Styrofoam Balls

Styrofoam balls serve multiple purposes for the hobbyist or crafter. Styrofoam is a generic word in the United States used for a substance made of expanded

polystyrene and is used to make some coffee cups and coolers. Styrofoam is also used as packaging material and for cushioning.  One of the main uses for expanded polystyrene is for hobbyists and crafting purposes. Crafters can use styrofoam in about any project by simply painting it and adding decoration.  Styrofoam is a popular substance to use due to how light it is which makes it easy to work with, and because it is extremely inexpensive.

Styrofoam balls are a common form of styrofoam sold in craft and hobby stores and are essential items to have in your crafting set due to their versatility.  Styrofoam balls are great for the beginning crafter due to their price. Beginning crafters can go through bags of styrofoam balls experimenting and making mistakes without wasting too much money.  The beginning crafter can also craft beautiful items that appear more advanced than they are by simply using the balls.  Simply painting and adding a hook to a styrofoam ball will create a ornament that has a personal touch.  You can also involve your children in simple crafting using styrofoam balls by making ornaments or costumes with them.

The more advanced crafter will also find styrofoam balls useful to keep in stock. Styrofoam balls can be easily cut into any shape to suit your project. Besides paint, the more advanced crafter can add any other embellishments like beads or sequin.  Usually the more skilled crafter uses styrofoam balls as a part of a larger crafting project. For example, the crafter might craft a basket and put decorated styrofoam balls inside the basket to represent food or something else. These are essential items to have in your crafting set if you are either a new crafter or a more skilled crafter.

Regardless of whether or not you are a new or skilled crafter, there are a few items that you can make with styrofoam balls that everyone should know about.  First of all, the most common use for styrofoam balls is probably to make ornaments. These ornaments are extremely easy to make, you just purchase the desired size of styrofoam balls and paint them to go with your theme.  When crafting costumes for Halloween, these balls are also useful.  An outfit that needs antennae could use styrofoam balls on the end of the antennae. You can also attach them to any other part of the costume as they are perfect to add personality to the costume.

Like I mentioned earlier, styrofoam balls are inexpensive and can be found at any hobby and crafting store like Hobby Lobby or a major retail store like Wal-Mart or Target.  You will be able to find different colors and sizes, but I would recommend opting for the default white. The prices will depend on the size and quantity of stytofoam balls that you desire but generally it runs a couple of dollars for a dozen. If you are looking to buy some, I would recommend buying them here.

Easy Crafts for Kids with Styrofoam Balls

If you are looking for inexpensive craft ideas for kids that are both engaging and entertaining, Styrofoam balls make a great choice. Styrofoam balls are inexpensive

spheres of Styrofoam that can be punctured, cut, painted, textured, or pretty much anything you can think of. The balls work great for kid crafts because they are harmless, and easy to create things out of. You don’t have to stretch your imagination much to make fun crafts.

A common craft project involves painting the styrofoam balls and sticking them together to make animals, bugs, or other figures. It is easy to stick the balls together.  A common method involves simply using a toothpick, poking it into one of the balls halfway, then pressing the other styrofoam ball against it. If the spheres are too large to be adhered this way, try using a pencil. You can take the eraser off and sharpen both ends.

For appendages to the little critters things like pipe cleaners are very easy to use. Pipe cleaners can be cleanly poked into the styrofoam balls and will hold their place. For instance you can get a styrofoam balls, and stick eight pipe cleaners into the ball as legs for the spider. The spheres are so light that the pipe cleaners can easily hold up the weight of the critter. Another great tool to use in conjunction with the spheres are googly-eyes. You can buy large cheap packs of googly-eyes either at hobby stores or on the internet, and they can bring any little critter to life.

Depending on the age of the kids, you may not want the using paint. If this is the case it is very easy to use glue sticks and glitter or sequins to color the spheres. Fill a bowl with the sequins or glitter, use a glue stick to cover the sphere with glue, and dip the sphere into the bowl to get the stuff to stick to it. This can get pretty messy so it’s probably better to paint if possible.

Don’t feel confined to making little bugs and animals, let the kiddos pick out what they want to make, and let their imaginations run wild. The spheres can be used to make unique, alien looking critters and the freedom to make what they want allow the kids to develop their creativity. Styrofoam balls, pipe cleaners, and googly-eyes are all very safe for kids and inexpensive so don’t hesitate to start crafting.

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