STYROFOAM brand foam crafts

Festive Cupcake Wall Art

Cupcakes are a fun-and-fashionable decorating trend! Show your good taste and make whimsical wall art with your favorite papers.
   Completion Time - 
2 hours
   Designer - 
Kathleen George

Materials

STYROFOAM Brand Foam
  • Ball, 3"
  • Block, 18" x 12" x 1" OR Sheet, 36" x 12" x 1"
Other Materials
  • Scrapbook paper: polka dot, 12" x 12", two sheets; assorted coordinating scraps
  • Coordinating solid cardstock, three different colors
  • Lightweight acrylic spackling
  • Ultrafine white/iridescent glitter
  • Low-temp glue gun and glue sticks
  • Thick, white craft glue
  • Liquid paper glue or stick-flat paste
  • Gloss-finish découpage medium

Tools

  • Fine to medium sandpaper
  • Candle stub or paraffin
  • Pencil
  • Ruler
  • Low-temp glue gun and glue sticks
  • Small flat paintbrush
  • Small disposable container
  • Water basin
  • Paper towels
  • Scissors
  • Craft pins
  • Putty knife, 1"
  • Thick, white craft glue
  • Small sawtooth hanger and nails
  • Optional: Dental floss
  • Optional: Rubber brayer

Instructions

  • 1. Wax serrated knife with candle stub or paraffin. Measure and mark a 12" x 12" square on foam sheet; cut along lines. (Hint: Foam may also be "cut" with tightly held length of dental floss; stand foam on edge and firmly draw floss down through foam.) Cut foam ball in half; set aside one half for a future project.
  • 2. Use putty knife to spread thin, even layer of paste onto front of foam square, or apply liquid glue. Center one sheet of polka dot paper on pasted foam; smooth paper with fingers or rubber brayer, working from center out to edges.
  • 3. Cut four 1"x12" strips from second polka dot paper sheet and paste to edges of foam square; pin paper to foam until completely dry. Remove pins.
  • 4. Cut a 5" square from one sheet of cardstock and four 1/2"x7-3/4" strips from second sheet. Paste square to center of foam block. Paste strips along sides of square as shown.
  • 5. Cut a 5"x6" piece from third sheet of cardstock. Follow manufacturer's instructions to feed paper lengthwise through crimper to create a raised, ridged effect. Cut liner pattern from ridged cardstock, making sure ridges run width of pattern. Cut liner bottom pattern from smooth scrap of same cardstock.
  • 6. Cut small snips around curved edge of liner bottom. Fold tabs back 1/8". Fold ends of cupcake liner under as indicated on pattern.
  • 7. Gently bend cupcake liner into shape and use glue gun to glue liner bottom in place; let dry.
  • 8. Place cupcake liner on a flat surface and slide foam half-ball cut in Step 1 into top of liner until snug. Glue to secure.
  • 9. Place about ½ c. of spackling into disposal container and stir until smooth and creamy. Add a tiny amount of water if spackling seems stiff or dry. Use butter knife or cake decorating spatula to "ice" foam half-ball with spackling. Allow icing to extend over edge of cupcake liner. Scrape excess icing from back of foam ball. Let dry completely.
  • 10. Apply thin coat of decoupage medium over top of icing; sprinkle with glitter. Glue cupcake to center of panel.
  • 11. Cut several thin strips from paper scraps; curl strips over scissors blade as you would curling ribbon. Glue paper strips to top of cupcake. Let dry completely.
  • 12. Glue sawtooth hanger ends to top center back of polka dot square. Dip nail tips into glue and push firmly into foam through hanger holes; let dry before hanging. Hook-and-loop tabs may also be used.