Creative Die Cutting Techniques Every Cardmaker Should Try

Once you understand basic die cutting, the same metal dies can do much more than cut individual shapes. They can create embossed backgrounds, dimensional eclipse sentiments, colorful inlay designs, negative-space panels, offset shadows, shaped card bases, interactive elements, stencils, masks, and windows.

This beginner-friendly guide explores creative die cutting techniques that help you get more from the dies already in your collection. You will learn how to dry emboss with dies, understand positive and negative die cuts, build eclipse and inlay designs, and control your cutting plates for partial die cutting. You will also discover nine additional ways to turn familiar dies into supplies for shaker cards, backgrounds, interactive projects, dimensional gifts, and more.

As you explore these ideas, you’ll begin to see your dies as more than single-purpose supplies. A simple shape can become a stencil, a window, an embossed detail, a mask, or the focal point of an entirely new technique.

Creative Die Cutting Guide Snapshot

Skill Level	Beginner to intermediate
Guide Type	Evergreen die cutting education
Project Type	Handmade cards, shaped cards, interactive cards, and dimensional paper projects
Techniques	Dry embossing, eclipse, inlay, faux stained glass, negative die cutting, offset die cutting, and partial die cutting
Occasions	Suitable for all cardmaking occasions
Featured Machine	Platinum 6 Die Cutting Machine with Universal Plate System

Creative Die Cutting Techniques Table of Contents

• Positive vs. Negative Die Cuts: A Quick Primer
• How to Emboss with Dies
• Eclipse Technique
• Die Cut Inlay Technique
• Negative Die Cutting Technique
• Offset or Shadow Die Cutting Technique
• Partial Die Cutting Technique
• Nine More Creative Ways to Use Your Dies
• Die Cutting Techniques FAQ

What You’ll Need

Spellbinders Supplies

• Platinum 6 Die Cutting Machine with Universal Plate System
• Etched dies, including cover plates, nesting dies, solid shapes, sentiments, or coordinating dies
• Platform Base (A)
• Platform Top (B)
• Cutting Plates (C)
• Adaptor Plate (D)
• Embossing Mat (E)
• Cardstock in assorted colors

Other Supplies

• Low-tack craft tape
• Liquid adhesive
• Foam tape
• Acetate
• Sequins or glitter
• Fun foam
• Heat tool
• Glossy Accents or Tonic Crystal Glaze
• Clear stamping block or stamp-positioning platform
• Masking paper
• Ink and ink-blending supplies
• Paper trimmer or ruler and craft knife

Positive vs. Negative Die Cuts: A Quick Primer

Many creative die cutting techniques use the terms positive and negative. Understanding the difference will make the instructions throughout this guide much easier to follow.

• Positive die cut: The shape that is cut out of the cardstock. If you cut a star, the loose star is the positive piece.
• Negative die cut: The surrounding cardstock left behind after the shape is removed. In the star example, the panel with the star-shaped opening is the negative piece.

Neither piece is automatically waste. The positive shape can become a focal point, sentiment, embellishment, or part of an inlay design. The negative panel can become a window, frame, shaker opening, stencil, or background. Before discarding scraps, look at both parts of the cut to see how they could be incorporated into another project.

How to Emboss with Dies (Dry Embossing)

Dry embossing is one of the simplest ways to extend the use of your dies. Spellbinders dies can emboss a previously cut shape, but you can also omit the cutting step and press a die directly into a card panel to create texture without cutting through the cardstock.

A cover plate can emboss an entire A2 background. A nesting die can create a decorative frame around a focal point. Detailed rectangles, word dies, letters, numbers, and individual shapes can also add subtle raised or recessed details.

Dry Embossing Sandwich for the Platinum 6 and Other Machines

The Platinum 6 Die Cutting Machine sandwich for embossing with dies is arranged as follows, from bottom to top:

1. Platform Base (A)
2. Platform Top (B)
3. Die with the cutting side facing up
4. Cardstock
5. Embossing Mat (E)
6. Adaptor Plate (D)

The soft embossing mat allows the die to press its design into the cardstock instead of cutting through it. If you are using another die-cutting machine, consult the instructions supplied by its manufacturer because plate combinations and thicknesses vary.

