How to Work with Foam Poster Board
If you need a great material for some sort of craft project, you may think of investing in some foam poster board. Foam core is incredibly affordable, and it is versatile enough to use in any project. It is comprised of a layer of hard foam between two sheets of poster board, making it easy to cut and mark on. Working with this material is not hard at all, if you know what you are doing, so read the guide below for some helpful tips.
Cutting the Foam Board
The best way to cut foam core is with a box knife and a metal ruler. Make a few marks where you need your cut to be and then lay your ruler flat along the marks. Take your craft knife and cut along the edge of the ruler, making sure to hold the ruler in place. Come directly down on the board because it is really easy to cut at an angle this way. You will not notice that on the top, but you will see a diagonal line along the width.
You need to make sure that the knife you use is sharp because that helps keep the edges nice and crisp. Simply replace the razor blade before you start cutting away, and if you notice the edges are starting to fray, change the blade again.
Special Cuts for Foam Core
You can actually buy something called a rabbit cutter, which will allow you to cut off just one layer of poster and foam. The bottom poster for the board remains the same length so when you put two piece together at a 90 degree angle, the foam for the not cut board is covered up. You will not have any foam showing that way, making it great for times when you need seamless lines.
Writing on Foam Posters
Most foam posters have a sheen about them that makes them difficult to write on with pen. The ink will hover for a minute and smear if you do not allow it to dry. You can try using a pencil instead, bit your eraser marks may leave a weird smudge on the board. If you have a quick drying marker, that may be your best option to use. Get a scrap piece of board to experiment on before you start messing up the face of the board.
Gluing Foam Pieces Together
Most craft glues will work just fine with foam core. Use some painter’s tape or masking tape to hold the pieces in place while they dry, and then just pull them up when everything has set. You can also cut the boards so they interlock on their own, eliminating the need for glue altogether. Just buy a few of these inexpensive posters to play around with and you should get the hang of working with them pretty fast.