Party balloons can be filled with several types of filling materials:

- Air can be filled inside balloons using manual foot or bicycle pump or electrically motored pumps, too.

- Helium is another option - it is lightweight and causes the balloon to rise and float away if not tethered - much to the delight of all present.

- Water is used in prank and fun game balloons.

The most popular material used to fabricate balloons is latex or rubber. These are cheaper, but have a high rate of deflation and bursting – they barely last beyond 24 hours. An alternative to these is the foil balloon. Foil balloons are made of thin plastic and have a smoother, glossier finish. They also are more resilient than latex and last much longer. They, however, come expensive for all their virtues.

As party decor, fun and keepsake articles, there is no denying that foil balloons are one up their latex cousins. They look attractive and elate children by becoming their long-standing playmates. It is sheer pleasure to make friends with foil balloons!

Hosts and decorators the world over can rely on foil balloons to be there to suit any possible theme they may think up for a party. There are plenty to choose from.

Even religious parties can have specially crafted foil balloons. Religious themed foil balloons are available in various designs to suit the different religious celebrations, some of which are:

- Christening or Baptism balloons - if it is an occasion involving very young babies and toddlers, pastel-shade crosses, angels, teddy bears etc may be the shape of the balloons. Teenage attendees may use gold or silver cross shaped balloons.

- Confirmation ceremony balloons - Crosses or round-shaped coins containing inscribed crosses are the popular models of balloons used to decorate venues of Confirmation ceremonies.

- The Christmas party is another event where foil balloons will be fun to have. This calls for a more versatile approach and literally anything remotely connected to Christmas - from the baby Jesus to the Christmas tree - can be designed on the balloons.

- Easter balloons - eggs symbolize Easter and hence the Easter balloons adopt that shape most commonly. However, for the more conservative among us, Jesus, haloed angels or the holy cross are popular balloon shapes.

- Hanukkah - the Jewish celebration is commonly conservative in its celebration approach but in more urban families with children, foil balloons may be ordered to carry designs of the oil lamp. As this is a week-long celebration, these balloons make their rare appearance only on the last night.

More often than not, however, these metallic, glossy balloons show up at birthday parties. And for those, there are none more special than the first birthday foil balloons. Everyone's first birthday is a significant moment. New parents, especially, often make a big deal out of their child's first birthday. Foil balloon manufacturers capitalize on this with creative works of art for their balloons.

First birthday foil balloons come in attractive varieties. The figure 1 of course forms an inseparable part of their designs. Sometimes they come actually shaped as 1. Heart shapes, teddy bears and popular flowers are other popular designs. Children favourite characters like Big Bird and Ernie from Sesame Street, Barney and Baby Bop, Pooh or Strawberry Shortcake also serve as models on which to base foil balloon designs.

Children are not the only ones who enjoy foil balloons. All those who intend to stay young at heart cannot in all honesty deny loving balloons! These small air-filled bags make us smile and laugh and remind us of our happy times when they stay back with as mementos.