3 Ways to Emboss with Dies: Cover Plates, Nesting Frames and Detailed Shapes

1. Emboss an entire background with a cover plate. In the example above, a snowflake background die creates a textured panel. If you do not have a snowflake embossing folder, a snowflake cover plate can produce a similar effect by pressing the design into the cardstock.

2. Create a frame with nesting dies. A shaped nesting die can produce an elegant embossed border around a focal point. Try using two or three consecutive sizes of the same nesting shape to extend the embossed area and create several decorative outlines.

3. Emboss with a detailed shape. A decorative rectangle die can add stitched, scalloped, pierced, or other intricate details without cutting out the panel. The result is subtle texture and visual interest that can frame the rest of the card design.

Beginner Tip: Use the exact embossing sandwich recommended for your machine. A standard die-cutting sandwich may cut through the cardstock instead of producing an embossed impression.

Eclipse Technique

The eclipse technique creates a raised die-cut element that blends seamlessly into a stamped, stenciled, colored, or patterned background. From a distance, the design appears almost uninterrupted. As the light catches the raised edges, the hidden word or shape becomes visible.

Word dies are especially effective for eclipse cards, but you can also use individual letters, tags, flowers, hearts, stars, or other simple shapes. The technique can work with clean and simple cards or more detailed backgrounds.

How to Make an Eclipse Card, Step by Step

1. Create an art panel. The examples above use a layering stencil for one card and a stamped and colored image for the other.
2. Position a word die over the finished panel and secure it with low-tack tape.
3. Run the panel and die through your die-cutting machine.
4. Save every positive piece, including the small interior sections from letters.
5. Adhere the negative art panel to a card base with liquid adhesive.
6. Use the same word die to cut three additional layers from white cardstock.
7. Adhere the first white word die cut inside the opening in the art panel. Replace all required interior filler pieces.
8. Add the remaining two white word layers, aligning their edges carefully.
9. Finish by attaching the original positive word cut from the art panel.

The stacked white layers raise the word while the top piece preserves the pattern of the original background. When viewed from above, the artwork remains aligned. The slight height difference reveals the sentiment or shape and creates the eclipse effect.

Designer Tip: Place every positive piece in a small tray as soon as it is cut. The tiny centers of letters are easy to lose, but they are important for maintaining a seamless background.

Die Cut Inlay Technique

Die cut inlay creates a smooth, multicolored design by placing positive die-cut pieces back into a negative opening. The completed surface resembles a paper jigsaw puzzle and remains relatively flat, making this technique useful when you want color and detail without thick dimensional layers.

The three cards above use the same basic process. A frame was die cut from white cardstock. The same die was then cut from several cardstock colors, and the colored positive pieces were glued into the corresponding openings.

How to Create a Die Cut Inlay Design

1. Cut the complete design from the cardstock you want to use as the main outline or negative panel.
2. Cut the same design from each additional cardstock color.
3. Adhere the main negative panel to a card base or backing panel.
4. Sort the colored positive pieces according to their position in the design.
5. Apply a small amount of liquid adhesive inside one opening at a time.
6. Place each colored die cut into its matching opening.
7. Continue until the entire design is filled.

Designer Tip: Keep the die cuts from each cardstock color in separate trays. This makes it easier to find the correct pieces and prevents tiny shapes from disappearing on your work surface.

Inlay Variation: Faux Stained Glass Technique

For an extra-special variation, combine die cut inlay with dimensional glaze to create a faux stained glass effect.

1. Die cut a background cover die or another design with an outer frame.
2. Adhere the outline to a cardstock backing panel.
3. Glue colored cardstock pieces into the openings, or color each section with markers. The coloring does not need to be perfectly tidy because the next layers will cover the edges.
4. Die cut three more copies of the same outline and stack them over the first frame.
5. Fill the colored wells with Glossy Accents or Tonic Crystal Glaze.
6. Allow the glaze to dry completely.
7. Add one final outline die cut to the top for a clean finish.

The stacked outlines form shallow wells that hold the clear glaze. Once dry, the glossy colored sections resemble small pieces of stained glass.

