Have you ever played with floam? The first time I saw this bizarre toy was in the 1980’s – my brother got some Nickelodeon brand floam somewhere, maybe as a gift? Basically, it was slime with little pellets of styrofoam in it, and you could mold things with it. I have always loved things that squeeze and squish, I thought we would give it a try! It’s not difficult to make your own floam using a basic slime recipe.
We decided to make our basic slime recipe and then mix in our polystyrene (styrofoam) balls. Finding the polystyrene balls ended up being a little tricky. Polystyrene balls are the filler for bean bag chairs. NOT the filler for bean bag stuffed animals – those are usually filled with little plastic pellets that are more solid and heavy that polystyrene. We could not find polystyrene balls at either Michael’s or Hobby Lobby, and I didn’t want to order a large quantity from Amazon. The other day we went to Hobby Lobby, and I was rolling my eyes at the Christmas stuff out in July… until I spotted polystyrene balls in the Christmas crafts!
Update: polystyrene balls are now easy to order on Amazon!
This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
Here are the supplies we used:
- Liquid starch
- Elmer’s clear glue (or white glue)
- Food coloring
- Polystyrene balls
We found this package of polystyrene balls in a center aisle display of Christmas crafts. It was only $1.99 and had enough foam balls to make two large batches of floam.
Step 1: Pour 1/2 cup of glue into a bowl. Add some food coloring and stir.
Step 2: Pour in 1/2 cup liquid starch. Mix well and then squish the mixture with your hands. It will go through a stringy/sticky phase. Once it starts becoming a blob, it helps to rinse the whole mess under running water for a couple seconds. If it’s still sticky, try adding more starch. Just dip the blob in some starch and then work it in.
I couldn’t take any photos during the mixing stage (too messy), but here is what the finished slime looks like:
Then I poured in some styrofoam balls and mixed them in with my hands.
You can add whatever amount of styrofoam balls that you like. We wanted our floam to still move like slime, so we didn’t add as much as we could have.
The boys enjoyed this slime variation the most of any that we have tried, I think. You can’t go wrong with the classic slime recipe, but this version has such an interesting texture!
It’s so fun to mold and squeeze, and the boys loved to hold it up and watch it ooze down.
Gresham always has to stretch his slime as thin as possible, and this floam version was no exception!
Owen discovered that floam will bounce if you make it into a ball.
How long does it last?
We have been storing our floam in ziplock baggies, and it will keep for several weeks this way. The boys have had it back out again more than any other slime that we have made because it just feels so cool! We found that it does get more sticky the longer you have it. I was able to “fix” the stickiness that developed by adding a little more liquid starch. I dipped the whole blob in a little starch and then worked it in.
More fun with homemade slime:
16 Comments
JJ Jul 11, 2015
We made Red, White, and Blue slime for Fourth of July and we are still playing with it (it's now just Pink slime). :o) I remember having a container of Floam back in the day...I think we now need to make this too! Thanks for sharing. My boys always love your projects!
JJ
www.dressupnotdown.blogspot.com
Sarah Jul 14, 2015
Thanks for your kind comment!
me Dec 15, 2016
Nice!
I Jan 8, 2017
cool. But i don't have the materials! :(
Chloe Jan 8, 2017
So do u just make slime then add the foam ?
Laos Feb 10, 2018
Yes
Kelsey Jan 23, 2017
I can't wait to try this!!!
Cat Feb 6, 2017
I'm failing miserably at making this. I bought a large bag of the larger balls on someone's affiliate link but they're too big. Any tips?
Sarah Feb 7, 2017
Hmmm. It's hard to know without seeing how big they are. Did you try mixing up the slime first and then mixing the balls in?
bobo Dec 2, 2017
nope you just make regular
Judy Aug 10, 2017
Can't wait to it when my gr'sons visit over labor day.
Stephanie Oct 6, 2017
Worked Perfectly! My daughter had a slime birthday party today and we used this recipe for 10 girls and they all came out great.They all loved it. We had a hard time finding the foam balls but saw a you tube video to get them out of a travel neck pillow...we found it at Target! Thank You!
Yusmari Oct 8, 2017
Where do you get that stuff
Vicki Sep 15, 2020
I got the foam balls and glue at the Dollar tree!! Hope this helps...
Michelle Brooks Oct 21, 2017
We are going to try to make slime tonight!!!!!!? ??
Shari Greene Nov 21, 2017
what if you dont have sta-flo
Jolin Jul 27, 2018
So could you use a already-made slime and then just add foam in it. If that is possible how would I mix it?
Sarah Jul 28, 2018
Yes, that would work! Just flatten out the slime, put some foam on it, and then fold it over and knead the foam into the slime.
nur Jan 31, 2019
Borax instead of starch, and they didn’t turn out as well as this one did that I found via Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls. also note – that food coloring is powerful. You only need a couple drops at most.
Tracy Dec 27, 2019
When I do this recipe the balls are so sticky on my hands...any advice?
Sarah Dec 30, 2019
If the slime is too sticky, try kneading in a little more liquid starch. Sometimes I dip the slime in a little starch, and then squish and squeeze it to mix in the starch.
frances Jun 4, 2020
cool!!!
Linda Mayo Oct 22, 2020
Hi Sarah,
I have 2 very active grandsons aged 6 and 9 and you have been a lifesaver on more than one occasion!!
Thank you for sharing your wonderfully creative ideas...I really appreciate all the time and effort you put into this :)
Regards,
Linda
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