CZ Design

Download my free printable Rule of Thirds grid overlay

Download my free printable Rule of Thirds grid overlay

Today I’m sharing a printable that you can use to review the placement on your card designs, both in US A2 (4.25 x 5.5) and US A7 (5 x 7) sizes. I have a very short Reel to show you how it this can be a useful tool:

This overlay can help you visualize the spaces on your cards while creating and designing. What is the Rule of Thirds? Let’s see how Google AI explains it:

The rule of thirds is a compositional guideline in photography and other visual arts, suggesting that an image should be divided into nine equal parts by two horizontal and two vertical lines, creating four intersecting points. By placing important elements along these lines or at their intersections, the composition can feel more balanced, dynamic, and visually interesting than if the subject were placed directly in the center of the frame. 

I could not have said it better myself!

Download my printables and print them onto ink jet safe or laser safe (depending on your printer!) acetate. I have an inkjet printer and found a small pack on Amazon that worked great for me.

Click on the image below to begin the download. The file is compressed, so you will unzip it, and print the file you would like. They are PDF format. Choose “ACTUAL SIZE” from your printer’s settings in Adobe Acrobat, to ensure the printed sizes are accurate.

Or, just click on this button below to begin the download.

DOWNLOAD PACKAGE HERE

To make your grid overlay, print onto acetate, and trim inside the outer line. Then simply cut a strip of cardstock to adhere to the top and bottom, mostly to make it harder to lose in your crafty space, but also to give it a bit more heft.

Of course, I’m showing my grid over finished cards, but as you can see, where the points intersect, I have placed elements in my card. When you design with a grid in mind, it will help you to place things in such a way as to create unified and balanced designs on your cards.

You can also flip the grid for horizontal designs as well.

I hope you enjoy this free download.

To see the videos for each card shared on this post:

Reader Interactions

Comments

  4. Leslie Sunn says

    Thank you so much for this download. I can’t wait to use it. I so appreciate all of your design discussions. They are so helpful!

  10. Barb Schaab says

    Thanks Cathy! I didn’t have any printable acetate on hand, so I printed on printable vellum paper. I think it will be fine. I also love the cropping templates you made for us. I use those a lot!

  14. Cyrena says

    These are wonderful! Between this and your framing templates I think card making is getting easier for me!

  20. Tamara McCoy says

    Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and your templates to help us be better card makers!

  25. Robin Palmer says

    Cathy, You are the absolute BEST!!! I love your style, your humor, and your generosity with sharing tips and tricks! These templates are just the latest that I will be putting to good use. Thank you.

  26. Tami Bowman says

    Thank you so much Cathy! I have had a pack of transparencies in my stash forever! Gave me a chance to make good use of them! You provide so much useful information.

  27. Tami Bowman says

    Also, Thank You for the “classified” information provided with the templates! 😊

  28. Laura Lathem says

    Thank you for the templates! I will be printing those out and giving them a try. I’ve really been enjoying the emphasis on design tips lately and the design reviews.