If you have ever sat down at your craft table with plenty of supplies… but absolutely no idea where to start, this week’s project is for you.
In this week’s template tutorial, I’m sharing my Split Spotlight Template — an easy card layout that works beautifully with designer series paper, embossing folders, dies, sentiments, and whatever supplies you already have in your stash.
One of the things I love most about templates is that they take away the pressure of trying to reinvent the wheel every single time you make a card. Instead of staring at your supplies wondering what to do, you already have a roadmap. Then you can simply swap papers, colors, textures, and focal points to make the design your own.
That is exactly what today’s cards are all about.
If you enjoy having measurements, cutting guides, and project inspiration ready to go, the full Inspiration Sheet for this project is available inside my Crafty Klock Inspiration Vault. Every Inspiration Sheet includes measurements in both imperial and metric, plus project details and creative variations to help you use what you already have.
For today’s project, I started with a very simple layout:
- a card base
- two split background panels
- a focal point layer
- a sentiment banner
- and embellishments
That’s it.
Simple layouts like this are incredibly versatile because they can be dressed up or kept clean and simple depending on your style. You can emboss one panel, use designer paper on the other, swap shapes, add die cuts, or completely change the theme while still keeping the same overall structure.
Split Spotlight Variations
The first version features butterflies with soft shimmer added using the new In Color shimmer brushes. I wanted this card to feel light and elegant, so I kept the colors soft and used a scalloped oval to create the spotlight focal point.
One little tip I shared in the video is to apply shimmer before die cutting or punching smaller images. It is so much easier to brush shimmer onto a full sheet of cardstock than trying to hold tiny die cuts while coloring them. Sometimes the little tricks make a big difference.
I also talked about adapting templates based on the supplies you have on hand. Maybe you do not have enough of a certain paper. Maybe you want a larger sentiment area. Maybe your focal point is rectangular instead of oval. Templates are flexible. They are meant to work for you — not box you in.
That flexibility really shows in the additional samples.
For this sweet Piglet card, the same basic layout feels completely different simply because of the softer colors and storybook imagery.
Then we move into a more rustic version featuring Pooh and Piglet walking together. Same foundation. Totally different mood.
I also created a brighter butterfly variation using a rectangular focal point instead of an oval. This is a great example of how changing just one element can completely refresh a design.
And finally, I used the gorgeous Scenic Coast Designer Series Paper to create a retirement card with a dramatic sunset feel.
This is why I love templates so much. Once you understand the basic “recipe,” you can make endless variations without feeling stuck or overwhelmed. You do not need a brand-new idea every time you sit down to craft. Sometimes you just need a solid layout and the confidence to play with it.
Templates help eliminate decision fatigue and make it easier to actually enjoy the creative process again.
Now I would love to hear from you — which version is your favorite?
Are you Team Butterflies, Pooh & Piglet, or Scenic Coast? Leave me a comment below and let me know!
And if you would like to recreate these projects or use this template with your own supplies, be sure to check out the Crafty Klock Inspiration Vault for the full Inspiration Sheet with all measurements in imperial and metric.
You can also shop Stampin’ Up! supplies with me here:
Stay Crafty 💚
Judy