How to Make Craft Foam Christmas Ornaments

Craft foam is a thin springy material that comes in different-colored sheets. The foam is easy to cut, glue and paint to make Christmas tree ornaments. You can also use your creations as gift tags for holiday packages.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Brushes
• Acrylic Paints
• Craft Foams
• Glue Guns
• Hot Glue Sticks
• Acrylic Paints
• Holiday Cookie Cutters
• Scissors
• Scissors
• Heavy Cardboard Or Notebook Papers

1. Decide on the shape or shapes you want your ornaments to be. Find suitable shapes on the Internet or in Christmas coloring books and magazines. Medium to large cookie cutters can also be used as sources for your ornament shapes.

2. Trace your chosen ornament shapes onto heavy paper or cardboard. Make one template, or pattern, for each ornament shape.

3. 

   Use scissors to cut out each template from the heavy paper or cardboard.

4. 

   Choose a variety of craft foam colors for your ornament shapes. You will need craft foam for the body of each ornament and an assortment of acrylic paints to decorate your ornaments. A black, fine-line permanent marker can also be used to make facial features or other extra-thin lines.

5. 

   Place your template onto the craft foam and trace around the template with a pencil. Use a small, sharp pair of scissors to cut out the shape from the craft foam. Repeat for each shape.

6. 

   Decorate the craft foam pieces as desired with the acrylic paint and marker. Let paint and marker lines dry thoroughly.

7. 

   Make a hanger for each ornament. Fold a 6-inch length of narrow ribbon in half and knot the ends. Use a hot glue gun to affix a knot to the center back of each ornament. Allow glue to dry thoroughly before hanging.

8. 

   Use your craft foam ornaments as gift tags. Attach the ribbon loop to your gift package with a small piece of cellophane tape. Affix so that tape is hidden underneath the package's ribbon or bow.

Tips & Warnings

• Draw your shapes freehand if you are comfortable with your ability to do so.
• Use a copy machine to enlarge or decrease the size of your ornament shapes before tracing them out onto the template material.
• Use craft foam colors that will complement your ornament shape. For example, if you use a gingerbread shape for your ornament, choose brown craft foam for the body. Embellish with white acrylic paint.
• Use bits of glued-on craft foam to embellish your ornament.
• Paint or write the name of the gift recipient onto the ornament if you are using it as a gift tag.
• Use a very small paper punch to make a hole at the top of your ornament. Push your 6-inch length of ribbon through the small hole and knot ribbon ends. Use this method of affixing the ribbon to the ornament as an alternative to the hot glue gun.
• The hot glue gun should be used by adults only. When using the hot glue gun, keep small children away from your work area.

Resources

• Santa Letters
• Christmas Recipes

on 11/22/2005 For this project, a small, lower-heat glue gun would be perfect. Only use the heavy-duty hot glue for heavy repairs or projects.