CZ Design

Cathy Makes a Card: The blog post & free sketch

Cathy Makes a Card: The blog post & free sketch

If you’d like to be entered for a chance to win the card from today’s livestream (January 7, 2026), just leave a comment below! I’ll choose a winner at random by next week’s live.

Note: the giveaway for the card is now closed. Here is the winner:

Congtats, Carrie! I will be emailing you.

Today I’m introducing a concept I’ll revisit throughout 2026, and that is some of my favorite design formula’s for cards. These are one page printables that contain a sketch and some design tips. VERY simple but you could easily add these to a notebook, or binder, where you may already keep ideas for cardmaking. Just click on the image below to download Formula 1 (It’s just a pdf file!)

If you have trouble with the download, try clicking here.

I will be talking about the design formula in today’s livestream.

All supplies for this week’s livestream will be listed at the bottom of this post. In the meantime, check out the live (or replay) here: 

I adore this sketch and you can truly plug SO many different design ideas into it.

Thanks for stopping by!

SUPPLIES:


Affiliate links are used in this post and below at no additional cost to you. I receive a small percent of compensation when you click through and shop using the provided links. You are supporting me and my small business directly by shopping with my links and for that I thank you. Items with an asterisk were gifted by the manufacturer. All other supplies were purchased by me.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  4. Tammara Bell says

    What a beautiful and amazing card with the shared template. Thank you. Newbie crafters need lots of guidance. I appreciate you sharing. Woo hoo

  6. Sandra Kay Velk says

    Great tips today, and this little snowman set is perfect for my winter card crafting plans for Jan and Dec.

  7. Sandra Velk says

    Great tips today, and this little snowman set is perfect for my winter card crafting plans for Jan and Dec.

  11. Lynda Gamble says

    Hi Cathy. I was so glad to catch you LIVE today. I love your videos, cards and designs. I really like that you teach design elements. Your videos help me a lot. Thank you for all your humour and help.

  13. Norma Ofei says

    CATHY, you are my kind of person, you are so talented, funny and so willing to share. Keep being you. I love the card

  20. Sandy Liles says

    I’ve been using a lot of sketches lately so appreciate the free download. The card turned out fabulous. I love the blues.

  24. Christina P (wax, books & whimsy) says

    thank you for another great card and video! I can’t tell you how much you have taught me! I actually signed up for that class from Pink and Main you will be teaching. I can’t wait. Appreciate you so much!

  25. Cathy Derouche says

    thanks for the inspiration and the down load. I think I will get a notebook and start saving them.. keep them coming

  30. Jane N says

    Thanks for all you do! I really appreciate that you teach design concepts as you make your cards. I downloaded your first design formula and am looking forward to more. Love the card you made today. Snowmen are one of my favorite things.

  34. Rose Marie Soper says

    Thank You for the inspiration you provide. Your card is absolutely lovely!! TFS

  35. Linda Bittinger says

    Cathy your designs are so amazing and so very helpful thank you for sharing your talent it means a lot to me. Just wanted to let you know Santa has a brand new bag!

  37. Kimberly says

    This lil guy is so sweet. He will have to stay in my bedroom. I am in hibernation mode right now and spend my days by our wood fireplace. I am allergic to winter and cold. lol
    It must be true I never liked winter and at 66 that ain’t changing now.
    We have cardinals around all the time. T hey are beautiful. The brilliant red against the snow is an unforgettable sight. For two summers Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal fledged babies in our holly bush. We were so excited to see them flying in and out and voila! We saw a baby C under the bush. I was just breathless that we were blessed to have that honor. We have had robins build their nests on our porch light for a few years and we had to in and out and past them daily. We also had doves nest on the porch once. That was one very dirty, messy summer. I would like you to know I enjoy all your videos

  39. Christine Mulka says

    My Mom loved and I love snowmen so this is really special!
    Love the design formula!

  40. Carrie Maritato says

    What a cute card! Who doesn’t like a snowman. Thank you for another awesome video and card

  41. Linda Lewis says

    I’ve learned so much from your design review at the end of your videos and will definitely make a folder of your design tips! Thanks Cath, for all you do.

  42. Jamie Y. says

    This is so cute! Just starting the video right now, and I’m excited to see how you made it.

  43. Pam Persons says

    I also live in MN & love your snowman card. My daughter moved to CA & I send her a lot of winter cards. I plan to make one like this for her. Thank you for the formula.

  44. Marsha Freer says

    I always enjoy watching you create, Cathy! I love, love, love all the snowmen and would love to have an original CZ card to display in my crafty space!

  45. Elizabeth says

    Thank you so much for these design sheets. ❤️ do you have more of these? I love what you do love watching you craft xx

  46. Josephine Nelson says

    I’m a newbee from Australia. Thank you for this beautiful classic card. As goldilocks would have said It’s just right.

  47. Billie Meents says

    This post has given me new inspiration and I really appreciate it. So simple yet stunning. I tend to overthink design and need to keep it simple.

  48. Nana Griffin says

    Love the card you made with this set. I have this set so love that you used it and all of the snowmen are so cute in it as well. Thanks for the design formula.

  49. Mel H says

    Such a fun live, and while there were no boops, that was the perfect choice for this card. As one person pointed out-the splatter are the boops.

  51. Kelley says

    Your snowman is adorable! You did a great job with the highlight on his hat.
    Thank you for the template. I am starting my CZ notebook. 🙂

  52. Tracey Wicker says

    Loved this card & your design sheet. So often I over complicate things & it’s so good to be brought back to simple designs, thank you

  53. Debbie Wilson says

    Cathy your snowman card is just adorable! Thank you for sharing! You are so talented and I love watching your videos! I can’t wait to see what you make next!

  54. Elise Thrasher says

    Cute snowmen card, thanks for the inspiration, always enjoying your videos and greatful for you sharing your knowledge!

  55. Catherine Thomas Morgan says

    You never let me down with your lives. Love the snowman and card formula

  56. Amy Gehring says

    Thanks for sharing the sketch download. Love the snowman! He somehow ended up in my shopping cart and is now in the mail to me along with the sentiment stamp set! 🙂

  58. Robin Kuketz says

    The snowman is adorable. I love how you colored the hat. Thanks for the formula 1 design idea. You will be in my card design binder.

  59. Robin Palmer says

    How very generous of you to off these free print outs. I am a relatively newbie to card making, have purchased far too many things, and now suffer from “deer in the headlights” frustration with not knowing what to do! I love the clean and simple look; these design ideas should certainly help. So, thank you!