Negative Die Cutting Technique

Negative die cutting uses the cardstock surrounding a die-cut opening instead of the shape removed from it. The openings can reveal ink blending, patterned paper, foil, glitter, acetate, or another decorative panel beneath them.

For the card above, several sizes of star dies were cut from a white A2 panel. The positive stars were removed, and the negative panel was attached over an ink-blended background with foam tape. The color shows through the openings while the raised white panel creates dimension.

In the second example, a cover die was cut three times. The negative pieces were stacked together and adhered over a panel of multicolored cardstock strips. Stacking the negative panels creates sturdy, even dimension without requiring small pieces of foam tape around the detailed openings.

Tips for Using Negative Die Cuts

• Arrange several openings in different sizes to create movement across a card panel.
• Place a contrasting color or pattern behind the negative panel.
• Stack duplicate panels for clean dimension.
• Save the positive pieces for another card, coordinating tag, or future background.
• Add acetate and foam tape behind the opening to turn the negative panel into a shaker card.

Offset (Shadow) Die Cutting Technique

Offset die cutting, also called shadow die cutting, creates contrast by layering two copies of the same shape slightly out of alignment. Cut the shape from two cardstock colors, place one behind the other, and shift the lower layer so a narrow portion remains visible.

This technique adds definition and the appearance of dimension without creating much physical bulk. Solid dies work especially well because their clean shapes make the offset layer easy to see.

In the example on the left, the tea or coffee cup has a darker cardstock layer offset behind it. In the example on the right, gold cardstock creates a metallic shadow behind the balloons.

How to Create an Offset Die-Cut Shadow

1. Cut the same solid shape from two cardstock colors.
2. Place the intended shadow layer beneath the main die cut.
3. Move the lower layer slightly down and to one side.
4. Adjust the offset until an even portion of the shadow is visible.
5. Adhere the two pieces together.

Try dark cardstock for a traditional shadow, white for a highlight effect, or metallic cardstock for extra contrast.

Partial Die Cutting Technique

Partial die cutting allows you to cut only a selected portion of a die. The technique is useful for creating shaped card bases, changing the dimensions of a die-cut shape, or incorporating a die-cut edge into a larger cardstock panel.

The basic principle is simple: only the section of the die underneath the top cutting plate receives enough pressure to cut. Any portion extending beyond the edge of the top plate remains uncut. By controlling the plate position, you control where the cutting begins and ends.

Beginner Tip: Position the edge of the top cutting plate precisely where you want the die to stop cutting. Secure the die with low-tack tape before moving the sandwich to your machine.

How to Make Shaped Card Bases

Nesting and shaped dies can create custom card bases through partial die cutting. The die cuts most of the shape while leaving part of the folded edge intact so the card can still open and close.

The four card bases above were cut with nesting dies. Each base retains an uncut section along the top or side fold.

1. Choose a shaped die and a top-folding A2 card base.
2. Position the die over the folded card, allowing its cutting line to extend beyond the folded edge.
3. Secure the die with low-tack tape.

4. Turn the card over and confirm that the cutting line extends beyond the folded edge. This overhanging section will not cut through the fold.

5. Run the card and die through your machine using the standard die-cutting sandwich.
6. The die will cut the cardstock while leaving the overhanging folded section intact.

7. Remove the die to reveal the finished shaped card base.

You can cut another complete shape from cardstock and attach it to the front of the folded base if you want to conceal the flat area created by the hinge.

How to Alter Die Cut Shapes: Turn an Arch into an Oval

Partial die cutting can also alter the proportions of a die. In this example, an arch-shaped die is used twice to create a custom oval.

1. Position an arch die on a piece of cardstock and secure it with low-tack tape.

2. Place the cardstock and die between the cutting plates.
3. Position the top plate so it does not cover the entire die. The part of the die extending to the left of the plate will remain uncut.
4. Run the partial sandwich through the machine.

5. Remove the plates. The rounded top section of the arch will be cut, while the lower portion will remain attached.

6. Rotate the arch die and align it with the existing cut lines.
7. Feel for the cutting edges of the die settling into the previously cut lines.
8. Secure the die with low-tack tape.

