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You are here: Home / crafts / top tutorials / DIY Styrofoam Cup Floam

May 25, 2015

DIY Styrofoam Cup Floam

I figured out the best DIY FLOAM recipe using styrofoam cups. Super easy and inexpensive way to make this fluffy play floam! Your kids will love this craft and activity! #kidscraft #slime #slimerecipe || Design Dazzle

I am so excited for this year’s lineup for Summer Camp! It’s our first day of Summer Camp. There will be lots of amazing ideas.

Make sure to visit daily for ideas for summer fun! With all these great craftss, activities, etc, your kids will never be bored this summer.

To start things off, I have a fun DIY project for you and your kids!

Floam can be so fun to play with, but it is also expensive.

An afternoon of fun doesn’t have to break the bank! Instead, today I’m sharing a simple, inexpensive DIY Floam recipe!

I went to 3 different craft stores to purchase polystyrene beads that most use for this recipe. They were no where to be found. Then I searched on line and they were expensive.

So, I tried to figure out what could I use instead of the beads. Voila! How about Styrofoam cups???

Styrofoam cups can be purchased at most grocery stores, WalMart and the dollar store.

This DIY features using Styrofoam cups rather than polystyrene beads (the little foam beads in a bean bag).

You and your kids will love making and playing with this homemade Floam!

Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube page for some more fun videos, tips, and tricks!

Supplies

  • 2 tsp of borax
  • 1/4 cup of Elmer’s Glue or white tacky glue
  • 1/2 cup of very warm water
  • 1/4 cup of warm water
  • 1 package of Styrofoam cups or you can use the real thing Poly-Fil Micro Beads
  • gel food coloring
  • measuring cups, bowls, spoons

Floam is fun and SO easy to make! Your kids will love it. Check it out on Design Dazzle!

Step 1: Break 4 or 5 Styrofoam cups into your blender. Mix them in your blender with about 1-2 tablespoons of water until they become finely ground up and make small beads.

I would recommend pulsing your blender and then mixing for about a 30 seconds until the Styrofoam is all broken up.

The time will vary depending on your blender, but try to get the foam broken up easily. It doesn’t have to be perfect, though!

Don’t over pulverize.

Floam is fun and SO easy to make! Your kids will love it. Check it out on Design Dazzle!

Step 2: Mix 2 tsp of Borax with 1/2 cup of very warm water. Stir this mixture and let the Borax dissolve. Set this bowl aside.

In another bowl, mix 1/4 cup of glue and 1/4 cup of warm water. Also add food coloring into this mix.

Floam is fun and SO easy to make! Your kids will love it. Check it out on Design Dazzle!

Step 3: Pour both the Borax and glue mixtures into a gallon ziplock bag. Then, measure about 1 1/2 – 2 cups of the shredded Styrofoam cup and add this to your slimy mixture.

You can always add more or less of the Styrofoam if the Floam seems too wet or dry.

 

Floam is fun and SO easy to make! Your kids will love it. Check it out on Design Dazzle!

Step 4: Now comes the fun part! This step is perfect for your kids to be your little helpers.

Close the ziplock bag and squeeze the mixture around until it begins to solidify.

Soon you will have floam!

Let the completed mixture air out for a few minutes. Add more Styrofoam if your floam seems too watery.

That’s it- you’re good to go!

I figured out how to make FLOAM using styrofoam cups. Super easy and inexpensive way to make this fun play floam! Design Dazzle

Your kids will love making AND playing with this floam!

It will be a great summer activity that will beat the heat and keep boredom at bay.

The beauty of this activity is that your kids will love to play with it for many summer days to come!

You can’t beat an inexpensive, interactive activity!

Make sure to keep this in a airtight container or ziplock bag.

This was made about 1 month ago and still is working great!

This floam is not edible. Have caution with kids.

Eating styrofoam, glue and borax can be toxic. Also, glue and borax is made with chemicals – use caution.

This floam activity needs adult supervision.

If you prefer to purchase floam or slime instead of making it, there are some awesome options below to look at!

I figured out how to make FLOAM using styrofoam cups. Super easy and inexpensive way to make this fun play floam! Design Dazzle

Colorful Fluffly Floam 

 

I figured out how to make FLOAM using styrofoam cups. Super easy and inexpensive way to make this fun play floam! Design Dazzle

Foam Balls for DIY Slime

 

I figured out how to make FLOAM using styrofoam cups. Super easy and inexpensive way to make this fun play floam! Design Dazzle

Fun Foam

 

I figured out how to make FLOAM using styrofoam cups. Super easy and inexpensive way to make this fun play floam! Design Dazzle

4-Pack Play Foam

 

I figured out how to make FLOAM using styrofoam cups. Super easy and inexpensive way to make this fun play floam! Design Dazzle

Jumbo Fluffy Slime

 

I figured out how to make FLOAM using styrofoam cups. Super easy and inexpensive way to make this fun play floam! Design Dazzle

Scented Slime Kit

 

I figured out how to make FLOAM using styrofoam cups. Super easy and inexpensive way to make this fun play floam! Design Dazzle

Crystal Clear Slime

 

 

Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links.

