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DIY Foam Flyers

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By Noreen Doll.

Recycle your foam containers into these fun DIY foam flyers.

DIY Foam Flyer by Crafty Journal

These flyers are fun for kids of all ages, and what a great way to use your recyclables!

You can use the top of a foam egg carton, the foam take-out containers, or the foam that fruits and veggies come packed on.

DIY Foam Flyers - Crafty Journal

Do not use any foam that has held meat – they cannot be cleaned well enough for re-use.

If they use white foam, your kids can draw on them with markers and create airplane markings. Or add camouflage by blotching on patches of green, black, brown or yellow paint.

I liked the black foam because it makes a great stealth plane.

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DIY foam flyers could make a fun birthday party activity, and then the kids could fly them when they are finished making them.

I used a foam plane as a pattern, but it’s such a basic shape that it would be easy to draw your own.

Materials.

Foam container

Penny

Double Sided Tape, Duct Tape, or Electrical Tape

Cardboard for Pattern

Pencil

Scissors

Utility Knife, optional (Should only be used by an adult.)

How to Make DIY Foam Flyers.

1. Draw or trace your pattern on a piece of cardboard.

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Cut it out. Then trace it onto thin recycled styrofoam.

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You can cut the foam with scissors, but you need to be gentle to keep from bending or breaking it.

2. Use the utility knife or scissors tip to make the slits. After I made the slits, I used the closed scissors to widen the slit.

You want the wings and tail to fit snuggly, but the slit has to be large enough to allow them to slide in.

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3. Tape a penny to the nose. I used double sided tape, but if the plane will receive rough treatment, you can use electrical tape or a narrow strip of duct tape to attach the penny.

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The DIY foam flyers are ready to fly.

Tips

Remember to be very gentle when putting the plane together, as the foam bends and breaks easily.

Because the black foam was VERY thick, it was hard to cut around the shape.

So i cut large chunks of the excess foam away before I tried to cut out the pieces. That made them much less likely to bend or break.

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The edges were a little rough, so after cutting, I rubbed them on a hard surface to smooth them.

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The slits in the black foam needed to be very wide to allow the thicker wings and tail to fit, so I gently worked the slit with closed scissors tip until it was wide enough for them.

© Noreen Doll

Crafty Journal

 

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  14. Whenever we have foam containers my boys grab them up and make these. I think they enjoy making them as much as they do playing with them. Thanks for sharing at Fluster’s Creative Muster Party.

    Robin
    Fluster Buster

  18. That is such a great way to recycle foam containers and to teach children about recycling and planes all at the same time. Thanks for sharing on Artsy Play Wednesday.

  19. This is awesome! My son loves those things, but they never last long. I rarely buy them, because it seems like a waste of money with as fast as he tears them up. I’ll be pinning this for future use. I came over from Sara’s WAYD Wednesday Blog Hop.

  21. Hi Noreen, very cool project. Thank you so much for sharing. My granddaughters will love the planes. And it just so happens that I have a foam container in my fridge right now. 🙂

  26. What a great idea. The kids love paper airplanes, they will love this. Thanks for sharing at The Gathering Spot this week. Have a great weekend 🙂

  39. Thanks for sharing! I’m teaching a history of flight class in my homeschool group and this will be a perfect addition to our lessons.

  41. We will be featuring your post on a HUGE list of Rainy Day Summer Play activities on Share It Saturday this weekend! We will be sharing with all of our followers on our social media sites (including group boards and communities!!) Thanks for sharing with us at Share It Saturday!
    Colleen at http://www.sugaraunts.com

  42. Noreen, I think you could build a little cottage by the shore with plastic milk bottles and styrofoam take out containers! Have a great 4th! Linda

  48. Great Tutorial!! Thanks for sharing on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday!! Hope to see you again!! I love having you!! Pinned!!

  49. We love finding projects where we upcycle, so this is a great one! Thanks for linking up at the Bloggers Brags party, I pinned your post to our group board.

  50. I made these airplanes for my kids…my grandkid…and I am making them for my great grandkids. I made them for the neighbor kids. my scout troups

    I’ve always used meat foam…and haven’t hurt any by using it.

    But if it worries you and you don’t have foam you can get black or white foam at the Dollar Tree stores. It works and is a little stronger because of the heavy paper on the outside. I think it is called foam board.

    patti

  51. I’m always on the lookout for things to do with my grandsons. They will be so happy when we make these together. Thanks so much for sharing at my Grandma Ideas Sharing time link party!

  52. Brilliant mama! Love this, Noreen, and no doubt all those other moms who will have the kids around all summer, will love this idea too: from trash to treasure and keeps them entertained for hours! Thank you for linking it up at SHARE IT sunday linky party. A new party will open again tomorrow and I can’t wait to see what you’ll bring. ~ Till soon, Rose

  53. This brings memories when i was a child! We make something similar plane out of cardboard! Thanks foe sharing this at my last party! Hope to see you at this week
    bash! Hugs Maria

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