Welcome to Week #58 in my card sketch series! If you are looking for card sketch templates for beginners, today’s cards are the perfect example of how easy card making can be when you start with beautiful Designer Series Paper.

One of the reasons I love creating with sketches is that they take all the guesswork out of designing a card. Pair a simple layout with gorgeous patterned paper and you have one of the best easy card sketch templates for creating handmade cards in minutes. When your paper is doing most of the work, all you really need is a sentiment and a few embellishments to finish your project.

That’s exactly what I did with today’s cards. Rather than spending time stamping and coloring images, I let the beautiful patterns from the paper collection become the focal point. This makes these simple card sketch templates ideal for beginners, busy card makers, or anyone who needs a quick card for an upcoming occasion.

This month in my Suite of the Month Class, I’m featuring the Waterside Retreat Suite. The prints in this collection are absolutely beautiful and perfect for creating summer-themed cards. From scenic waterfront views to boating and fishing images, this paper pack offers so many possibilities. One of my favorite features is that many of the images can be hand-cut directly from the Designer Series Paper, making it easy to create stunning focal points without a lot of stamping.

If you enjoy minimal stamping, you are going to love these card ideas. Simply choose your favorite paper pattern, follow the sketch layout, add a greeting, and your card is nearly complete. It doesn’t get much easier than that!

Let’s take a look at each of today’s cards.

Card #1 showcases just how easy card sketch templates for beginners can be when you start with beautiful Designer Series Paper. For this card, I simply selected three different prints from the Waterside Retreat Designer Series Paper and layered each one onto coordinating cardstock mats before adhering them to the card front. The sketch does all the work of arranging the paper pieces, making this one of those easy card sketch templates that can be recreated with almost any paper collection in your stash.

The sentiment comes from the coordinating Relaxing Waterside Bundle and is perfect for so many occasions. Whether you’re celebrating a retirement, congratulating someone on a new job, or recognizing a graduate as they begin a new chapter in life, this greeting fits beautifully. I stamped the sentiment and used a couple of circle punches to quickly create both the sentiment layer and the coordinating mat. Circle punches are one of my favorite tools to have on hand because they make creating polished focal points fast and easy.

For Card #2, I used the same sketch layout but changed out the Designer Series Paper prints to give the card a completely different look. This is one of the reasons I love card sketch templates for beginners. Once you have a layout you enjoy, you can simply swap out the papers and create a whole new card without having to redesign anything.

To add a little more interest to this card, I hand cut one of the fish images directly from the Waterside Retreat Designer Series Paper and added it to the card front. It’s such a simple addition, but it completely changes the look and feel of the finished card. By adding just one focal image, the card takes on more of a fishing and outdoor theme while still maintaining the clean and simple design of the original sketch.

Everything else on the card remains exactly the same as Card #1. The same layout, the same measurements, and the same basic design were used. This demonstrates how versatile easy card sketch templates can be. Small changes, such as using different paper patterns or adding a hand-cut image, can create an entirely different card while keeping the assembly process quick and easy.

If you enjoy minimal stamping, hand-cutting images from your Designer Series Paper is a great way to add focal points and personality to your cards. The Waterside Retreat paper pack makes this especially easy since many of the images are perfect for fussy cutting. It’s a wonderful way to stretch your supplies and get even more value from your paper collection while creating beautiful handmade cards.

You Have Two Ways to Receive the Card Sketch Downloads

Option #1 – Free Download

This is the free option that you can download and print at any time. You’ll find all the free sketches in my Photo Gallery here on my blog. Simply click on the Weekly Card Sketches Album to browse through all of the sketch ideas and inspiration.

Option #2 – Free with Any Size Order

Place any size order of at least $1.00 through my online store and you’ll receive the upgraded version with:

• Measurements
• Step-by-step instructions
• The full month of card sketch downloads

Once your order is placed, I’ll send you an email with the entire month’s worth of Simple Card Sketch Templates. This allows you to see what is coming up for the month or catch up on sketches that have already been featured, depending on when you order.

Some card makers love having all the measurements and instructions included, while others prefer using the sketches simply as inspiration to create something uniquely their own. Either option is a wonderful resource to keep in your craft area.

I always recommend printing your sketches, slipping them into page protectors, and storing them in a 3-ring binder. Before long, you’ll have an entire collection of Simple Card Sketch Templates ready whenever you need card making inspiration.

For Today’s Free Card Sketch to Download and Print Click HERE
To View ALL the Free Sketches and download the PDF files Click HERE or click on the Photo Gallery button at the top of my blog and then click on the Card Sketches Album.

Here is Your Shopping List So You Can Begin Using My Card Sketch Templates for Beginners:

Waterside Retreat 12″ X 12″ (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper – 167920

Price: $13.00

Relaxing Waterside Bundle (English) – 167928

Price: $46.75

Basic White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock – 166780

Price: $14.00

Misty Moonlight 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock – 153081

Price: $14.00

Misty Moonlight Classic Stampin’ Pad – 153118

Price: $11.00

Adhesive-Backed Metallic Gems – 163780

Price: $9.50

Stylish Shapes Dies – 159183

Price: $30.00

Add All to Cart

Supply List