I have to admit I usually don't think about foam balls for a project material when I'm brainstorming ideas but that's all changed after working with Make It Fun Crafts on this simple DIY. They challenged me to come up with a way to use foam balls that fit my aesthetic and I accepted because I like a good creative challenge. I had been wanting to make something similar to this out of tissue paper but never quite figured out how to get enough tissue paper to work to make it a substantial piece so I traded that out for foam balls and ended up with a really fun wall hanging for my studio.
It's bright, cheerful, and so easy to put together. The hardest part was waiting for the paint to dry! To make your own you'll need a variety of Make It: Fun Foam ball sizes (mine ranged from 1" - 6"), a few different acrylic paints, twine, a dowel rod (mind was about 1" thick and 3' long), paint brushes, a long tapestry needle, and styrofoam cutting tools.
Gather your supplies and arrange your foam balls in the order you like them. I had one 7" ball, three 5" balls, five 3" balls, five 2" balls, and nine 1" balls.
Next, use a paintbrush and paint all of your balls the same size in the same color. I used less than one tube of paint for each of my sets but you may want two tubes each. You'll want to saturate the foam balls as they are quite porous. Leave them overnight to dry.
In order for your larger balls to lay flat on the surface of your wall, you'll want to cut them down. You can cut them in half but I wanted a little more of a 3-D effect so I only painted them about 3/4 of the way and then cut the white part off.
Then use a large tapestry needle to thread your twine through your balls. I pushed the needle through with about 1/2" of space from the flat side so it wouldn't rip out but you could also hot glue your twine in place. Tie a quick knot under each ball where you want it to rest so it doesn't fall once it's hung. It's unlikely that it will but it'll save some frustration in the process of moving it about.
String the rest of your balls and trim the end. Tie them on to your dowel rod and be sure to space them apart evenly. Add another length of twine for your hanger and get it up on your wall.
It's a fun and inexpensive way to add a big statement piece to any room and easy to customize to your favorite colors. Foam balls! Who knew!
What's the last thing you've made out of foam? I'm already thinking of all of the ways to customize a garland using more of those 3" balls!
-Rachel
I'm Rachel Denbow, an author, e-course writer, maker, craft stylist, and general DIY enthusiast. 
