People Are Making Giant Holiday Popcorn Garlands Out of Spray Foam and We’re Impressed

We love a good DIY holiday decoration. This year, it seems like everyone is stepping up their game to make bigger, grander and more festive decorations than ever. This spray foam popcorn garland is no exception. It’s a crafty spin on the popcorn garlands you’d make as a kid—but supersized.

TikTok user @JeffMacKay recently posted a video demonstrating the idea, giving us inspiration for how to add some festive fun to our homes. The best part? Whether you’re a DIY newbie or a seasoned pro, you can flex your creative muscles with this project as it just requires a few simple steps. And it works well indoors or outside!

With this clever creation, you can transform your house into a winter wonderland.

@jeffmackay DIY Extra Large Popcorn Garland 🍿🎄#crafts #artsandcrafts #christmascrafts #diyproject #christmas #christmasdecor #artistsoftiktok #garland #candy #christmasdiy #crafts #fun ♬ It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year – Andy Williams

How to Make a Giant Spray Foam Popcorn Garland

Ready to begin creating your very own giant popcorn garland? First things first: our biggest tip for working with spray foam is to wear disposable gloves, protective eyewear and proper work clothes. While acetone can work in a pinch to dissolve uncured foam, cured foam is extremely tricky to get off of unwanted surfaces.

Materials and Tools:

• Plastic drop cloth
• Protective gear, including gloves and eyewear
• Waterpoof, closed-cell spray foam—@jeffmackay recommends using Loctite Tite Foam to avoid discoloration.
• Plastic straws
• Scissors
• Red shatterproof plastic ornaments
• Hot glue gun
• Twine or fishing line

Directions

1. First, set up your spray foam popcorn garland station by covering a workspace with a plastic drop cloth. This will prevent your DIY decoration from sticking. Be sure that it’s a large enough area to prevent any potential spray foam spatter from touching other surfaces. We recommend moving your work outdoors, if possible, for extra ventilation.
2. To form the oversized “popcorn” use spray foam to create cloud-like clusters around the center of each straw. Spray in loose, random motions. The fluffier, the better. You should be able to create one eight-foot strand per bottle of spray foam. Let dry according to the manufacturer’s directions, usually for about 8-24 hours.
3. Once the foam popcorn pieces are cured, grab each piece of “popcorn” and snip the excess straws on each side so they are not sticking out. Try to snip it as close to the spray foam as you can to get a genuine popcorn look. Repeat this step until all of your popcorn pieces are trimmed.
4. Next, create a small hole in each ornament by slowly pressing a hot glue gun tip to melt through the plastic at the opposite side of the cap. Depending on how hot your glue gun is, this may take a few minutes for each, so patience is key. These ornaments will serve as your “cranberries” in this larger-than-life twist on a holiday classic.
5. Last, remove the ornament cap and pull the twine or fishing line through the ornament. Alternate threading the popcorn by pulling the string through the straw hole and the red “cranberry” ornaments to create your own design. Ta-da! You’ve created your own giant popcorn garland.

Where to Hang Your Spray Foam Popcorn Garland

Once you’ve successfully made your own giant popcorn garland decoration, it’s time to hang it for you (and your neighbors) to admire. Hang a strand along a porch fence to add festive flair or drape it around your exterior door to give your home a fun, gingerbread house vibe. Bonus points if you add holiday lights for a merry nighttime display. Note, however, that harsh weather may cause the foam popcorn to degrade.

If you’re looking to decorate indoors, remember that spray foam is flammable, so avoid hanging the garland around the fireplace, candles or other open flames. Instead, try it hanging it as a swag for your staircase for a whimsical touch.