Make Beautiful Decorations from Foam Forms (Make Succah Decorations in August: Part 4)

The Succah that hosted these decorations is still fresh in my memory, though it was five years ago! These were made a few days before the holiday, by myself and my two older sons, and when we put them up, the whole Succah seemed to be dancing!  I remember those last few hours before the holiday started, and the enormous feeling of satisfaction and excitement.  The sun was shining into our decorated Succah, and the decorations were twirling in the breeze. And I’m quite sure I must have felt relieved upon completion of my favorite decorating challenge of the year!

The technique involved in these decorations is simple enough for even a three year old, yet with possibilities so vast that all the artists in the family won’t be able to resist contributing.

These photos show only a small selection of what we actually made that year, as due to a camera malfunction I was left with only a few examples. Everything happens for a reason, so I can only imagine that you were meant to use your own creativity to come up with something original and just right for your own Succah!

You’ll Need:

• Foam shapes and balls 
• Acrylic craft paint
• Decorative napkins (optional)
• Sequins and plastic sequin pins
• Metallic puff paint or “tulip” in a squeeze bottle (optional)
• Small plastic mosaic squares, gold or silver (optional)
• White glue, or decoupage medium such as modgepodge (optional)
• Beads (optional)
• Fishing line for hanging

How To: Painted Foam Forms and Sequins

1. Paint your foam forms and set aside to dry. Paint a second coat if necessary for solid coverage.
2. Tip: stick a wooden skewer into the foam forms before painting, such that you can paint the whole piece at once. Set aside to dry by sticking the skewer into a vase or piece of dense packing foam.
3. Make holes for hanging: through the center of the top portion of flat forms and for spheres, running through the entire ball (I use a very long needle for sewing buttons on mattresses, you can also carefully use a metal skewer or possibly a straight portion of a coat hanger.)
4. Attach sequins using colored plastic sequin pins.
5. Adults or older children can carefully apply additional details with metallic puff paint.
6. To hang, thread some beads onto the fishing line, then thread the line through the sphere.
7. Decorate the string above the sphere with beads that seem to float, by anchoring them in place with a slip knot.

How To: Foam Forms Decoupaged with Napkins and Decorated With Sequins

1. There is no need to paint the form if you will be covering it entirely with napkins.
2. If you would like to make something like the chamsa on the right, above, paint entire shape and apply small napkin design elements according to directions below.
3. Separate the printed layer of the napkin from the other two white layers.
4. Stick a skewer into the base of the sphere or foam shape.
5. Working in one small area at a time, apply a not too runny glue solution of roughly 1 part glue/1 part water (or decoupage medium) with a paint brush.
6. Gently press small pieces of napkin into the glue and carefully smooth out any creases or wrinkles as much as possible. Once you start working you will be able to determine what works for you as far as what size napkin pieces you can apply. If pieces are too large,the end result is usually messy.
7. When shape in entirely covered in napkin set aside to dry.
8. Brush entire form with a coat of glue solution or decoupage medium, and set aside to dry.
9. Apply sequins. Make small flower shapes with a sequin in the center, and five around the center.
10. Hang according to directions above.

If you are able to make these ahead of time, once the ornaments are completely dry, wrap them in paper and pack away until Succos! And after Succos, wrap them up again and store in a cold/dry place for years to come! And don’t forget, these decorations are just a sugggestion, you can decorate foam shapes with a myriad of things: buttons, stickers, jewelry findings, bits of ribbon, wool felt shapes etc.

For the greatest impact in your Succah, I would recommend making as many of these as you possibly can, as they look much better hung in groups! Start creating now and by Succos you’ll have an amazing array of treasures that will make the whole family proud!