Product Background
Brand Name:	STYROFOAM™ brand foam
Manufacturer:	The Dow Chemical Company
Distributors:	Two national, independent fabricators with a network of distribution facilities
Availability:	In the United States and Canada from floral and craft wholesalers, craft stores and national chain stores
Composition:	Extruded polystyrene foam, white or green in color
Applications:	A basic, versatile plastic foam used in floral designs and craft projects
Web sites:	www.styrofoamcrafts.com and www.dowfloralfoam.com

The original Floral and Craft foam, genuine STYROFOAM brand foam is the brand four out of five crafters prefer, and is easily recognized by the blue, “Start Here” logo. In 1948, The Dow Chemical Company introduced STYROFOAM brand products and ever since, Dow has put its R&D muscle behind the product, refining its special manufacturing process to create the highest performance foam on the market. STYROFOAM brand foam helped pioneer the craft and floral industries, and for more than 50 years, the classic foam has been a tradition for all types of home décor accents, craft projects and floral designs. Today, STYROFOAM brand products are a staple in the $23 billion Floral and Craft Industry.

From Manufacture to Market
The Dow Chemical Company is the exclusive manufacturer of STYROFOAM brand products. Dow manufactures large billets of STYROFOAM brand foam, which it sells to two fabricators/distributors located throughout the United States. Using saws, routers and hot wires, the fabricators cut the billets into assorted shapes that they package and sell to floral and craft wholesalers, craft stores and national chain stores. STYROFOAM brand foam is not sold under the Dow label, but rather that of its fabricators/distributors, FloraCraft and Oasis® Floral Products. All STYROFOAM brand products bear the blue, “Start Here” logo.

Product Benefits
Due to its special manufacturing process, STYROFOAM brand foam has a crispness other plastic foams lack. The physical composition of STYROFOAM brand foam offers creative crafters and floral designers many inherent benefits:

• Shapes cut true to form and size
• A consistent texture through and through, without gaps and holes
• Superior holding power, holding even the largest floral stems and water picks precisely in place
• Firm structure tightly grips pins, picks, and other decorations
• Easier to cut, shape, glue, paint and cover than any other foam product
• Finely textured surface provides a smoother finish, whether painted or covered
• Closed-cell structure won't absorb moisture, even when immersed in water
• Retains its shape when wet
• Lightweight and easy to handle
• Clean and non-dusting
• Economical compared to most alternative products
• Reusable

Shape Assortment
Choose from more than 50 different shapes and sizes of STYROFOAM brand foam, including balls, sheets, cones, eggs, hearts, blocks, rings, shamrocks, pumpkins, and many others. In addition, it’s easy to cut STYROFOAM brand foam into almost any size and shape using a floral knife, serrated knife, Xacto® knife, hacksaw knife or hot wire cutter. (Please follow manufacturer's safety instructions when operating a hot wire cutter.)

Applications
STYROFOAM brand foam is a versatile, easy-to-use product that readily adapts to displays, custom floral arrangements, props, and craft projects. It's fun, creative and safe to use for any age and any environment.

Florists incorporate novel shapes of STYROFOAM brand foam into fantastic floral arrangements and displays. A wide variety of pre-cut shapes, including wreaths, crosses, Masonic emblems and holiday figures, make it easy to personalize arrangements. The new Sheets-to-Shapes® program features distinctive displays and arrangements. STYROFOAM brand foam is suitable for everlasting flowers, dried flowers and fresh flowers, with the addition of a water pick. Its superior strength maintains the integrity of large, heavy arrangements.

Party planners create custom theme arrangements and centerpieces for business meetings, conventions and festive occasions. It’s easy to celebrate weddings, birthdays, showers and other special events with original centerpieces and props fashioned from STYROFOAM brand foam.

Crafters use STYROFOAM brand products for home décor accents and holiday projects, including wreaths, swags, topiaries, Christmas trees, ornaments, angels, Santas, snowmen, pumpkins, witches, scarecrows, tombstones, bunnies, chicks, decorated eggs, baskets, turkeys and pilgrims.

Crafts for classrooms, scout troops, youth groups, daycare centers, and other groups are easy to plan when incorporating STYROFOAM brand products to create picture frames, dolls, mobiles, animals, puppets, clowns, solar systems, insects, Martians, castles and other real and imaginary endeavors.

Versatile and Adaptable
STYROFOAM brand foam adapts to limitless finishes and materials, fulfilling the demands of creativity:

• Decorate with ribbons, feathers, sequins, raffia, fabric, glitter or today's popular naturals, nuts, beans, seeds or dried and pressed flowers.
• Paint with foam-safe spray paints or brush-on acrylic paints (paints containing solvents may damage the foam).
• Texture the foam with a coating of acrylic spackling, plaster of Paris, wallboard compound, gesso, modeling paste or other coating material.
• Apply a faux finish, such as a copper patina, verdi gris coating or crackle medium. Antique it with an antiquing kit or by applying a solution of raw umber mixed with varnish over any color base coat (use water-based paints for the base).
• Cut with a floral knife, Xacto® knife, serrated knife, hacksaw, or hot wire cutter (please follow manufacturer's safety instructions when operating a hot wire or battery‑operated cutter).
• Shape and form it with fingers, wood picks, pencils, or carving tools.
• Thick, white craft glue is ideal for STYROFOAM brand foam. Use florists' picks or toothpicks to hold the pieces together until dried. For faster bonding, try a low-temperature glue gun. Hot glue guns and pan glue can be used, but they may melt a small portion of the foam. (Please follow manufacturer's safety instructions when operating a glue gun.)