Die Cut – A method in which a metal die, or cutter, is used to cut repeated, sometimes intricate, shapes

(Pronounced dai-kut)

Note: Die cuts can be made in paper, card, plastic and other materials to produce either completed artwork, or components that can be used to complete a bigger artwork.

To remember what die cut means, use the following mnemonic:

Press directly down to cut (die cut) through materials such as paper and card, and you can make numerous identical, intricate shapes.

Example below by Virginia L. 

Die cutting machines can be very expensive and making your own is risky due to the use of blades. However, many of us have a miniature die-cutting machine in our home – a hole punch!

For this project you'll need a hole punch, coloured paper or card, glue and a plain piece of card which can be coloured or white, depending on your picture. You may also need tweezers to help you pick up and stick the disks of paper.

On your plain piece of card, mark out where you want your drawing to be. You can draw a pattern, a landscape, an object, or whatever else you fancy.

Use your hole punch to cut lots of tiny disks from the coloured paper. 

Carefully stick each disk onto the plain card.

If you want to add a little more detail, you can try going over some of the lines with a black marker pen to make them stand out.

Die cut.