A method of forming a component of an article (10; 14; 36; 60, 62, 64; 100, 120), comprising: decorating a portion of a plurality of foam particles, wherein the decorating comprises embossing or debossing the portion of the plurality of foam particles; arranging the plurality of foam particles by depositing a layer comprising the plurality of foam particles, wherein the arranged plurality of foam particles comprises a first thermoplastic elastomeric material, and wherein the arranged plurality of foam particles has a number average particle size of 0.04 millimeters to 10 millimeters in a longest dimension; and affixing arranged foam particles within a target area which is a portion (121a, 121b, 121c, 122, 123; 124a, 124b, 124c) of the layer of the plurality of foam particles; wherein the arranging and affixing of a plurality of foam particles are carried out for two or more iterations, and wherein the component is formed layer-wise from a plurality of layers of arranged and affixed foam particles. Also related articles.