Blondie Balloons

December 21, 2024

Blondie Balloons

As you drive down St. Charles Street, a bright pink sign pops out with pizzaz. It catches the attention of everyone that drives by like a bubble gum chewing girl reaching out to catch their elusive rosy colored balloon. Curious customers and initial clients will walk through a hand-painted door inscribed, Blondie Balloons, (painted by Kassie Voisin) and enter a bubbly pink art gallery. This “gallery” is walled with airy and ornamental balloon art by Jasmine Becnel.

Jasmine Becnel is owner of Blondie Balloons located at 1297 St. Charles Street Houma, Louisiana. She is a smocked artist, splatted daily with balloons, that endlessly creates rarity for each hired event. With the help of her sister, Alexis Jones, a full-time employee, Jasmine visualizes opportunity and swipes her “blank canvas” with ballooning whimsy and elaborate expressionism.

“I’m an extremely artistic person. So, having an outlet that has endless opportunities, that’s really fun for me,” Jasmine said.

Prior to the God-given opportunity of full-time artist, Hi-5, and Blondie Balloons (DBA/ Doing Business As) was originally owned by James Cabirac. The original creator of Blondie Balloons was Erica Cheramie, who sported a spry blonde pixie cut. Therefore, the present business name.

The trajectory of Blondie Balloons (and Hi-5) curved like a noodle balloon when Hurricane Ida destroyed mass inventory. Erica decided to resign from designing balloon art. Thus, James opted for a location change. Hi-5 and Blondie Balloons opened in Southland Mall shortly after Ida’s destruction.

Then, the gears inside God’s clock started to circulate. Before Jasmine hung her smock within her present balloon “studio”, an opportunity was presented by a resonant rainbow-haired sprit, Dacia Persilver.

“When I walked into Hi-5 with my husband’s little sister, there was this girl with rainbow hair at the front named Dacia. I worked with her at Olive Garden three or four years prior. I wasn’t working at the time, and my husband was working offshore. Dacia said, ‘I remember you. You used to have a wreath business, and you used to paint. You’re very artsy, so I have the perfect job for you,’” Jasmine explained.

Therefore, from 2022 until the summer of 2023, Jasmine created picturesque balloon pieces. During that time, the owner James Cabirac had thoughts of selling Hi-5 and Blondie Balloons.

“Also, around that time, two things happened. My husband got injured offshore and he had to have an amputation. A drunk driver also hit my car in front of my house, and it was totaled. So, we were struggling. Awhile after, Dacia had a heart attack and passed away,” Jasmine explained.

“Dacia was the whole heart and soul of all of this. Especially, when Erica left, she was the whole heart and soul of everything,” she added.

After Dacia’s passing, James made the final decision to sell Hi-5 and Blondie Balloons. God’s clocked started to chime, “it is time”. It was time for Jasmine to go full throttle with her artistic approach to balloons and immerse herself in the community.

“James told me, ‘I think this was God. Dacia connected all of us. Everything is lining up. So, I’m offering you Blondie Balloons detached from Hi-5,’” Jasmine stated.

Jasmine pondered the offer, and with her husband’s slight push, she fell into a fun balloon pit and became store owner and operator of Blondie Balloons. She is also the social media manager, photographer and editor, and consultant. She takes on many titles and loses sleep, but her love for creating “Van Gogh - Starry Night” balloon whimsy keeps her “smocked” with daily ambition.

“I told my husband, 'I think I would love to do this.' Then, my husband, Jack Becnel told me, ‘If you think you’re capable of getting your hands dirty and being knee-deep in balloons all day, then do it,’” Jasmine said.

To officially and continually be knee-deep to waist-deep in balloons, Jasmine needed ample space. She needed the ability to freely design balloon garlands shaped like weeping willow trees or sky-wide rainbow backdrops. Thus, she bought the current business front and twisted it into her own space like twisting together a pink balloon dog. Soon after, Blondie Balloons’ brick and mortar grand opening was on Small Business Saturday, November 25^th, 2023.

“Ever since the grand opening, it’s been full throttle. Having a storefront has been phenomenal for our growth. I feel like you need a face in the community,” Jasmine stated.

