Fun Foam - a fun technique!

Fun Foam is the perfect addition to Christmas cards - especially cards with snowmen! It adds some fun texture and is so easy to use. Here's how:

1. Select your image and cut a piece of Fun Foam to the correct size. It's better not to cut the Fun Foam too large. I usually cut it to about the same size as the wood block of the stamp that I am going to use.

2. Ink your stamp with StazOn ink. Remember that because StazOn is a solvent-based ink, it does evaporate so you don't want to leave the lid off of it too long. For this technique though, I do leave my stamp on the pad until I'm ready to use it just so that the ink doesn't dry on the stamp while I heat the Fun Foam.

3. Use your Heat Tool to heat the Fun Foam. Don't get too close because you can burn the Fun Foam! I always place the Fun Foam on a piece of tin foil (shiny side up)for this step - the tin foil reflects the heat and helps to speed things up! You will want to heat the Fun Foam just until the edges start to curl up a bit - don't overheat or it will roll up and you won't be able to stamp on it!

4. Quickly press your stamp into the Fun Foam... you really need to be quick with this so that you get the stamp pressed in before the Fun Foam cools. Hold the stamp in place for 10-20 seconds so that the image is indented into the Fun Foam as it cools. Carefully pull the stamp off the Fun Foam. This is a good time to make sure your StazOn lid has been replaced!

5. If you want to add colour, use a Foam Applicator, Q-Tip or disposable makeup applicator to touch on Stampin' Pastels.

6. When you add your Fun Foam to your project, it's better to apply the adhesive to the piece that you are going to stick the Fun Foam to - if you apply pressure to the back of the Fun Foam, you can sometimes see marks through to the front.

Have fun with this technique! Fun Foam is available in your local craft store - but don't go in the stamp aisle...!! : )

Supplies used on this card:

Card stock: Brocade Blue, Real Red, Vellum
Ink: Brocade Blue for snowflakes, Basic Black for greeting, Jet Black StazOn for snowman (pg 186)
Stamps: Holiday Tag Team (pg 36), Fundamental Phrases (pg 155), Short & Sweet (pg 140)
Other: Stampin' Pastels (pg 186), Fun Foam


Happy stampin'!


Bev.


(All images copyright 1990-2007 Stampin' Up!)