“Card making sketches are the secret to card making success.” – Jen Gormly

Scrapbooking and card making are two hobbies that naturally go together.  Not only do they use many of the same supplies and tools, but the design concepts are very similar.  However, you also end up having the same obstacles to getting started and finishing a project.  Just like with scrapbooking templates, card making sketches can make all the difference in completing your greeting card projects.

I was given a copy of 50 Card Making Sketches along with three bonus ebooks to review.  Jen Gormly is the author of all four of these books.  She has a very easy –to-follow style of teaching, and I really like how concise and to the point all of the ebooks are.  She lays out the basics first, and then gives you ways to expand your skills as well.  That makes these ebooks great for crafters of all levels, beginner through advanced. 

The first thing I noticed when I started reading is that 50 Card Making Sketches isn’t just a collection of sketches.  Jen first outlines how to use a sketch, how to personalize a sketch and how to vary a sketch.  Just like with scrapbooking templates, you can vary a card making sketch to create many different sketches from a single card template.   In fact, Jen will show you how to make 8 different sketches from just one sketch.  You can even use these same tips with your scrapbooking page layouts.

Before you even get started reading, I’d first suggest that you go to the very last pages of the book and print out the card summaries.  Have these beside you as you read through the book, and when you are done they will make a great reference to have as you are making cards.

Once you get into the actual card making sketches, you will see that 50 Card Making Sketches includes:

• 15 square card sketches
• 15 horizontal rectangular sketches
• 20 vertical rectangular sketches

The sketches are grouped in these categories, square, horizontal rectangle and vertical rectangle.  You’ll see each sketch with a beautiful picture of an example using that sketch (along with the actual supplies used to create that card).  Jen gives you step-by-step instructions for using each card sketch.  It’s important to note that the instructions state the exact product she used for that card example, but you can use any coordinating products for your card.

Your Card Making Toolbox is provided as a bonus to 50 Card Making Sketches.  Jen does a great job of getting right to the basic tools that you need to make cards.  She tells you three essentials you must have and then gives suggestions for recommended extras.  She tells you what brands she uses to help make your shopping easier.  You will find that you will already have many of these things in your scrapbooking tools.

Stick It Together is a guide for choosing the right adhesive for card making.  Jen narrows it down to her two favorite adhesive products.  She considers these the essential glues for cards.  One of them is my all time favorite adhesive for scrapbooking, too.  I like that she gives you advice and product recommendations for specific types of objects, like ribbon, vellum and three dimensional embellishments.  She tells you the brand names she uses for her adhesives which will eliminate trial and error with different manufacturers. 

81 Birthday Quotes is an additional bonus.  I would use these quotes on the cards as part of the embellishment, but I would still recommend a book that contains card greetings for the inside of your cards.  The quotes vary from serious to funny, and there is a nice selection.  These also would be great on scrapbooking pages.

50 Card Making Sketches is an excellent resource for crafters who want to easily and quickly make their own greeting cards.  These sketches can be used for any holiday, occasion or event.  Making cards is another economical way to use your scrapbooking scraps as well.  Don’t forget how much money you will save on buying greeting cards.

Jen is offering 50 Card Making Sketches at a reduced price for a limited time only.  She hasn’t given a specific date for when the pricing will increase.  This is a perfect time to purchase these card sketches and get started on your holiday cards.

Thank you to Jen for the opportunity to review 50 Card Making Sketches.

50 Card Making Sketches