As you go deeper inside the “studio” and closely see the details of Blondie Balloons, you will notice different facets of the company. One fervent facet is the drive to create an ambience of beauty amongst non-profit events.

“The fact that I can be that person that makes an event beautiful for someone and in turn it could possibly draw people to attend that event which could then raise money for a cause…that matters,” Jasmine explained.

“It’s also about being involved in the community,” she added.

Therefore, Blondie Balloons will match a budget set by the non-profit to help with the bounty of beautification. Jasmine, with the help of family and friends, has created and installed emotionalism that has sponsored growth of future attendance and thus, prosperous fundraising.

One such non-profit is Girls on the Run. There, they installed a sixteen-foot-tall balloon chandelier that hung from the ceiling that reflected sparkles in all the attendees’ eyes. Other non-profits they have helped beautify are Twin Fest, Thrive, Walk with Grace, and Light up the Night (with the collaboration of Southern Girl Balloons).

Blondie Balloons adds zesty and custom “brush works” to memorable moments. Therefore, they offer a multitude of rentals to add to the expressionism of an event. The rentals include a life-size Barbie box, Mickey head, full arch, board shapes, shimmer wall colors, cake stands, five-foot tall marquee numbers, three-foot tall marquee letters, drapes, a greenery wall, and a candy cart.

“This allows us to make a bunch of unique designs that seem custom for every single order even though I’m pulling from the same stock. It creates opportunity and difference with each client’s order,” Jasmine stated.

Also, amongst the balloon art “studio” walls hangs unique Meri Meri specialty party supplies (and other vendors) such as cards, bags, tissue paper, wrapping paper, candles, and gender reveal confetti poppers. Small business, Lexi Lou’s Bowtique is also promoted and props on the wall. Her items include bows, bibs, and crocheted items.

“We offer specialty. I don’t offer something you can get from the party store. We carry plates shaped like race cars, shaped like alligators, and napkins shaped like tractors. I offer things that are unique and that you can’t find at an average store,” Jasmine said.

Blondie Balloons offers different tiers and uniqueness of party balloon creations fitting any client’s budget, desire, and fantastical vision. They offer DIY (Do it Yourself) balloon kits or professional design and installation of balloon garlands, backdrops, and stacks. A customer also has the option to pick up their creation by Jasmine, which includes the necessary installation accessories. Also, if a child desires one shiny red balloon, they can hop in with their mom and skip out the door with their sudden fancy.

“We try and offer selections and sizes for every budget. That’s really important to us, not only to be custom for every person, but we want to be available for everyone,” Jasmine said.

“It doesn’t matter what your budget is and if you know what you’re comfortable with I’m going to offer you the most I possibly can within that,” she added.

Jasmine wants her balloon décor services to be available for everyone in any season of their life. She understands the concepts of budget and busyness like a working mom with limited time. She is also available for a mom who is in the “thick batter” of party planning.

Clients can easily book with Blondie Balloons and efficiently pay via Square. The process of designing desired balloon garlands, backdrops, or stacks can be done without the client being present. Therefore, Jasmine sends detailed and clear color samples, visual mock-ups, and concise itemized invoices digitally and proficiently.

“People are hiring me because they’re busy. They’re busy with work and children,” Jasmine said.

Once Jasmine is hired to create balloon décor for your event, details will be researched, dipped, and swiped onto your event “canvas”. She pushes the artistic boundaries of her expertise by doing twisty noodle work and the overall unfathomable balloon designs.

“With balloons you can do unimaginable things. For me, the stacks are my true love,” Jasmine stated.

“I don’t want to do balloons to just make money. I have this drive to research social media and look at the balloon community. I try and take inspiration from that and twist it into my own thing. I try to create things that push artistic boundaries,” she added.

Jasmine creates her expressionist pieces with balloons that are qualified to endure the pushing of boundaries. Therefore, she prefers balloons of impeccable quality that are from the vendors Sempertex or Tuftex.

Depending on different elements, such as weather, balloon garlands (if installed correctly/ by Jasmine) can last weeks. Each event installation is done with scientific intricacy to maintain the artistic aura of the balloons.

“We try to build our garlands in a way if they do pop due to the Louisiana heat, the balloons fall into themselves and cover up the popped balloon,” Jasmine said.