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    Recipe Rating




  1. ana says

    January 31, 2016 at 4:57 pm

    this is good

    Reply
    • Toni - Design Dazzle says

      February 3, 2016 at 10:26 pm

      Thank you! It’s fun to make.

      Reply
  2. Anonymous says

    March 3, 2017 at 2:46 am

    i does not work its just water and styrafoam

    Reply
    • Toni - Design Dazzle says

      March 6, 2017 at 10:25 pm

      Not sure what you mean? The recipe clearly states other ingredients to add to the water and styrofoam. : )

      Reply
  3. Allene says

    July 16, 2017 at 10:52 pm

    Is there any other meathods of breaking up the cup other than a blender?

    Reply
    • Toni - Design Dazzle says

      July 17, 2017 at 7:32 pm

      We didn’t try any other methods to break up the cups. It could be fun experimenting!

      Reply
  4. Brandi says

    July 19, 2017 at 8:14 pm

    Is there a way to make this without the borax?

    Reply
    • Toni - Design Dazzle says

      July 28, 2017 at 7:16 am

      I’m not sure. You would have to experiment. Good luck!

      Reply
    • Hannah Mihaila says

      November 23, 2017 at 9:46 am

      Hi!
      I dont know if you still need an answer to that question, but yes there are 2 other ways to activate your slimes.
      -1 tbs. Contact lense solution with 1 pinch of baking soda
      – add laundry detergent to your glue slowly until the mixture becomes slime. (Highly prefer gain, and tide)

      Reply
  5. Kimonya says

    September 2, 2017 at 9:51 pm

    What do you do if you don’t have a blender.

    Reply
    • Toni - Design Dazzle says

      September 11, 2017 at 1:00 pm

      I’m not sure how to make this craft without a blender. Just break the styrofoam cups in little pieces. Of course, you could always purchase the pellets. But I was trying to make something easy and styrofoam cups are pretty easy to find. Wish I had another answer for you.

      Reply
    • sarah says

      January 14, 2018 at 2:42 am

      depends on what you do have. the point is to break the cups down into tiny pellets. if all else fails, a knife and a cutting board, but thats pretty labor intensive.

      Reply
      • Toni - Design Dazzle says

        February 21, 2018 at 10:21 pm

        Yes, Sarah, the point is to break the styrofoam cups into little pieces. Thank you for mentioning and clarifying.

        Reply
  6. Jeanna Wright says

    November 9, 2017 at 8:11 am

    How much Floam does this make?

    Reply
    • Toni - Design Dazzle says

      November 17, 2017 at 3:45 pm

      Jeanna – I can’t remember : ). My guess would be about 2 – 3 cups.

      Reply
  7. John Bobet says

    January 8, 2018 at 10:39 am

    this looks super cool!

    Reply
    • Toni - Design Dazzle says

      February 21, 2018 at 10:36 pm

      Thank you. It’s a fun one to make!

      Reply
  8. Sumer says

    September 13, 2018 at 5:06 pm

    Hi there! Were going to make this but I have some questions. How much of the foam beads would be needed, 1/2 cup?
    You show liquid borax, but the link is powder. How do I get that figured out? Can the ‘recipe’ be doubled? Do any special adjustments need to beade?
    Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Toni - Design Dazzle says

      September 13, 2018 at 9:58 pm

      I’m not sure how much of foam beads you would need. Just experiment. I think 1 cup might work. The borax we used is powder and it is added to the water. We didn’t use liquid. I’m not sure about the recipe being doubled in size – but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work?? Any special adjustment need to beade? Not sure what you mean. If you are just adding styrofoam beads just keeping adding to the slime until it feels right. Good luck. It’s a fun one!

      Reply
    • Roxanne says

      October 18, 2019 at 2:30 pm

      Hi Sumer! Toni made no mention of using liquid Borax. She did mention to use powder Borax, however. Read the instructions very carefully as they are tried and true. Remember that if your floam is too wet, use less water. If the floam is too dry, add water to the consistency you’d like for your floam to be. I hope it works for you!

      Good Luck!
      Roxanne

      Reply
      • Toni - Design Dazzle says

        December 27, 2019 at 5:16 pm

        Thanks, Roxanee!

        Reply
  9. Julie says

    September 24, 2018 at 6:27 am

    Did you find that the food coloring comes off on your hands?

    Reply
    • Toni - Design Dazzle says

      October 1, 2018 at 12:24 am

      No, we played with the floam and had no problem with staining from the food coloring. Maybe it depends on what kind is used.

      Reply
  10. Grangoire says

    March 21, 2020 at 6:53 am

    This type of garbage is polluting the environment.
    Kids do not need this crap to play and be entertained.

    Reply
    • Toni - Design Dazzle says

      April 21, 2020 at 8:43 pm

      I disagree. Have a great day.

      Reply

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