The Creative Heart Studio with Lilly Jimenez (Creator of the Balloon Mosaic)

What if your next big idea wasn’t about doing more balloon installs—but creating something totally new? In episode 34 of The Bright Balloon Podcast, I talk with my good friend Lilly Jimenez, founder of The Creative Heart Studio and creator of the Balloon Mosaic. You’ve definitely seen her work—even if you didn’t know it was hers.

She’s the artist and entrepreneur who turned DIY party decor into a massive digital product business, and now she’s helping balloon pros and moms alike elevate their events with beautiful, buildable designs.

Feeling Stuck in the “Service-Only” Cycle

Many balloon artists feel like the only way to grow is by booking more installs, working more weekends, and constantly trading time for money.

Lilly’s story offers another way.

What started as a creative party blog for DIY moms evolved into a full-scale business when one of her ideas—a foam board unicorn filled with tiny balloons—went viral. But with that success came copycats, legal challenges, and the need to seriously protect her work.

Instead of throwing in the towel, she built a business that now sells templates, kits, and digital downloads—and she's done it all while staying true to her creative roots.

A Scalable, Creative Business That Stays Fun

Lilly didn’t just create a product. She invented an entirely new category in the balloon world.

Balloon mosaics are now everywhere—at birthday parties, corporate events, and baby showers—but they started with one mom, one unicorn design, and a lot of hot glue.

Lilly shares how she moved from doing high-end kids’ party planning to building a digital storefront that now supports her full-time (and her husband’s!). She opens up about navigating growth, dealing with imitation, and choosing to stay focused on being two steps ahead instead of getting stuck in drama.

Protect Your Work and Know Your Worth

Whether you’re designing custom decor or launching a digital product, Lilly’s advice is gold:

• Define your audience (DIYers vs. balloon pros)

• Set your pricing based on your work—not on what clients want to pay

• Don’t be afraid to evolve when your ideas start to take off

• Stay focused on creation over comparison

She also gets real about the myth that mosaics “aren’t profitable”—and explains why that usually comes down to pricing and practice, not the product itself.

If you’ve ever thought about creating a product, protecting your IP, or just want to hear how one woman turned a creative idea into a full-fledged business, this episode is for you.

Listen to “The Creative Heart Studio with Lilly Jimenez” here!