Polyurethane foam is widely considered by foam crafters to be one of the most versatile materials out there. Although it’s most commonly used in furniture, bedding, and even wall insulation, there are lots of DIY crafts with polyurethane you can try. Here are some DIY crafts with polyurethane to consider today.

Artificial Rocks

One easy DIY project is to make fake rocks for outdoor living spaces.

Fake rocks have a number of different uses; you can use them for landscaping an outdoor space (they’re lightweight and easier to move than the real thing), creating smaller versions for models and dioramas, or putting them in reptile habitats or fish ponds. Here’s what you’ll need for this craft:

• Chicken wire and clippers
• Scrap cardboard
• Gloves
• Spray polyurethane foam
• Paint (latex for indoor rocks, exterior paint for outdoor rocks)
• Gloves
• Sponge

Step 1

First, cut the chicken wire and mold it into whatever shape you’d like your rock to be. Make sure the shape is slightly smaller than what you want since the foam will expand. Your next step is to use the scrap cardboard to fill in the hollow areas of the chicken wire form.

Step 2

Put on your gloves. Next, spray two thin, even layers of the foam over the chicken wire form. Shape the foam into the desired rock shape. You can use real rocks or photos for reference. Work quickly while the foam is still wet!

Step 3

Wait for the foam to dry completely. After that, you can begin painting. Make sure to use a variety of colors and shades to add depth to the rock. Blot layers of color onto the rock using your sponge — this will create more texture.

The fun part about this at-home project is you aren’t limited to just making rocks. You can apply this method to make anything you want, from a polyurethane sculpture to fake props for home decor.

Foam Bed Wedge

A great option for your some office or bedroom is a foam wedge. If your 8 hours of sleep is getting interrupted by sleep apnea, snoring, or acid reflux, a foam bed wedge might be the answer to your problem. In addition to a foam mattress, wedge pillows are triangular pillows that raise the upper half of your body while you sleep. You can make your own wedge pillow at home with these materials:

• Polyurethane upholstery foam (8 in. wide, 8 in. deep, 3 ft. long)
• Pillowcase
• Tape measure
• Sharpie
• Safety pins or a sewing machine if you wish to sew
• Bread knife

Step 1

Figure out your measurements. You’ll want foam that is at least 8 inches thick. Wedge pillow width ranges from 24, 30, or 36 inches, and you can base the height of your pillow on how deep you want the incline to be.

Step 2

Cut the foam into a wedge shape. Cut diagonally, so that the pillow will be thicker on top and thinner on the bottom.

Step 3

Turn the pillowcase inside out and put the foam inside. Using your safety pins, pin the long edge of the pillowcase so that the wedge fits nicely inside. Alternatively, you can use a sewing machine to sew the edge into a seam instead of using pins.

Step 4

Remove the wedge from the pillowcase and turn the case right side out. Put the wedge back in, and your DIY foam bed wedge is now ready to use!

Picture Frame

Picture frames are classic decor for your home, but the frames themselves aren’t usually worth looking at. You can make a picture frame that’s totally unique and eye-catching with polyurethane foam sealant. If you’re looking for a foam craft that’s easy, quick, and fun, try making your own picture frames! Here’s what you will need:

• Spray polyurethane foam
• Cardboard
• Fabric adhesive
• Scissors
• Gloves
• Spray paint

Step 1

First, Cut your cardboard into whatever shape or size you want your frame to be. For a picture frame, the best shapes will be rectangular, square, or circular. You can experiment with different shapes like a heart, diamond, or even a star, but keep in mind your shape will expand with the foam. Don’t worry if your cutting skills aren’t perfect, because the foam will cover up any errors.

Step 2

Put on your gloves, shake the sealant can, and spray a frame onto the cardboard. You can apply more pressure to the nozzle to make the foam come out in thin strips or thicker globs. You can let the foam dry if you like how it looks, or you can push it down while it’s still wet and malleable for a new texture that will be more ridged and flattened instead of puffy.

Step 3

Next, wait 30-35 minutes for the foam to dry. After it’s dried down, spray paint in whatever color you want.

Step 4

Now your frame is ready for a picture. Take your fabric adhesive and cut it into the appropriate shape for your frame. Glue the fabric onto the cardboard. It’ll serve as a barrier between the picture and the sprayed cardboard. Insert your picture over the fabric adhesive. You now have a beautifully framed picture!

5 Minute Crafts and Quick Fixes

There are so many other uses for polyurethane foam. Because it’s water-tight and flexible, polyurethane works as an excellent sealant for surfaces such as wood, metal, stucco, and more. Here are even more ways you can use polyurethane foam on your at-home projects.

1. Pest control: Cracks in structures make it easier for insects and other unwelcome bugs to enter your home. Keep the critters away by pushing copper mesh into the cracks and filling the rest with spray foam.
2. Packing material: Did you know you could use foam as packing material for fragile items? Before packing away an object in a box, take a shopping bag and fill it halfway with polyurethane foam. Put it in the bottom of the box, then take the item and press it gently into the bag as the foam hardens. Repeat for the top of the box and you now have a way to secure fragile items for delivery.
3. Carved Foam Sculptures: Polyurethane foam can be sculpted, carved, cut, molded, marked, or sanded to make sculptures. It’s a popular choice for hobbyists interested in building models, whether they’re for an upcoming Dungeons and Dragons game or a model railroad.

Where to Get the Best Polyurethane

Outside of being a high-quality insulative material, Polyurethane foam is surprisingly versatile for sculpting, crafting, or sealing. It’s one of those products that is always good to just keep around the house because you never know when you’ll come across something it’ll be useful for. Similar to silicone sealant, polyurethane has many multi-purpose functions, but you want tomake sure you know about the different types of polyurethane first.

Make sure you buy your polyurethane from a trusted retailer. You can get the best polyurethane foam sealant at Silicone Depot. Our Expanding Foam Sealant will work perfectly for most of the DIY projects included on this list. It can be used commercially or in the home and is equipped with a nozzle for precise application. Shop Silicone Depot for all your foam sealing needs!