If you’re not sure where to start when making a card, here’s the solution: Start with a card sketch.

A card sketch is a pattern for making a card.

Even after making cards for 23 years, I rarely pull a creative card idea out of thin air. I’ve never really considered myself creative in that way. However, I can spot patterns in the beautiful cards I see others make and have gathered some of my favorite card layouts that I tend to use over and over and over again with new supplies.

It’s amazing how you can use the same card sketch with different supplies for a totally different card!

Ready to give it a try? Here’s an easy one for you to start with and I’ll walk you through the steps.

A card sketch is a great place to start because you can use it with ANY card making supplies that you have.

I’ve included measurements on this card sketch to make it even easier for you, but if you don’t like to measure you don’t have to use them!

The sketch is really just a starting point and you can adjust it however you want as you choose your supplies and make your card.

Balmy Blue card base: 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ scored at 4-1/4″
Penguin Paper: 3-1/4″ x 5-1/2″
Striped Paper: 1-1/4″ x 4″
Circle Size: 2-1/8″

Once you’ve decided to use a card sketch, you’ll want to pick your supplies.

For both of these cards, I chose my patterned papers first so that I could find two patterns that went well together. Then I cut my papers to the sizes listed on the card sketch above.

Next, I chose a greeting stamp that would fit in the circle. You could make your circle larger or smaller depending on what you want to put in it, or you could ditch the circle and go with a square or other shape that you have.

Mint Macaron card base: 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ scored at 4-1/4″
Holly Paper: 3-1/4″ x 5-1/2″
Pink Patterned Paper: 1-1/4″ x 4″
Circle Size: 2-1/8″

If you want to keep it simple, follow the sketch exactly. 

That’s what I did for these two Christmas cards.

How to Use a Card Sketch:

1. Pick your supplies. I like to start with the larger layers first and using patterned paper makes it even easier because your colors are chosen for you. Instead of patterned paper you could also stamp your own background or use an embossing folder on card stock.
2. Cut your paper. I’ve included measurements to make it easy, but if you don’t like to measure it’s perfectly okay to eyeball it! The sketch is a guide, not a law. Use it as a starting point and see where it takes you.
3. Stamp your images. For this sketch that may be a greeting or an image in the circle. Don’t have a circle punch or die? No problem! Replace it with a shape you do have, even if you just cut out a square or rectangle.
4. Layer your card together. I like to get all my pieces ready and make sure I like how they all look together before I tape anything down. Sometimes I switch things out at this point and put any extra pieces in a drawer to use later on another card.
5. Add extra embellishments as desired. Rhinestones, ribbon, Wink of Stella… if you like embellishments, now is the time to add them.

Your turn! Make a card using this card sketch and supplies that you have.

I kept my cards super simple, but you can add as many embellishments as you’d like.

Be sure to take a photo of your card so you can share it during our weekly Sunday night Show & Tell on my Facebook page.

Happy Stamping!
Jessica

P.S. There are lots of card sketches out there, but I’ve been sharing some super SIMPLE card sketches here on my blog and I’ve created a printable pdf of my 8 card sketches for you.

Download your FREE Card Sketches Here