What is foamiran and what is it like?

Foamiran, which looks like thick paper but is essentially foamed rubber, is suitable for many crafts, from lamps to jewelry. Its unusual characteristics greatly simplify the work process.

Foamiran is a material often used for handicrafts and is a soft, porous rubber that can be easily processed. It is often called plastic suede, revelor or foam. The description of the composition suggests that it is precisely the ethylene and vinyl acetate present in the polymeric substance that give the material elasticity and elongation. Unlike, for example, fabric, plastic suede can be given any shape that will remain after the completion of the work.

It is worth adding that in the production of polymer, acetic acid is used, the smell of which persists until the sealed package is opened. However, when you open it, the unpleasant aroma immediately disappears. The wear-resistant modern material is used most often for the manufacture of decorative flowers in various sizes, although many other applications are possible. For example, we are talking about a variety of hairpins, headbands, wedding jewelry and toys. Volumetric scrapbooking elements can also be made of foam rubber.

The name of the material comes from the English word foam, which means foam.Since outwardly it just looks like foamed rubber, this decision is justified. The second part "Iran" refers to the name of the country in which foamiran was first made - that is, Iran. For Russia, by the way, it is also the main supplier of this material. The first foamiran was produced by the Iranian company Foamiram Co, after which Chinese companies, and then Korean ones, took up production.

The unusual properties of foamiran explain why it is so loved by many needlewomen.

• The main thing is the absolute safety of the material. Foamiran does not contain any toxic substances, so it does not harm the body and does not cause allergic reactions. Thus, it is possible to craft from multi-colored sheets even with the smallest children. The fact that foamiran products are safe for humans is confirmed by official quality certificates provided by manufacturers.

• The velvety material is very easy and comfortable to work with. It can be cut even with ordinary scissors without forming sharp edges and burrs. Curly scissors and sheets act in the same way. Pressure on the surface of foamiran with a sharp object leads to the appearance of traces, which means that unusual patterns and reliefs can be created.

• Another interesting property of sheets is the ability to take and maintain volumetric shapes. Slightly warming up the material with an iron or a building hair dryer, it can be modified as needed, and the resulting position will remain even after cooling. This property of foamiran makes it possible to create flowers and other voluminous compositions from it. However, it should be remembered that the material ignites rather quickly, therefore, interaction with heating elements must be carried out with extreme caution.

• There is a huge selection of various shades of foamiaran on sale, which allows craftsmen to realize even the most intricate fantasies. Moreover, this material lends itself well to additional coloring with pastels, acrylic or oil paints, or even eyeshadow. The finished product, however, is additionally recommended to be coated with acrylic varnish. With the help of an adhesive, the surface can be decorated with all kinds of beads, buttons, rhinestones and sparkles. Individual fragments of foamiran can also be joined together by using a strong glue - for example, "Moment", a foam rubber compound or a hot glue gun. Unfortunately, the use of PVA, liquid nails or stationery glue in this case will be ineffective.

• Foamiran retains its shape well and does not deform under the influence of, for example, the weight of heavy clothing. However, if such a nuisance happens, then it will be possible to eliminate it by simply warming up the damaged part with your hands and giving it its original position. It is worth adding that the material can be stretched, for example, by creating leaf blades of a plant, or it can be cut down with a composter or a figured hole punch. It is very pleasant to the touch and somewhat resembles suede.

The use of foamiran is much wider than isolone. It is much better stained and has a larger palette of shades. The material is distinguished by great plasticity and wear resistance. The finished products are more realistic, which is especially important in the manufacture of flower arrangements. The difference between the materials is also in price, but already in favor of isolon, since foamiran is much more expensive. Many craftsmen choose not to give preference to one of the materials, but to combine them in their work.

When buying foamiran, you need to pay attention to the thickness of the sheets, as well as the form of their manufacture. For example, if miniature elements are to be created, then a material with a thickness of 1 to 1.5 millimeters is most suitable. In the event that a large craft is to be made, such as a children's applique, it is better to choose sheets whose thickness exceeds 3 millimeters. For young children, dense colored figures are often cut out that can be connected together. In this case, it makes sense to talk about a thicker foamiran.

The material is silk, characterized by increased elasticity and special strength. It comes on sale in the form of thin sheets with a matte surface. This variety is perfect for creating volumetric flowers of different sizes. Silk foamiran is not afraid of moisture, keeps its shape well and is painted with high quality acrylic or oil-based paints.

