Do you love making cards but hate how time-consuming and messy traditional adhesives for card making can be? Well, say goodbye to your old friend ‘glue’ and hello to 3D foam tape adhesive! This product is revolutionizing the way crafters make cards. Not only is it quick and easy to use, but it also provides a beautiful depth and dimension to your paper crafting projects. So, if you're ready to take your card making to the next level, read on for a few tips and tricks on how to use foam tape!

What is foam tape?

Foam tape is one of those crafting supplies that seem to have a million and one uses. But what exactly is foam tape? And how do you use it? Foam tape is a double-sided adhesive tape that comes in various thicknesses, lengths, widths, shapes, and even colors. It is considered a type of contact adhesive since it forms an immediate bond upon contact with a surface. Even if you’re not a regular crafter, you’ve probably used a 3M double-sided foam tape to mount a photo frame or home decor on your wall. It is a staple in most households because it provides a solid and permanent bond on most surfaces such as paper, wood, metal, glass, and aluminum. Moreover, some 3D foam tapes can withstand different weather conditions like moisture and heat. 

With various kinds of adhesives readily available in the market, crafters opt to fill their crafting arsenal with whatever suits their needs. However, most of them love using double-sided foam tapes because of the extra dimension and interest it adds to any paper crafting project - whether a handmade card, a scrapbook page, a bullet journal, or DIY home decor.

Greeting card with double-sided foam tape roll

Here are a few characteristics of adhesive foam tape.

• Non-toxic
• Acid-free
• Mess-free
• Contact adhesive
• Easy storage
• Travel-friendly
• Lightweight
• Quick and easy to use
• Convenient for a wide range of DIY crafts
• Waterproof
• It comes in various sizes and shapes (foam dots, foam squares, tape roll, etc.).
• It comes in plastic or paper and is adhered to a piece of easy-to-peel backing sheet.
• Different dimensions provide varying heights on projects.

In this post, we'll take a look at some of the ways sticky foam tape can be used in your paper crafting projects. We'll also share some tips on how to use foam tape effectively. So, keep on reading for more ideas and inspiration!

Read up on different craft adhesives here!

Adhesive foam tape with craft dies

What is foam tape good for?

What can double-sided foam tape be used for? You can use this type of tape for so many things. Here are some of the most popular uses. 

• 3D foam tape is excellent for scrapbooking, card making, and paper crafts because it is strong, versatile, and easy to use. 
• It comes in a wide variety of widths and thicknesses, so you can easily find the best one for your project.
• You can use double-sided adhesive foam tape to attach papers, die-cuts, embellishments, create borders and frames, or make 3D accents on crafting projects. 
• It's also great for attaching sentiment strips on cards or photos on scrapbook pages. 
• It's perfect for creating shaker cards, pop-up cards, or other interactive cards.

3D foam tape roll from Altenew

Here are a few compatible materials with adhesive foam tapes:

• Wood
• Glass
• Paper
• Plastic
• Metal

Is foam tape removable?

Adhesive foam tape provides a strong and permanent bond, so it might be challenging to remove them. You can remove them, but they might tear or damage the surface, especially if it’s paper or cardstock. It will also leave some adhesive residue. Some companies do offer removable or repositionable 3D foam tapes. 

Double-sided foam tape roll and scrapbook ephemera

Different Foam Tape Sizes

Foam tape comes in various sizes and shapes, the most popular being circles and squares. Foam dots or foam circles, foam squares, foam strips, foam sheets, and foam tape roll - whatever the shape or size, this tool is handy for achieving instant 3D or pop-up effects on handmade cards and other paper crafts. Double-sided adhesive foam tapes are super easy and convenient to use, making them a popular choice for most card makers and scrapbookers.

Let’s explore the different foam tape sizes!

