in Arizona! Big thanks to the Arizona Rangers - North Valley Company for the great picture of him in action!

Lions.... and tigers.... and bears... OH MY! Silly Solutions artist Joe Tombarello really entertained the kids.

Las Vegas – Twist & Shout Balloon Convention 2026 🎈

One of the highlights of the convention is the timed competitions. Balloon artists get a very short amount of time to create something impressive from scratch. No second chances — just skill, speed, and a little bit of chaos.

This year I jumped into a few of them:

🎮 3-Minute Competition
I built a Nintendo Switch in three minutes. When the clock starts, you twist fast and hope your hands keep up with your brain.

🐉 10-Minute Competition
For this one I created a Japanese dragon. Ten minutes feels like forever compared to three… until it suddenly isn’t.

🎈 15-Minute “Iron Latex” Challenge
This one is the real curveball. Every competitor receives the exact same mystery pile of balloons — and we don’t see them until the moment the timer starts.

You open the bag, see what you’ve got, and improvise a sculpture on the spot. It’s basically balloon-twisting improv.

It’s fast, stressful, ridiculous… and honestly one of the most fun parts of the convention.

Balloon artists from all over the world competing, learning, and pushing each other to get better.

HIROSHIMA, JAPAN - JAN 2026

Mr. Joe continues his balloon studies in Japan, learning directly from master balloon artist Hagiwara-san and other leading Japanese balloon professionals.

Hagiwara-san’s weaving techniques are exceptional, and the chance to study these methods at the source is a rare and meaningful gift. 🎈