STYROFOAM brand foam crafts

Faux Leather Spheres

A handsome whatnot box gets its rich leather look from torn pieces of construction paper and shoe polish wax.
   Completion Time - 
1-2 hours
   Designer - 
Kathleen George

Materials

STYROFOAM Brand Foam
  • Balls, 4" and 5"
Other Materials
  • Construction paper, brown or tan
  • Shoe polish, brown, black and/or neutral
  • Soft, clean rag or shoe brush
  • Chopstick or wooden dowel

Tools

  • Paintbrush, 1", firm bristle
  • Small mixing bowl
  • Drinking glass or jar
  • White craft glue
  • Thick, white craft glue

Instructions

  • 1. Insert chopstick or wooden dowel in foam ball; this will serve as your handle.
  • 2. Tear construction paper into 1" - 1-1/2" rectangles.
  • 3. Place thick white craft glue in bowl; thin with small amount of water.
  • 4. Place torn paper in bowl, coating both sides.
  • 5. Using paintbrush, cover ball with thin white craft glue.
  • 6. Slide through fingers a piece of glue-covered constructionpaper, removing excess glue. Place on ball, smoothing out wrinklesand bubbles. Continue, overlapping edges of paper rectangles,until ball is completely covered.
  • 7. Remove dowel; cover hole with construction paper.
  • 8. Place ball on rim of glass or jar to dry; turn occasionally.When almost dry, roll ball firmly against a smooth surface tosmooth any rough spots.
  • 9. To create the look of leather, apply generous amount of brown,black or neutral shoe wax with soft, clean rag or shoe brush. Letwax set; buff to a shine with soft rag or shoe brush.
  • 10. Vary the color of construction paper and shoe polish toachieve different leather looks.