Type of Foam Tape	Foam Tape Size (Sizes vary)	Features	Best Used On
Foam Circles/Dots	-0.5” x 0.08” -0.25” x 0.08”	-Archival safe -Acid-free -Lignin-free -Available in black and white	-Sentiments -Word die-cuts -Intricate dies -Smaller die-cuts -Round die-cuts or embellishments -For popping up alphabet die-cuts -Sequins or gems
Foam Strips	-0.50” x 5.0” x 0.08” -3.9” long -5.9” long	-Permanent adhesive -Double-sided adhesive foam tape -Straight and 0.50” strips -Strong bond -Easy to tear off -High-density foam	-Borders for cards and scrapbook pages -Long, vertical dies or embellishments -Art journals -Slimline cards -Adding dimension to card panels -Shaker cards
Foam Sheets	-3.9” x 4.8” x 0.04”	-Easy release liner helps to perfectly peel the adhesive foam tape -Permanent adhesive on both sides provides a strong hold	-Great for creating custom 3D shapes -Adding dimension to card panels -Die-cutting intricate word dies -Die-cutting alphabet dies -Slimline cards -Scrapbook pages
Foam Squares	-0.47” x 0.47” x 0.12” -0.25" x 0.25" -0.5” x 0.5” -0.24” x 0.24” x 0.08”	-Available in white and black -Pre-cut double-sided foam tape squares on each sheet -Easy release liner/sheet -High density foam -Permanent adhesive bond	Sentiments -Word die-cuts -Intricate dies -Smaller die-cuts -Square die-cuts or embellishments -For popping up alphabet die-cuts
3D Foam Tape Roll	-0.50" (12.7mm) wide, 0.06" (1.5mm) thick, 108.3’ (33 m) long -0.50” wide, 50’ long -0.25” wide, 50’ long -0.125”, 50’ long -0.125” x 0.5” wide, 54’ long	-Double-sided adhesive foam tape -Sticky foam tape that is easy to tear -Provides permanent adhesive -Some are available in both black and white core	-Handmade cards -Scrapbook layouts -Journal pages -Home decor pieces -Mixed media projects -Shaker cards -Slimline cards

How to Use Foam Tapes 

1. First, peel off the sticky foam tape from the backing sheet or liner.
2. Next, push the sticky side down on the back of the die-cut, embellishment, paper, or whatever decor you are adhering to your project.
3. Remove the release paper on top of the adhesive foam tape.
4. Finally, adhere the item in place on your project.

Adding 3D foam tapes on die-cuts

Watch the video below to see how to use foam tape on your paper crafts!

9 Project Ideas Using Sticky Foam Tape Adhesives

Do you like using 3D foam tape adhesive to add dimension and interest to your paper crafting projects? You’re in luck! We’re sharing a few ideas on how to use foam tape adhesives for card making, scrapbooking, and even journaling. You'll learn the best way to apply it, how to adhere it correctly, and some tips and tricks on how to get great results every time.

1- Foam tapes are perfect for shaker cards - just like Jenny’s sequin shaker background card. Find out how she created it HERE.

2- Check out that stunning starry night and those 3D mountains and trees on Lydia’s window card! Watch the video below to find out how she used sticky foam tape for this project.

3- Another way to make an element pop off the page is to, well, pop them up with 3D foam tapes! Here’s a fun holiday card idea by Svitlana.

5- Color, texture, and dimension are essential in creating a balanced page. Nathalie’s accomplished all of these on her 6x8 holiday scrapbook journal thanks to Altenew’s stamps, dies, stencils, and double-sided foam tape.

6- Thinking of creating your own holiday ornaments and home decor? Try recreating Bridget’s DIY wooden ornament featuring an adorable snowman. She then doubled the foam tapes to add more height to its hat. 

7- Tania’s art journal might look simple and one-layered at first. However, we loved how she added instant dimension to those die-cut florals using thick foam tapes.

9- Popping up those alphabet die-cuts with sticky foam tape is enough to transform your card from 0 to 100! Check out this holiday card inspiration by Aga.

Tips on How to Use Foam Tape

Do you love making your cards, but find that traditional adhesives just don't give them the pop that you're looking for? 3D foam tape adhesive is such a versatile product and can be used in so many ways to add dimension and interest to your cards, scrapbooks, and other DIY crafts. 

Here are a few tips and tricks you need to try!

1. Keep different-sized double-sided foam tapes on hand. This will ensure ease of use and convenience. It will also give you more creative options. 
   
   
2. Foam tape roll is excellent if you want to have more flexibility in the shape or size of your tape. You can cut it to any shape or size you want, so it’s perfect for various craft projects.
   
   
3. Are you having trouble removing the release or backing liner on your adhesive foam tape? Use craft tweezers or a craft pick to pull them off easily!
   
   
4. Most sticky foam tapes have a white core, and this poses a problem for card makers who want a seamless finish on their projects. If those white foam tapes peeking through the sides and edges are bothering you, we’ve got three tips for you.

• Use clear or transparent double-sided adhesive foam tape.
• Use black foam tapes. These might not be readily available for some, but a quick Google search will yield great results! You might have them at a local store near you.
• Grab a black alcohol marker and color those white edges! You can also use a black pen or black nail polish.
  
  
  CAS handmade card with adhesive foam tape
  
  

For most people, when they hear the words "foam tape" their mind probably goes to those little white squares that we all used in our school days for crafts. And while that's definitely one use for sticky foam tape, it's by no means the only one! In this post, we’ve shared some of the many ways foam tape can come in handy for paper crafters. Whether you're a scrapbooker looking for a fun way to add dimension to your pages, or a card maker who wants to create cards that stand out from the rest, 3D foam tape is definitely worth checking out and adding to your crafting tool kit. 

If you’re up for more quick reads, check out our All About Crafting page
for more paper crafting guides, tips, and ideas!