Do you have ideas for me as to what kind of paint to use to paint styrofoam?

Question

I want to help my granddaughter make little bluebirds out of a styrofoam egg for the body with a smaller little styrofoam ball for the head. We will use heavy paper to make the wings and the tail and the beak and I will get the little bb eyes to glue on.

I want to paint them blue and then put silver glitter on them and hang them with a bit of string.

They are going to be Christmas presents to family members to be keepsake Christmas ornaments with their names on them.

My parents had one like that and I inherited it when they died. It was my all time favorite Christmas decoration, my little glittery bluebird!

I gave it and one that I made with my son when he was little to him when he moved out on his own.

I want to create new memories with my little granddaughter who is 10.

What is the best paint to use to paint the foam and paper? Is it dangerous for a 10 year old girl to use a hot glue gun? Should we stick to Elmers glue? How should we get the names on them? Thanks!

Answer 1

I think the best results for using styrofoam is spray paint! with the paper, any poster paint or watercolors should do just fine. She can use the hot glue gun - I have one - its a low-temp glue gun so it melts the glue but doesnt' get so intensly hot. Elmers works, too! As for getting the names on - this just came to me. Make a small slip of paper the size & shape of a fortune cookie fortune, write the name on it in bold black ink, then insert it into the birds' beak!! I think these will be beautiful - have fun with your granddaughter; ya'll are making memories that last a lifetime!!!!

Answer 2

Your granddaughter will have so much fun!

They sell a product at craft stores to seal styrofoam pieces, so that the paint will adhere well. It just brushes on like paint.

You could also buy air-drying craft clay and cover the styrofoam pieces. Let them dry and then paint.

Acrylic paint would be the best bet for painting the birds. Once the paint is dry, you could coat the birds with a thin layer of glue (I'd probably buy a craft glue - you can thin it with water if needed to make it brush on better). Sprinkle the glitter on them, and let them dry.

As for adding the names, you could write them on with a paint pen or thin permanent marker (you can find great colors and glittery ones too). I'd actually put the names on before you apply the glue and glitter.

See if craft glue will keep the eyes on. If not, you might want to use the glue gun and let your granddaughter tell you where they should go.

Have fun!

Answer 3

Any type of polystyrene foam (Styrofoam, etc.) will "melt" if anything is used on it directly which has a petroleum-based solvent... that would include "enamel" paints, as well as any acrylic spray paints which have that solvent in their propellants.
So the best types of paint to use are probably acrylics, then you could spray or cover with something else after you'd sealed the surface with the acrylics if you wanted

As for glues, glue guns are good but only if you're using a "low" temperature glue gun. The "high" temperature glue guns get the glue sticks too hot for polystyrne (they both generally use hi-low glue sticks). So you can use a low temp glue gun (and I've used them with kids as young as 5 as long as you're right there... 10 is plenty old enough as long as you point out the glue will still be hot for a short time after its applied). Or you can use a high-temp gun if you just let the glue cool a bit (on the item to be attached) before touching it to the foam.

You can also use a permanent "white glue" (Elmer's is fine as long as it's not their "washable" version) as long as the parts won't be soaked in water at some point, or use a 2-part epoxy glue if you need strong waterproofing, or there are special sprays sold for polystyrene foam...one is called Super 77.

You may have to use 2 coats of the acrylic paint to get complete coverage, and acrylic paint will work for the paper too as long as both sides are coated (to avoid one side shrinking)... best if the paper is several layers though rather than just one piece, or just cardstock or an index card instead. The glitter should stick to any of those paints or glues while they're wet, or if you want to apply a gloss finish you could put the glitter in it.

You could put names on the balls in a million different ways, but just painting them on with more acrylic paint (brush or squeeze bottle like fabric paints) or a paint marker would be easy.

HTH,

Diane B.

Answer 4

Your best product to use for this project is the molded styrene eggs. They take paint better than the Styrofoam ones.This product can stand up to spray paint, where the Styrofoam will 'melt ' . You can also write the names on it with a metallic pen, after you paint it. Then glitter it with some opalescence glitter,so the name will still show. I think hot glue is too dangerous for a child. Aleene's Super Tacky glue is the best product to use to hold the bird together. You can water it down some to cover the bird and sprinkle the glitter. Make sure the metallic pen used had permanent ink. The styrene eggs are available in the craft stores. ( they look smoother than the Styrofoam ones)

Answer 5

I would use Delta Ceramcoat Acrylic paint. It comes in 2 oz. bottles and it is water soluble. A zillion colors. You can also put the sparkles on when the paint is wet and it will stick. I'd go with the Elmer's glue. Use a toothpick to anchor the head to the body. A ten year old can handle a glue gun, but I'm not sure the styrofoam can handle the heat.

You can write the names on the bird with contrasting paint and a toothpick.

Answer 6

Use acrilyic