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It’s time to learn a fun behind-the-scenes secret for making any kind of arrangement. Check out how to use spray foam for crafts and all the dos and don’ts you need to know when working with it.

Y’all, prepare to have your minds blown wide open in amazement. You can use spray foam for all your crafting needs!

Spray foam for crafting? Yes! Most people think of spray foam as a home improvement and insulation tool. And it IS that…but I have a secret for you. You can also use spray foam for crafts! 

Not only can you use it, but it’s going to make your life SO much easier, especially if you do any kind of centerpieces or hanging displays. 

Using spray foam for your crafts is genius because it’s simple to use and easy to shape and place wherever you want it. Plus, it attaches to surfaces very securely so there’s no worry of it falling off (or out)!

collage of images showing spray foam in a decorative bowl

Advantages to Using Spray Foam for Crafting

If you’ve never tried doing this before, there are some good reasons why you might want to give it a shot:

  • One can goes a long way, so it’s cheaper than buying blocks of foam.
  • It’s super easy to shape exactly the way you want it.
  • Because it’s a simple spray that you can shape as you go, using spray foam saves you the time you would spend on cutting and shaping precut blocks of craft foam.
bowl of spray foam and spray foam can on a cutting mat

How to Use Spray Foam For Crafts

I’m going to walk you through the process and then give you some tips and pointers as well as some important do’s and don’ts you’ll want to know before working with spray foam for crafts for the first time.

What to Use Spray Foam With

Y’all, to do this, you’ll need to gather a can of spray foam and whatever you want to use it with. 

For example, you can add spray foam to:

  • Ceramic bowls
  • Metal buckets
  • Wooden bowls, cups, or plates
  • Plastic plate chargers
  • Plastic (or ceramic) cups or mugs
  • Vases large and small
  • Wall hangings such as a cross or plaques
  • And more!

Make Your Spray Foams Mold Multi-Purposeful

Another option is to make individual “cow patties” just on a sheet of plastic in any shape you want. That way they won’t be “stuck” in an object and you can use them in different projects anytime you want.

Pro Tip: If you’re using a cup or bowl, make sure that you fill it less than halfway because it will expand so much and might overflow.

How do I know if the spray foam is ready to use for crafting?

After you spray your foam, wait at least 24 hours for the spray foam to completely dry. It might take longer than that y’all! 

Make sure to check to see if it’s dry before jumping into your project. Take a craft stick and poke the spray foam.

It’s ready when:

  • Your stick comes back out completely dry (not wet or moist at all). 
  • It doesn’t make Rice Krispies sounds – you know, the “snap, crackle, and pop” sounds.

Video Tutorial On Using Spray Foam

Here’s a quick video showing me using spray foam and talking through it.

Tips for Using Spray Foam for Crafts 

There are a few things I want you to know about working with spray foam before you actually use it for the first time.

It expands

This is first on the list because it will expand probably more than you realize. Keep in mind that spray foam expands substantially…at least 2-3 times the size it was when you sprayed it.

It’s crucial that you remember this because it’s easy to think you need to spray more and then realize (too late) that you sprayed too much. 

Less is more

Seriously, I want to make this point very clear. Spray almost less than you think you need because this foam expands! If you spray too much, you will likely ruin your project and have to start over again.

Let it dry completely before you use it for crafting

It’s important that you test your foam spray before using it. If you poke something into your spray foam before it’s fully dry, it will “leak” out from where you poked it and essentially bubble out and ruin your project.

So you definitely do not want to spray your foam and begin using it right away. You’re going to have to think ahead and do your spraying a few days before you actually want to work on the project.

Only spray in the middle of the container

Here’s my engineer brain talking.

When you’re spraying foam into a bowl, cup, or another container, only spray into the middle and leave some space between the foam and the edges of your container. 

This will allow room for the foam to expand without breaking the container.

The one exception I have to this advice of spraying in the middle is that when you spray foam into something long and narrow (like a tall, narrow vase), spray only on one side of the container at the bottom so that the foam has room to expand.

Protect your workspace

I am not even kidding about this, y’all. This stuff gets messy and you don’t want to ruin your carpet, your flooring, or your work table (remember how I said this stuff sticks to surfaces really well?).

Put some cardboard or plastic sheeting down to protect everything.

Things to avoid when using spray foam for crafting

Here are a couple of important things to be aware of when working with spray foam. Avoid:

  • Touching it when it’s wet – remember how I said that it REALLY sticks to surfaces. You do not want this stuff stuck to your hands or anywhere else it shouldn’t be.
  • Spraying more once the can starts to spray air (you’ll hear it) because it’ll splatter and make a giant mess.
  • Avoid using spray foam in an enclosed space, or without proper ventilation.
  • Do not use the foam near any open flame, as it is highly flammable and could catch fire easily.

That’s it about using spray foam for crafts, y’all! I hope you just learned a cool new trick that will help you save time and level up your crafting skills.

closeup of a bowl of spray foam.

Final Thoughts

If you found this post helpful, check out more of our crafting and business posts:

If you need any help with centerpiece-making, bow-making, wreath-making, or crafting in general, be sure to check out more of our tutorials and helpful posts on How to Make Wreaths.

We would love to see your beautiful creations! Please share with us over at the How To Make Wreaths Facebook Group.

If you’re interested in more info on learning how to make wreaths or being in a community of like-minded crafters, check out our Creative Coaching Subscription Group

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Just pin this how to use spray foam tutorial below to find the instructions later!

How to Use Spray Foam for your Projects
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