There is also marshmallow foamiran. This material looks like a thin sheet painted in pastel shades. It must be said that the structure of this decorative variety is very fragile and can collapse from the influence of the iron, and therefore the shape of the individual elements is given by heating with hands or with an ordinary hair dryer. Glitter foamiran is characterized by the presence of a surface decorated with sparkles. Most often it is chosen for creating Christmas tree decorations and flower arrangements.

Textured foamiran is initially sold with a relief pattern on the surface. It can feel terry to the touch. This material is most widely used in the toy industry. It is also customary to distinguish roll and sheet foamiran. The first, as you might guess from the name, goes on sale in rolls and is more used for mass production.

Foamiran sheets are mainly purchased by needlewomen, and the price per piece varies from 20 to 100 rubles or more. Foamiran is also isolated on an adhesive basis. On its reverse side there is an adhesive layer, like double-sided tape, which allows you to use the material for decorating notebooks, creating gift wrapping and decorating finished products. Most manufacturers have a range of materials in various shades: both white and black, and gold with sequins and patterns.

The liquid foamiran stands apart, unlike the typical type of material. In fact, this is a fake foamiran, since foamed rubber, in principle, cannot be liquid. This name hides a strongly stretching marshmallow mass used for children's creativity. Unlike foamiran, marshmallow parts are easily held together with ordinary glue. They also harden after work, but have a lighter shape.

Plastic suede is mainly produced by 4 countries: Iran, China, Turkey, Korea.

Iranian foamiran was a pioneer in the market. The base sheet thickness is 0.8-1 millimeters, but there is also a 2 millimeter thick variety. The latter, although it is characterized by a better quality pulling, looks rather rough. Sheets are produced either in A4 format, or with sides of 60 and 70 centimeters. The manufacturers' palette unites more than 30 shades. All of them are distinguished by delicate pastel colors. Iranian foamiran has good porosity and elasticity.

Chinese material most often it is produced in the format of 50 by 50 centimeters. Its thickness is either 0.5-1 millimeters or 2-3 millimeters. There are also thicker variations, most often chosen for working with children. The number of shades in the palette exceeds 2 dozen, and they may differ for each manufacturer. Compared to Turkish foamiran, Chinese has brighter shades. This particular variety can be silk and marshmallow. The thickness of silk sheets does not exceed 0.5-0.8 millimeters.After processing, the products have a beautiful shine, but strong heating can also lead to "eating" the size. Marshmallow leaves can be given a special subtlety by ironing them through sheets of paper. These parts are able to stick together, which is indispensable for creating colors such as ranunculus.

Turkish foamiran has inferior quality compared to its competitors. The dimensions of the sheet are usually 60 by 70 centimeters, and the thickness does not exceed 1-3 millimeters. On sale, by the way, this variety can also come in rolls.

At the material of a Korean manufacturer there is a large palette of shades. For a standard piece of paper, the sides are 60 and 40 centimeters. The thickness of the Korean foam rubber does not exceed 1 millimeter. The minimum border is 0.6 millimeters. Velvety sheets have good plasticity and ductility even without additional heat treatment. If you additionally process the material with a hairdryer, then you can stretch it almost to a transparent state.

To master the needlework technique for working with foamiran, it is better to start with the manufacture of some simple product, using step-by-step instructions.

• It all starts with the preparation of templates and stencils. Individual details are first drawn on high-density paper using a soft pencil, and then transferred to plastic suede. In this case, it is more convenient to use an awl or a blunt needle. Once you have cut and cut the parts, you can move on to the next step.

• You can cut individual elements with any scissors with both straight and rounded ends. Foamiran should be tinted immediately after cutting. Pastel, acrylic or oil paints are applied to the surface with a small sponge, after which the workpiece must be dried. The smallest elements can also be painted with a brush. Intermediate blanks - for example, petals of buds, are created using heating tools - a household iron or hair dryer.

• A thin stick, toothpick, or stencil may be required to shape and size as desired. Professionals often use a plastic hammer - a ready-made shape for adding volume and creating relief. This element is first heated and then pressed into the surface. The cooled elements are covered with acrylic varnish to protect them from moisture and dust. Weiners will come in handy for the same purpose.

Wire and extra strong glue can be useful for assembling the finished product. As already mentioned, it is most convenient to glue with hot glue supplied from a gun. During the final stage, a creative kit will come in handy, containing a figured hole punch, various accessories, sparkles, beads, rhinestones and sequins. Acrylic-based contour paints will be useful for decorative items such as dew drops or buttons on clothes.

What is foamiran and how it happens, see the video.