Easy EVA Foam Flowers

Flower are so pretty for so many craft projects! Learn to use EVA Foam (craft foam) to make beautiful flowers that you can use to decorate just about anything.

MATERIALS:

• 2mm EVA Foam (my foam is from SKS Props)
• Paper or Craft Scissors (Not your good fabric scissors)
• Hobby or Utility Knife
• Sharpie or Marking Tool
• Quilt/Sewing Pin (OPTIONAL)
• Templates or Die Cutter and Dies (I use a Sizzix Big Shot)
• Heat Gun
• Respirator
• Acrylic Paint (medium body works best)
• Paintbrush
• Wax Paper or Surface for Painting
• Ruler
• Super Glue (OPTIONAL)
• Acrylic Gloss Varnish (OPTIONAL)

FOR DIE CUTTER:

Measure your die. Mark and cut a rectangle of your EVA foam to prepare it for the die cutter.

FOR PAPER TEMPLATE:

Measure the size of you template and cut a rectangle of your foam.

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Check to make sure your rectangle fits your die or template.

FOR DIE CUTTER:

Place your plexi sheets, die, and foam correctly in your die cutter (use your die cutter instructions). Run the foam through the die cutter. Pop out your flower shape(s).

FOR PAPER TEMPLATE:

Trace your template onto your foam and cut out the flower shape(s).

Gently make scores in the foam to help define the flower petals.

DO NOT CUT THROUGH THE FOAM

The scores will open up when you heat them and help the flower to curl nicely. You don't need to use a specific pattern, just one you think looks nice. You can score as much or as little as you like.

I chose to do a three layered flower, so I repeated the scoring on all three layers of my flower.

WEAR YOUR RESPIRATOR

Heating EVA foam gives off toxic fumes. Be sure to wear a respirator and do this in a room with good ventilation.

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Using a heat gun on medium heat and low blower (if available), heat the flowers. Move the heat around constantly as the EVA foam does burn rather easily.

Keep heating until you see the scores open up. Just as the flower starts to curl - turn off the heat.

Quickly form the flower as it cools. You can use a ball or bowl or just your fingers.

The flowers have a tendency to run around with the blower of the heat gun, so I pinned mine to an old disposable tray I had. This is optional.

Protect your painting surface and prepare your paint and paintbrush.

Brush on a thin layer of paint onto one side of all of the layers. Don't worry about your edges just yet.

When that paint dries - paint the other side of the layers.

When that layer is dry - paint the edges. Be sure to brush away any excess paint on the top or bottom. Acrylic paint dries exactly where it is and you will make ridges if you don't brush away the excess.

Repeat as many times as you need until you have an even coat of pain on your flowers.

You can paint your flowers any way you like - so get creative here!

If you want your flowers to be shiny - you can optionally use acrylic gloss varnish.

I painted a thin layer of varnish on all of the layers - one side at a time.

Watch for bubbles or pooling. Use a dry brush to clean that up.

Using super glue, attach the layers together.

Use a few beads of glue on the bottom of each layer.

Press firmly and let dry between layers.

Now it's time to get creative! Try adding a rhinestone, pearl, or stone to the center of your flower.

Have fun making lovely flowers!