Everything you need to know about Foam Clay

New to foam clay? This guide walks you through what it is, how it works, and what to know before starting your first project.

In this post, I cover a lot of the questions people have when they first hear about foam clay. From “What is foam clay made of?” to “Tips on how to store foam clay”. If you’re interested in foam clay as your new hobby, you’re in the right place. I am a foam clay addict and share everything I learn about it here in my blog. Let’s get right into it:

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What is foam clay, and what is it made of?

Foam clay is a sculpting material used for various art and craft projects. I initially discovered it through the cosplay community, where it’s used to craft various props and costumes for roleplay. Then I stumbled upon another community that uses this type of clay in such creative and fun ways. The Fake bakers make stunning fake cakes and other realistic-looking food items. Something I absolutely adore!

It is non-toxic and very soft and stretchy which reminds me of the slime that you can make at home with your kids. Foam clay is crafted from the same components as slime, including PVA (like Elmer’s glue), Sodium tetraborate pentahydrate, Defoamer, and Water. However, it stands apart from slime as it can maintain its shape, making it an ideal sculpting medium for all ages! Very easy on the arthritic hands! Something many artists complain about when working with polymer clay!

I get my clay from Bohstoys. I occasionally sell my extra bags to my Facebook group members when I have them available or put together premixed clay sets specifically for upcoming tutorials to craft alongside the video.

If you are looking to try the clay out I recommend you buy a starter kit that includes a bunch of colors and some tools. There are many different options to choose from. Pick what works for you!

What is the difference between air-dry clay and foam clay?

The term “air dry” is used not only for foam clay but also for various other types of clay, which can be confusing. I find that when clay artists refer to air dry clay they generally don’t talk about foam clay. They refer to clays such as paper-based clay, modeling clay, cold porcelain, or salt dough. The main difference is the consistency and the lightweight properties of foam clay. All the other clays are more dense in their composition, of course, each with their specific characteristics.

Is foam clay suitable for beginners, or is it more advanced?

It is absolutely beginner-friendly. It’s incredibly soft and easy to shape, allowing you to swiftly sculpt fun characters or flowers even with no prior experience. Unlike polymer clay, which often requires conditioning of very hard pieces until they become workable, this clay is soft right out of the bag.

The one thing beginners need to learn is that it can vary a bit in its consistency depending on the climate you’re in. Very hot weather tends to make it more soft and sticky and cold weather more stiff. The texture also may vary from product to product due to different manufacturing, storage conditions, and how long it has been sitting on the shelf. Knowing what your clay needs to be in top condition can be a learning curve. And this is what I hope to share with you as I learn more about it myself!

What are the different colors of foam clay available?

Many companies are offering pre-mixed colors ready to use. Your choice is endless plus the different colored clays can be mixed following basic color theory principles.

Additionally, white clay can be mixed at home with your pigments of choice to get the shade you are looking for. Mica powder, food coloring, and acrylic paint are options I have seen people use. My favorite is to use gel food colors. I find they don’t mess with the consistency of the clay and are very cost-effective. I use a brand called Chefmaster.

How do I work with foam clay and are there specific techniques or tools I should know?

The best way to learn is to get some clay in your hands. It is a very fast-drying clay so if you’re not mixing it in your hands constantly you need to be shaping it and rather quickly. If you find you took too long creating your desired shape you will notice almost a skin developing on the surface. If you stretch it after the skin forms it will break and create an ugly surface with wrinkles and cracks.

You can fix this by mixing it back in with a lot of kneading and then you can start again. It can be helpful to add water to soften it further if it dries out too much. But be careful, the more water you add the higher the shrinkage of the clay during the drying process. Lots of shrinkage can create gaps in the final product. I will talk more about how to fix the imperfections in your creations in a later post. If you do not want to miss this subscribe.

You can liquify the foam clay to create different types of frosting and whipped creams. With the right recipe, you can create the most beautiful fake desserts.

Adding different powders can take away some tackiness and solidify its consistency. I am working on an extensive guide on what types of frosting, glazes, and whipped creams you can create with foam clay plus the recipes on how to make them. If you’re interested in being one of the first to get your hands on this exclusive guide, make sure to subscribe, and I’ll send it to you once it’s released.

As far as tools, you can use the same tools as pottery- or other clay artists use. Household items or pens, brushes really anything that gets the job done can be utilized. It all depends on what you are trying to create.

For texturizing you can use crunched-up aluminum foil balls, a toothbrush or toothpick. The possibilities are endless. I include a variety of tools and how I use them in my tutorials so If you watch them you will learn many different ways to use tools and their names.

Does foam clay air dry, or does it require baking or curing?

Baking is not required for foam clay. It will air dry rather quickly and needs to dry from all sides. Meaning, that after 24 hours depending on the size of your project, you will need to flip your creation to let it dry from the underside as well.

A 2-inch ball needs at least 24 hours to completely dry all the way to the inside. the thicker the sculpture the longer it takes. You will know it’s done once it is light as a feather and hard to the touch. To speed up the drying process you can place it in a very drafty area or use fans.

Can I paint foam clay after it has dried, and what types of paint are suitable? What glues can I use with it?

Yes, you can paint the clay after it has dried with acrylic paint. You can also achieve a very soft and realistic look by adding some powder pigment to your undried clay. Once I am done shaping my figure I usually apply some shaved soft pastels to enhance the color or to create some depth.

You can use any craft glues or super glues such as gorilla gel, to attach your finished project to other materials. I even sometimes use the glue to attach arms and legs if I feel the foam clay is not sticking to itself enough.

Is foam clay messy?

Sometimes! If it’s very hot where you live, foam clay can get soft and sticky. It can stick to your work surface and tools and that’s no fun. When that happens you can try to let it dry out a little bit by spreading it out and leaving it alone and then come back and mix it very well. Or you can add baby powder or cornstarch. I will talk more about how to fix clay in a future post. If you don’t want to miss it subscribe to my newsletter and get emails when new posts go up.

If you mix your colors, the initial mixing can be messy. To prevent dyeing your hand you can wear vinyl gloves. Avoid nitrile as they tend to stick to the foam clay and make the mixing very difficult. Once the dye is fully incorporated it will not transfer to your hands.

How do I store leftover foam clay to keep it from drying out? Is it waterproof?

The foam clay comes in zip-lock bags but they tend to open very easily and if you are not careful you will have a dried chunk of clay in your bag. I prefer to store them in air-tight food containers that I buy on Amazon.

Once your figure is dried it is NOT waterproof. There are different ways to protect your finished projects such as Mod Podge or other varnishes available at the stores.

Are there any safety considerations or precautions I should be aware of when using foam clay?

For small children foam clay can pose a choking hazard. But its nontoxic ingredients are perfectly safe and do not require any additional safety precautions which makes it the perfect craft material.

I hope this answers a lot of your questions and helps you get started. Let me know in the comments below if you have any other questions and please share this with anybody you think would enjoy it.

Hope to see you in our group on Facebook where you can learn even more about foam clay and share with others what you’re making.

Looking for more foam clay tutorials? Visit the Learning Hub to explore beginner to advanced projects and techniques.