With energetic divers, colourful bathing huts, synchronised swimmers and even a little mermaid or two, you can add plenty of fun to your cards with these swimming printables.
The beautiful imagery of these swimming printables is sure to brighten up even the dullest of days, reminding recipients of holidays abroad or long, hot, summer days spent by the pool. With a bit of imagination and minimal extras from your stash, you can create some lovely designs that will really make a splash! The printables work well with a pop of citrus colour, for a fresh, vibrant feel.
Why not try using strips of clear acetate to make it appear that your divers are hovering in mid-air? This is a great way to add some extra fun elements to your shaped cards. Try this technique with a box card, to make it look as though there are divers jumping into it or mermaids leaping out of it!
If you’re in a crafty mood, why not check out the best glue gun and best die-cutting machine. Thinking about buying a craft printer to print all your free papers with? Check out our review of the best printer for card making and discover the best printer for printing on card.
We love seeing what you make, so don’t forget to share your craft projects with us on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, too!
How to make a stepper card
You will need
- Coloured card
- Kraft card
- Acetate
- Buttons
- Clear beads
- Baker’s twine
Step 1
Trim a sheet of A4 kraft card to 17.5 x 25cm. Using the stepper card template as a guide, draw the card base design then score, cut and fold as shown, to create a stepper card.
Step 2
Cut bubble paper and lime card to be slightly smaller than the front of the card base, layer the pieces as shown, and adhere in place. Add a small strip of yellow card across the bottom.
Step 3
Fussy cut a row of bathing huts, leaving a little extra paper across the bottom of the image, and attach to the back step. Fussy cut a small bather and glue in place.
Step 4
Cut wave paper, following the curves of the waves, then attach to the front two steps. Cut another piece, smaller than the back step, and attach it in place using sticky foam pads.
Step 5
Fussy cut a diver, glue to a thin strip of acetate then glue to the front of the back step, behind the second layer. Fussy cut a sign and a deckchair and attach either side of the first step.
Step 6
Wrap baker’s twine across the yellow strip on the front of the card. Cut out a sentiment and attach it on top of the twine, in the centre, using sticky foam pads.
Step 7
Thread blue-and-white baker’s twine through a coordinating button and tie in a bow. Attach towards the left-hand side of the sentiment to complete your lido card.
How to make an aperture card
- Trim lime card to 13.5 x 13.5cm, layer on the purple card then attach to the front of a 14.5 x 14.5cm white card base. Die-cut a 9.5cm-diameter circle through the card front.
- Cut a 2.5cm-wide strip of bubble-patterned paper and attach it across the bottom of the card. Wrap baker’s twine three times across the top of the strip.
- Fussy cut two pieces of wave paper and three swimmers then layer them behind the aperture, using sticky foam pads, as shown. Cut and attach the three parts of the sentiment to the swimmers.
- Fussy cut bathing huts and attach towards the top of the circle aperture, then add the rest of the sentiment at the bottom of the card, with sticky foam pads.
- Fussy cut a sign and attach, as shown. Add small buttons in each corner of the card, and a baker’s twine bow, to finish.
More card ideas!
Keep on swimming card
Small, clear beads are ideal for the shaker elements of this card, as they look just like bubbles! Add to the effect with matching background paper, too.
You're fintastic card
A scalloped circle frame is used to fasten the front of this gatefold card. Decorate the inside with more printables, as an extra surprise for recipients.
Download your swimming in the lido printables:
To download each printable sheet, click on the link below the image and it will open in a new window. You can then save/download the sheet. There are a total of nine printable sheets to download to complete the collection.
Free swimming in the lido printables 1
Free swimming in the lido printables 2
Free swimming in the lido printables 3
Free swimming in the lido printables 4
Free swimming in the lido printables 5
Free swimming in the lido printables 6
Free swimming in the lido printables 7
Free swimming in the lido printables 8
Free swimming in the lido printables 9
We hope you’ve enjoyed these free swimming in the lido papers! We have plenty of other free printables here on Gathered, too – like these free woodland animal printables, or these gorgeous sunflower printables.
