This slime with foam beads is crunchy, stretchy, and oh-so-satisfying! If you’ve ever played with floam, you’ll love this DIY version that’s just as fun to make as it is to squish. With only a few basic slime ingredients, this project comes together in minutes — and the addition of foam beads takes the texture to the next level!
We used a clear glue base and added just a drop or two of food colouring to keep that translucent look, while still making the colour pop. The result? A crunchy, colourful sensory experience that’s great for kids, tweens, and slime lovers of all ages.
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How to Make Slime with Foam Beads
Equipment:
Watch the step-by-step video tutorial:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Mix the first ingredients
- Pour 1/2 cup of clear glue into a bowl.
- Add 1-1/2 teaspoons of baking soda.
- Stir to mix the ingredients together well.
- Add food colouring to achieve your desired colour (we used 2 drops).Stir well and add more food colouring, if needed.
- Pour in 3/4 cup of foam beads.
- Stir to mix them evenly throughout the slime.
Step 3: Activate the slime
- Activate the slime by adding 1-3/4 teaspoons of contact lens solution.
- Stir the mixture until you can’t anymore and it starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl.Press the mixture down to incorporate all the contact lens solution.
Step 4: Work the slime in your hands
- Pick up the slime out of the bowl and work it in your hands – stretching, kneading, and rolling. It’ll be sticky at first, but don’t panic! Continue working it and using the slime to clean itself off your hands.Continue until the slime no longer sticks to your hands. You can add a couple more drops of contact lens solution if it’s still a bit too sticky.
- Your slime with foam beads is complete!
Helpful Tips:
- The more foam balls you add, the stiffer and less “slimey” — and more like floam — your slime will be. See our homemade floam post for an easy floam recipe!
- Too much contact lens solution will make the slime stiff instead of stretchy. Start small and only add more if the slime stays sticky after kneading for a few minutes.
What kind of foam beads should I use for this slime recipe with foam beads?
Look for mini foam balls that are lightweight and designed for crafts or slime when making this crunchy slime recipe. These are usually made of polystyrene and come in resealable bags.
We used white foam balls to make our slime with foam beads, but you can also use coloured foam beads.
Can I make slime with foam beads using white glue instead of clear?
Yes! White glue will give your crunchy slime a solid colour instead of a translucent one. It still works perfectly — you’ll just get a softer, more pastel-looking slime.
How do I store foam bead slime?
Keep your crunchy slime with foam balls in an airtight container or sealable plastic bag when you’re not playing with it. This will help prevent the slime from drying out.
Slime with foam beads is one of our favourite sensory crafts — it’s simple to make, packed with texture, and has just the right amount of squish and crunch. Whether you’re making it for fun, a party favor, or a rainy day boredom buster, this floam-style slime is guaranteed to be a hit. Happy squishing!
Here’s even more fun slime ideas:
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