“I want clients to know when they are going to purchase from me is that they’re getting the highest possible quality and the balloons are going to last as long as I can make it last,” she added.

Jasmine even takes the initiative to try and lengthen the life of helium filled balloons that usually only last under twenty-four hours.

“We use a balloon treatment called Hi-Float. it is like a special glue that keeps helium from escaping,” Jasmine explained.

All balloons that are used to decorate birthday parties, weddings, baby showers; all events are biodegradable. To minimize her footprint on the earth, she also tries to recycle clientele balloons/ foil balloons.

Jasmine wants to significantly help the community like a big moon balloon in one of her backdrops. Therefore, if she diems worthy a ballon garland/ décor is still usable (recyclable), she will either donate them to local nursing homes or neighboring businesses to enjoy.

Blondie Balloons is a business that cheerfully supports other businesses not only by donating used balloons but offering riveting referrals. Within the plaza where they are situated, they are neighbors amongst Chez Bakery, Zack’s, and others.

“Customers will order their cake with Chez Bakery and will pop in here because of their referral. Customers will sometimes ask, ‘Do you do just a normal helium balloon I can take right now?’ I’ll reply, ‘I sure do!’” Jasmine said.

Jasmine brings “birthday clap” cheer to clients and the overall community with her balloon art. Thus, she also creates seasonal in-store displays that are available to the public for free picture opportunities.

“We have a mom and daughter that comes in every season with matching outfits. This previous time they came in with matching Christmas pajamas and also brought their cat,” Jasmine said.

Support from next door businesses, clientele, and her family and friends surround Jasmine and her business like the beads that sometimes wrap her “bracelet charmed” balloon creations.

“My family supporting my dreams and encouraging me is a huge part of what I do. Having my sister here learning my craft and my niece being here playing with balloons, what could be more special,” Jasmine stated.

Blondie Balloons team consists of Samantha, in-store assistant, and Alexis Jones (sister), full-time employee. Assistance from Jasmine’s dad, Raymond Hendry, mom, Doretha Hendry, and her husband, Jack Becnel, has also been beneficial and is gratefully accepted, especially with major installations.

Therefore, her support system has helped sustain her dreams and has attributed to the “finishing touch” of life’s special occasions.

“It says on our website, ‘Our goal is to help everyone celebrate life’s special occasions,’” Jasmine said.

Jasmine puts on her spirited smock every day and walks up to a “white canvas” presented by a client. She daydreams about balloons and their party event potential. Then, she picks up her artist palette overflowing with balloons, and she starts to customize “moments in time”.

“I try to make everything custom and different. I want to make sure your order is for you,” Jasmine stated.

“I want the client to feel like their theme was met and there’s an ambience to their party. It was memorable,” she added.

Over the past couple of years, Blondie Balloons has “brushed” balloon artistry over twenty-two local businesses, about seven festivals, and about seven schools. Achievements also include nominations in POV People’s Choice 2024 (top five) and Bayou Best’s Community Choice Awards (top three). The categories for People’s Choice consisted of customer service, woman-owned business, favorite artist, new business, and specialty gift shop. The Bayou’s Best categories included customer Service and specialty shop.

“We are so grateful to know that the community sees us and trusts us with their events,” Jasmine said.

“Here we are in 2024, barely a year, and the community has taken notice to what I’ve been working so hard at. They see the hard work and appreciate it. Even though it’s just balloons, they see it and that’s special,” she added.

Jasmine looks at balloon decorating as an ambient art form that adds allure to any event. She equates balloon art to a Van Gogh piece over a fireplace mantle. At an event, such as a birthday party or wedding shower, the balloons are the memorial masterpiece over the mantle.

“It all fell in my lap but now, I just love it. It’s art for me,” Jasmine stated.

A calling to beatify events and the community fell into Jasmine’s lap like New Year’s Eve balloons dropping from the ceiling. It all started when she ran into an old friend with rainbow colored hair. Since then, she has spread rainbow-like joy over birthday parties and beyond.

"It fell in my lap because of Dacia and at her memorial service we were encouraged to wear rainbow colors because of her hair. At the service I said at the end of the story I was sharing, ‘I wish I could tell her thank you.’ It’s all because I went into a candy shop and she said, ‘I know you,’” she ended.