The Reference Library Every Surface Pattern Designer Wishes Already Existed
21 printable card decks covering the craft, business, and creative process of surface pattern design, one focused concept per card, built to live on your desk for years.
You already know the feeling. You're mid-project, you hit a question, design term, repeat structure, pricing logic, you can't quite place, and you lose twenty minutes to a search engine pulling up three contradicting blog posts and a forum thread from years ago. Then it happens again next month, for a different question, and you never quite remember where you found the answer the first time.
The Telva's Toolbox Studio Card Decks exist to fix that. Twenty-one decks, organized by topic and by where you are in your own growth as a designer, each one built from the same standard: real depth on every card, professional language that respects both beginners and working designers, and a structure designed for fast reference, not another tutorial you read once and forget.
Print them, keep them on your desk, and use them.
HOW THESE DECKS WORK
Each deck stands completely on its own. You don't need to buy them in order, and you don't need the full collection to get value from one. Every deck covers a distinct, focused topic, from foundational design principles to the business mechanics of pricing and licensing to the mindset work that keeps a creative career sustainable.
Every card follows the same reliable structure: a clear definition, why it matters in real practice, the variations you'll encounter, how to recognize it, common uses, application tips, a worked example, a hands-on exercise, and related concepts to chase next. Flip to the answer instead of searching for it.
Each deck arrives as print-ready PDF files (fronts and backs) sized for standard 4x6 cardstock. Print at home, through a local print shop, or through an online print-on-demand card service. A separate printing guide walks you through all three options.
WHY A CARD DECK INSTEAD OF ANOTHER COURSE
A course asks for hours you don't have and teaches you everything whether you need it or not. A card deck asks for nothing but a flip. Pull the one card with the answer you need, right now, and get back to your work. Over time, that adds up to real fluency, the kind that comes from repeated, low-friction exposure to the concepts that matter, not from a single binge-watched weekend you mostly forgot by Tuesday.
WHO THESE DECKS ARE FOR
• Working surface pattern designers who want a fast, reliable reference instead of re-Googling the same question every few months
• Students and self-taught designers building real fluency without paying for a full course just to get the vocabulary down
• Studio owners and educators who want a consistent, professional reference to hand to assistants, interns, or students
• Anyone building a personal design library that holds up for years, not just one season
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I need to buy all 21 decks, or can I get individual ones
Every deck is sold individually for $7 and works completely on its own. Buy only the topics you need, or build out the full collection over time. Bundles are available at 25% off.
What format do the decks come in
Each deck is a digital download: print-ready PDF files (fronts and backs) sized for standard 4x6 cardstock. A printing guide is included to walk you through home printing, print shop printing, or print-on-demand services.
How do I know which deck to start with
Use the groupings below as a starting point. If you're newer to surface pattern design, start with the Foundation decks. If you're further along, find the stage that matches where you currently are and start there.
Do the decks need to be printed in any particular order
No. Each deck is self-contained, and within a deck the cards are organized by section so related concepts sit together, but you can use any card on its own at any time.
Who writes these decks
Telva Chase wrote them, built from years of working as a professional surface pattern designer and educator, written in plain, direct language that respects both beginners and experienced designers.
Is this a one-time purchase
Yes. Each deck is a one-time purchase granting you a personal-use printable file. No subscription required.
A FEW THINGS TO KNOW FIRST
Every deck includes two PDF files: one for the card fronts, and one for the card backs. Each card is sized at 4 inches by 6 inches, a standard index card size sold at any office supply store, craft store, or print shop. The fronts and backs are saved in matching order, so card 1 on the fronts file lines up with card 1 on the backs file.
Click on the links below to read more about each deck and to purchase separately.
HOW BUNDLES WORK
Every bundle includes 5 topic decks plus Deck 21, When You're Stuck, free. That is 6 decks for the price of 5, a $42 value at 33 percent off, landing at $28 per bundle. The full 21 deck library follows the same logic at a steeper discount, listed at the end.
Each deck is also available individually for $7.
Deck 1, Design Principles and Elements, 40 cards
Deck 2, Color Theory and Palette, 40 cards
Deck 3, Design Styles and Pattern Lineage, 49 cards
Deck 4, Home Decor Styles, 39 cards
Deck 20, Pattern History Timeline, 40 cards
Plus Deck 21, When You're Stuck, free
THE STUDIO SKILLS BUNDLE, $28
Deck 5, Pattern Repeat Structures, 37 cards
Deck 7, File Prep, 29 cards
Deck 8, Motif Development, 31 cards
Deck 10, Scale and Composition, 37 cards
Deck 12, Textile Production Techniques, 40 cards
Plus Deck 21, When You're Stuck, free
THE CREATIVE PROCESS BUNDLE, $28
Deck 11, Seasonal Collection Planning, 40 cards
Deck 16, Mood and Trend Research, 40 cards
Deck 17, Sketchbook and Ideation, 40 cards
Deck 18, Creative Block, 40 cards
Deck 19, Typography for Pattern Design, 42 cards
Plus Deck 21, When You're Stuck, free
THE BUSINESS TOOLKIT BUNDLE, $28
Deck 6, SPD Glossary, 44 cards
Deck 9, Art Licensing 101, 40 cards
Deck 13, Portfolio Strategy, 40 cards
Deck 14, Pricing Your Work, 40 cards
Deck 15, Client Communication, 40 cards
Plus Deck 21, When You're Stuck, free
THE FULL STUDIO BUNDLE, $73.50
All 21 decks, a $147 value at 50 percent off
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