DIY Foam Stamps Using Cricut

Summer is the perfect time to get kids crafting, and what could be more fun than making your own custom stamps? With just some self-adhesive craft foam, a Cricut machine, and a few simple supplies, you can create personalized stamps that are perfect for kids’ summer art projects, parties, or just a lazy afternoon of creativity. While these stamps are especially great for little hands, the best part is - they’re versatile! Kids and adults alike can use them on paper, fabric, and all kinds of DIY projects. It’s a simple, hands-on way to spark creativity and keep everyone entertained all season long.

Materials:

• Self-adhesive craft foam sheets, 1-2 mm thick
• Wood blocks
• Cricut Explore or Maker Series Cutting Machine
• Cricut Deep Point Blade or Cricut Knife Blade (for Cricut Maker)
• Cricut StrongGrip or StandardGrip Cutting Mat

Directions:

You can head straight to this project in Cricut Design Space to get started, or if you prefer, pick out your own cut designs from your Cricut Access Subscription. For the best stamping results, stick with simple silhouette-style designs - ones that don’t have a lot of tiny, intricate details. Once you’ve chosen your designs, resize them to fit your wooden bases. The ones I’m using measure about 1.4 inches by 14 inches, but you can adjust yours to match whatever size blocks you have.

Now it’s time to make the project! Start by cutting out your chosen designs from thin craft foam. This material works great for stamping because it’s flexible, easy to cut, and gives a nice, even impression when you use it. Be sure to secure the foam well to your cutting mat so it doesn’t shift while the machine is working.

Here are a few helpful tips for cutting craft foam with your Cricut machine:

• Use the right material setting. Choose the “Craft Foam” setting in Cricut Design Space.
• Use the proper blade. A Deep-Point Blade works well for clean cuts through foam, especially if it’s more than 1 mm thick. Or you can use a Knife Blade if you have a Maker series cutting machine.
• Move the star rollers on your machine if applicable so they do not roll over the foam design, making unwanted impressions.
• Secure your material well. Place the foam on a sticky mat and press it down firmly, using a brayer if you have one to prevent shifting. You can even use masking tape to secure the foam to the mat along all edges; this is especially helpful when cutting plain (not adhesive) craft foam products.
• Keep designs simple. Craft foam can tear or stretch on fine details, so stick with bold, simple shapes and silhouettes.
• Do a test cut first. Before cutting your full design, make a small test cut to confirm the settings and blade depth are right for your material.
• Remove carefully. Once the cut is finished, gently peel away the excess foam to avoid bending or tearing your design.

Once your shapes are cut, go ahead and remove the extra foam so you’re left with just your stamp designs. Peel off the adhesive backing from each piece, then carefully stick one design onto each side of your wood block. Press firmly so the foam adheres well and your stamps are nice and secure.

Kids can have loads of summer fun using the foam stamps with any regular stamp pad - just press the stamp gently onto the ink pad, then press it onto paper, fabric, or another surface to make colorful prints. It’s an easy, creative activity that lets them experiment with patterns and colors again and again.

Do More with Your Cricut

Once you’ve tried making custom foam stamps, there are so many other creative projects kids can dive into using their Cricut! Here are three fun ideas to keep the summer art vibes going. These projects are perfect for keeping kids engaged, exploring new techniques, and turning simple materials into creative masterpieces - all with a little help from your Cricut!

Paint with Cricut Vinyl Masks

Use Cricut vinyl as a stencil to create fun shapes and patterns on paper, canvas, or even wooden signs. Kids can paint right over the vinyl, then peel it away to reveal crisp, clean designs underneath. 

Paint in Easy Spaces with Cricut Iron-On

Iron-on isn’t just for clothes! Apply Cricut iron-on to paper or canvas, then let kids paint over the exposed areas. 

Color-In T-Shirts with Cricut Iron-On

Create custom t-shirts using Cricut iron-on designs, then let kids personalize them with fabric markers. It’s a wearable canvas where they can experiment with color, patterns, and creativity, making their art something they can proudly show off.