Cathy Zielske's Blog, page 7

Little sets with BIG design impact! + a blog hop for Altenew

Welcome to the May 2025 release blog hop for Altenew! Today I’m sharing two cards using the charming Mini Delight: Potted Shelves stamp and die set.

Don’t be fooled by this tiny set because it packs a big design punch! Here is my tutorial showing how my two cards came together.

I think a set like this would be perfect for a new cardmaker to play with. No fancy techniques required and you could make many sweet cards in different designs and color combos.

I’m also lovin...

Cathy Makes a Card—The Giveaway Post

If you’d like to be entered for a chance to win the card from today’s livestream (May 7, 2025), just leave a comment below! I’ll choose a winner at random by next week’s live.

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 know the smaller size was marginally controversial, but… sometimes playing with scale and contrast is a fun thing to try on a card!

Thanks so much for stoppi...

Three cards that are sew cute! (It’ll all make sense!)

If you love to sew or quilt or work with fabric, the new release from Waffle Flower is going to charm the heck out of you!

The Quilted Hugs release is seriously a delight, and even though I can’t sew to save my life, I know how to make cards featuring sewing themes!

Here is my video sharing the three cards I created with some of of the products from this release.

Sew fun, right?

Phew! That is a lot of cuteness, but wait—there’s more!

GIVEAWAY

I...

Cathy Makes a Card Live—the giveaway post

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

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: 

What a fun card to make!

Thanks so much for watching my livestream!

SUPPLIES:

Affiliate links are used in this post and below at no additional cost to you....

A look inside my card design process (+ a blog hop of inspiration!)

Today I’m sharing a look inside my step-by-step process of figuring out how a card goes from blank to finished.

Here is the video walking you through my process:

My process is really about working the space with the products in front of me, and seeing where it goes! I hope this inspires you to go with your own design flow as you create!

Here are a few more photos of the card:

Today there is a blog hop special to celebrate the new release from Simon Says Stamp!

...

Cathy Makes a Card Live—the giveaway post

If you’d like to be entered for a chance to win the card from today’s livestream (April 23, 2025), just leave a comment below! I’ll choose a winner at random by next week’s live.

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: 

Now THAT was some die cut goodness!

With a little sass thrown in using my Sassy Insides stamp set:

Don’t forget about the special from Pink and Main ...

Another easy card formula to try today!

Today I’m sharing another simple card formula to help you when you are wondering what to do on your next card project: stripes + shapes + strips!

Here is my tutorial sharing my three different versions of the same formula:

This formula is a great solution to using many of the products you likely have on hand!

There is something so easy about strips of paper as a grounding mechanism to a design!

And, it’s a great way to use up patterned paper, as well!

I kept ...

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:

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A post shared by Cathy Zielske (@czdesign)

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...

Cathy Makes a Card Live: the giveaway post

If you’d like to be entered for a chance to win the card from today’s livestream (April 16, 2025), just leave a comment below! I’ll choose a winner at random by next week’s live.

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 have to say it: I hate to be giving this one away!

SPECIAL OFFER FROM ALTENEW

Altenew is offering 40% off to my YouTube viewers on the 9 x 12 Ultra St...

Use grounding techniques on your next card design

Today I’m sharing some simple ideas for creating a unified design on your next card project. We are talking about grounding.

Grounding is a way to tie your elements together physically on any design. Here is my tutorial to explain it in detail:

This is such an easy way to create unity on any card design.

I think card makers ground intuitively, but if you struggle to make your designs feel cohesive, use this technique to tie everything together.

Today’s cards are...