How to Work With Craft Foam

Choose a good cutting implement. For thin sheets of foam, the best way to cut is using a good pair of scissors. For the cleanest cuts, avoid delicate scissors like fabric scissors and opt for something more heavy-duty like kitchen shears. For thicker foam, use a sharp, long craft blade, such as an extendable, disposable-blade knife. Create holes in craft foam using a leather punch, or just poke a blade or sharp tool through the foam, but remember that if you poke a hole, it may be difficult to locate later; the foam will expand to cover the gap.

Color with markers or paint. Thick-tipped, permanent markers are the best way to create designs on foam if you want to preserve the foam's texture and flexibility. You can also use acrylic paint on foam if you want quick, attractive coverage, but bear in mind that acrylic will coat the foam's pores and will not stretch or bend as well as the foam does.

Glue using a rubbery adhesive. White craft glues tend to be difficult to use with craft foam, since the foam soaks up the glue, leaving none on the surface. Instead, use hot-melt glue, rubber cement, or contact adhesive to attach foam to itself or other surfaces.

Sew foam. Craft foam is quite easy to pierce with a needle for hand sewing, but be sure to space your stitches close together and use a regular cloth thread rather than thick cord; this way, the stitches will be less likely to tear through the foam. With thin sheets of leather, you can also machine-sew.