9. Place the cardstock and die between the cutting plates again.
10. Position the top plate so it covers the section that still needs to be cut but does not extend beyond the intended stopping point.
11. Run the sandwich through the machine.

12. Remove the die to reveal an oval created from the arch-shaped die.

How to Cut a Shaped Edge at the Top of a Card Panel

A coordinating die can partially cut a decorative shape into the edge of a larger panel. In this example, a butterfly die forms the top edge of an A2 cardstock panel.

1. Position the butterfly die near the top of an A2 cardstock panel.
2. Secure the die with low-tack tape.

3. Place the panel and die between the cutting plates.
4. Position the top plate so it covers only the top section of the butterfly. Keep the lower section outside the edge of the plate.
5. Run the sandwich through the machine.

6. Remove the die. Only the top portion of the butterfly should be cut.

7. Draw light pencil lines across the panel on both sides of the partially cut butterfly. These lines will mark where the straight cuts should meet the die-cut shape.

8. Use a ruler and craft knife or a paper trimmer to cut the panel along the pencil lines on both sides of the butterfly.

9. Erase any remaining pencil lines.
10. Add a coordinating butterfly die cut over the partially cut shape, or stamp the coordinating image directly onto the butterfly section.
11. Finish assembling and decorating the card panel.

9 More Creative Ways to Use Your Dies

After experimenting with embossing, eclipse, inlay, negative, shadow, and partial die cutting, try these additional techniques to stretch your collection even further.

1. Shaker Cards

Use a shaped die to cut a window from a card panel. Attach acetate behind the opening, then surround the window with foam tape. Place sequins or glitter on the background panel, remove the foam-tape liners, and attach the window panel over the shaker material. The sequins will remain enclosed inside the dimensional window and move when the card is shaken.

2. Heat-Shrunk Fun Foam Die Cuts

Cut a word or shape from fun foam and carefully apply heat with a heat tool to shrink it. This can be useful when a die-cut word is too large for a particular project. The shrinking process produces a smaller version of the original die-cut shape.

Use appropriate heat-resistant precautions and follow the safety directions supplied with your heat tool and foam.

3. Interactive Cards: Spinners, Sliders and Moving Legs

Dies can create many types of interactive cards. The Spellbinders Dancin’ range creates characters with legs that swing from side to side. Card spinners can be placed behind a die-cut focal point to make it rotate. Channel dies can create tracks for sliding elements that move across a scene.

The tag below features a penguin with legs that move from side to side.

4. Gift Card Pockets, Ribbon Boxes and Box Cards

Specialized dies can create gift card pockets, envelopes, ribbon boxes, and box cards. These dies cut the foundational shapes and often include score lines or decorative pieces that help with assembly.

Box cards provide space for stamped or die-cut images on internal shelves, making it possible to create a dimensional miniature scene. The completed box can collapse flat for placement inside an envelope.

The projects below were made with a gift card envelope or pocket die. The die cuts the basic shape, which can then be folded, assembled, and decorated.

5. Make a Foam Stamp from a Die

Cut a simple shape from fun foam and temporarily attach the foam die cut to a clear stamping block or stamp-positioning platform. Apply ink to the foam and press it onto cardstock like a stamp. A handmade foam stamp may not last as long as a manufactured clear stamp, but another one can be cut when needed.

6. Make a Stencil from a Die

Cut a border, background, or individual shape from acetate to create a reusable stencil. Position the acetate over cardstock and apply ink, paint, paste, or spray through the opening. Clean the acetate after use so it is ready for another project.

7. Build a Background from Small Die Cuts

Turn small, frequently overlooked dies into an all-over background. Cut hearts, envelopes, flowers, balloons, leaves, stars, or other small shapes from several cardstock colors or an ink-blended panel. Arrange the shapes across an A2 card front and adhere them to create a repeating pattern.

Allow some shapes to extend beyond the outer edges, then trim away the excess for a pattern that appears to continue beyond the panel.

