This unique balloon stretcher is designed to stretch balloons from 6 through 18. It is especially useful in mounting the smaller balloons on the rose stuffer attachment. A balloon expander easily allows balloons to be stuffed with teddy bears, smaller balloons, florals, gifts and anything else that can fit into a balloon. How to use: 1.Take any 18 balloon, roll back the mouth of the balloon a few rolls, place the balloon over the eight raised prongs. These prongs are together when the handles are spread apart. 2. Simply squeeze the handles together and the prongs will spread apart stretching the balloon to fit over the machine collar. 3. Make sure the prongs are upward and the opening of the stretcher is directly over the collar of the machine. Also make sure the tabs on the machine collar are not directly under the stretcher finger or the ballon will not mount properly. 4. When the opening of the stretcher is centered over the collar, lower the stretcher until the mouth of the balloon is lower than the bottom of the collar ring. 5. Releasing the pressure on the handles of the stretcher will allow the balloon to fit closely to the collar. Make sure the mouth of the balloon is below the bottom of the tabs on the collar. With a downward motion, push the stretcher until the balloon releases from the prongs of the stretcher. 6. Squeeze the handles together so the prongs expand to their maximum. Lift the stretcher over and off the collar. The balloon is now loaded on the stuffing machine. Note: 1.This is not a complete machine,it is a stretcher ONLY, you can not stuff balloons without the whole machine.(It is recommended to use with a balloon filling machine.) 2.Printed balloons with lettering will have to be turned inside out before mounting on the balloon stretcher, or the lettering will not be legible.