Homemade foam stamps

I want to make some foam stamps to use on my Gelli Plate, for texture. The rubber stamps are not fabulous for the acrylic paint (it's too thick maybe?), but the foam works well. Cutting it is a bugger, though. So I googled "tool for cutting fun foam" and found a lot of information about cutting styrofoam and that flower arranging squishy foam. The tool was a heat wand like a wood burning tool.

The wood burning tool we have actually came with a knife blade for cutting foam core boards. So I gave it a try on 1/4 inch thick fun foam. It worked well, but was a bit on the stinky side. I have a well ventilated spot with a big window and an exhaust fan in the ceiling, but I think I'd rather be doing this in high wind. I'm going to get a big fan for my next go at it. 

The tool sort of squish/melts the foam, so it is not precise. I tried each of the tips I have, and didn't love any of them. What I think I want is a short knobby tip like an embossing tool. I think if I had the right thing, I could get a pretty deep detailed impression.

In other news, I bought this old out-of-print book on Folk Art by Jerry & Jo Sonja Jansen. It's got great inspiration for me. I think I'll get Volume 2, as well.

Here's a progression, sans noxious fumes.

Inspiration from the Basics of Folk Art Volume 1

Optimistic design

Final product!

And here's a pig. Thanks for looking!