8. Cut Masks with Coordinating Dies

Use coordinating dies to cut shapes from masking paper. Place the masks over their matching stamped images, apply ink across the panel, and then remove the masks. The protected images will remain uninked, often with a narrow white border created by the coordinating die.

9. Hinged Window Cards

Use a basic shape die to create a window that remains connected along one edge. The hinged window can open to reveal a stamped image, small scene, photograph, sentiment, or handwritten message. Control the position of the top cutting plate so the hinged edge remains uncut.

Tips for the Best Die Cutting Results

• Use the correct sandwich. Cutting, dry embossing, and embossing folders require different plate combinations.
• Secure dies before cutting. Low-tack tape helps prevent a die from moving, especially during partial die cutting or when precise alignment matters.
• Save both parts of the cut. The positive shape and negative panel can often be used on separate projects.
• Keep small pieces organized. Place letter centers, inlay pieces, and other tiny die cuts in a tray as soon as they are cut.
• Stack cardstock for dimension. Layering duplicate die cuts produces sturdy, even height without requiring tiny pieces of foam tape.
• Test partial die cutting on scraps. Practice plate placement before using your final cardstock.
• Use liquid adhesive for intricate pieces. A precision tip gives you more control and allows a little time for alignment.
• Check your machine instructions. Sandwiches and compatible materials may vary among machines.

Ways to Customize These Die Cutting Techniques

• Use monochromatic cardstock for subtle texture or contrasting colors for bold designs.
• Replace cardstock shadow layers with metallic or glitter paper.
• Combine eclipse die cutting with stamping, stenciling, ink blending, or patterned paper.
• Use vellum or specialty cardstock for selected inlay pieces.
• Place patterned paper, foil, or ink-blended backgrounds behind negative openings.
• Adapt partial die cutting to create custom tags, bookmarks, panels, and mini cards.
• Use seasonal shapes to apply the same techniques to birthdays, holidays, weddings, and other occasions.
• Combine techniques, such as adding an offset shadow to an inlaid sentiment or turning a negative die-cut panel into a shaker card.

Die Cutting Techniques FAQ

What is the difference between positive and negative die cuts?

The positive die cut is the shape removed from the cardstock. The negative die cut is the surrounding cardstock with the resulting opening. Both pieces can be used: the positive shape can become an embellishment, while the negative panel can create a window, frame, background, stencil, or shaker opening.

Can every metal die be used for dry embossing?

Spellbinders dies can be used to emboss die-cut shapes, and many can also press designs directly into cardstock. Use the embossing sandwich recommended for your machine, including the appropriate embossing mat. Detailed dies, cover plates, nesting dies, words, letters, and shapes can all create different embossed effects.

What is the best adhesive for die cut inlay?

A liquid adhesive with a precision tip works well because it can be applied inside small openings and gives you a little time to align each piece. Use only a small amount to prevent glue from squeezing around the edges of the inlaid cardstock.

Why does partial die cutting work?

A die cuts only where it receives pressure between the machine’s rollers and cutting plates. When part of the die extends beyond the edge of the top cutting plate, that section does not receive enough pressure to cut. Moving the plate edge allows you to determine where the cut stops.

How can I add dimension without making a card too bulky?

Stack two or three cardstock die cuts instead of using thick foam tape. This creates even, sturdy dimension that is especially useful for eclipse words, negative panels, offset shapes, and intricate outlines. Thin foam tape can also provide separation while keeping the finished card easier to mail.

Continue the Beginner’s Die Cutting Series

• Review Creative Die Cutting Techniques Every Cardmaker Should Try
• Explore Spellbinders Etched Dies
• Compare Die Cutting Machines and Accessories
• Find Die Assembly Instructions in the Assembly Guide Library
• Discover More Cardmaking Tutorials on the Spellbinders Blog

Discover More Possibilities with Your Dies

Creative die cutting begins with looking beyond the individual shape a die was designed to cut. Experiment with embossing, eclipse, inlay, negative space, shadows, and partial cuts, then adapt those skills to windows, interactive cards, backgrounds, masks, stamps, and dimensional projects. Start with one beginner-friendly technique, practice it with familiar supplies, and let each new result inspire another way to use your dies.