How to Use Dies as Stamps for Creative Cardmaking: Easy Technique Video Tutorial

Have you ever looked at your favorite die sets and thought, “I wish I could do more with these”? That was exactly the thought that popped into my head while I was organizing my craft space last week. I was sorting through my Pixi Dust Designs dies—specifically the Poppy Die Set—and wondered what would happen if I tried stamping with them instead of just cutting. That moment sparked a really fun creative session that led to two bright and cheerful floral cards made with DIY stamps I created using fun foam and my die cuts. I was able to stretch my supplies and get a beautiful layered stamped look using tools I already had on hand.

This technique is not only easy but opens the door to creating custom stamped images without needing traditional layering stamp sets. If you love getting more from your stash, this is one you’re going to want to try.

How to Use Dies as Stamps for Creative Cardmaking: Easy Technique Video Tutorial

Turning Dies into Custom Stamps

I used the Poppy Dies from Pixi Dust Designs as the foundation for this project, but instead of using them to cut paper like usual, I used them to cut thin fun foam—the kind you can grab at Dollar Tree. I layered three pieces of foam together to create enough thickness for stamping, ran the dies through my Platinum 6 die-cutting machine, and ended up with these perfectly shaped stamp pieces.

Here's a little pro tip: add double-sided adhesive to the back of the foam before you die cut. That way, once your shapes are cut out, they’re ready to mount onto an acrylic block or place into your Mini MISTI without fussing with glue or tape. It makes the stamping process super smooth.

What I love about this method is that it mimics the look of layered stamping—those multi-step stamp sets we all love—except you're making it completely custom with your dies. It feels like magic when you start layering up the stamped images and see them come together.

Ink Colors That Brought the Flowers to Life

Color choice is everything when it comes to layered stamping. For the stems, I started with Sage Ink, which gave a nice soft grounding for both cards. The first layer of the flower was stamped in Peach Fuzz, followed by Apricot for the second layer, and then topped with Clementine. The blend of these warm peachy tones gives the flower such dimension and warmth—it really pops off the page.

For the second card, I added some extra leaves using Spruce Tips Ink, and I stamped the flower centers in Detail Black Ink to add contrast and help draw the eye in. I love how those darker centers give the flowers a finished, polished look.

If you’re ever unsure about which colors to layer, swatch them out first on scrap cardstock. You’d be surprised how much a slight shift in ink tone can change the whole feel of a design.

Card Design That Makes the Technique Shine

Once the floral panels were stamped, I cut them down to two different sizes to play with proportion and balance. One was trimmed to 3¾" x 5" and the other to 4" x 5¼". For the smaller panel, I added a mat of Nectar Cardstock, which pulls out the warmth in the flowers beautifully, and popped it onto a top-folding A2 base made from Neenah Ultra Thick Cardstock. The second panel went straight onto a Nectar Cardstock base, creating a bold tone-on-tone look that I absolutely love.

Both cards feature stamped sentiments—one from the It’s Par-Tea Time Stamp Set that says “Get Well Soon,” and the other from the Up Up and Away Stamp Set. Both sentiment sets from Pixi Dust Designs pair beautifully with a wide range of card styles, and their playful font added just the right touch to these floral designs.

Here’s a design tip I live by: when in doubt, a narrow mat layer between your card panel and base adds just enough contrast to give your design depth without overwhelming your stamped image.

Finishing Touches that Elevate

I always say that the last 10% of a card is what brings it to life. For both cards, I added a few simple but impactful finishing touches. A white gel pen—my go-to is the Gelly Roll Bold Opaque White—added highlights to the petals and leaves. It’s such a small detail, but it gives the illusion of light and really makes the stamped layers pop.

To top everything off, I added a sprinkle of Cosmics Rhinestones and a few Candy Dots for a little sparkle and dimension. You don’t need much—just enough to catch the light and give your cards that finished look.

Stretch Your Supplies & Get More from Your Dies

This technique made me look at my die stash with fresh eyes. There are so many possibilities when you start thinking outside the box—especially with layering dies like the Poppy Dies from Pixi Dust Designs. By simply swapping cardstock for foam, I turned my dies into stamps and created layered floral images that look like they came from a stamp set.

If you’re looking for a creative way to stretch your supplies or you just want to try something new, I highly recommend giving this a go. It's fun, it's simple, and the results are so rewarding. Plus, it’s a great option if you want to match die cuts with specific ink colors you already have.

You can catch the full process in today’s video, where I walk through exactly how I created each card. I’d love to know if you try this technique, and what die sets you’re excited to turn into stamps.

Let me know in the comments or tag me when you share—I’m always inspired by what this amazing community creates.

Turn DIES into STAMPS and Stretch Your Card Making Supplies Video Tutorial:

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(Wondering what I used in this video? Everything is linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post, or in the text below. Compensated affiliate links used when possible). As always I appreciate your support of my videos!

Materials Used:

Here you will find the list of supplies that I used to create today's card. All supplies are linked to supply sources below. Compensated affiliate links may be used at no cost to you.

Happy Stampin'

Rick Adkins

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