Scenic Sunset Card

I made a couple different versions of this card. One was a graduation gift, one as an encouragement card, and one for my hubby's birthday! It is always a fun project!

Here is how I made it:

First, I made the sunset looking background. I colored an 8.5 x 11 piece of white card stock using my Spectrum Noir markers. I colored the whole paper so I could use it to make the various pieces of the card.

Second, I folded a piece of white card stock to be my card base (I used another 8.5 x 11).

Third, I cut a piece of black card stock to be the first mat piece. I cut it just slightly smaller than the card base and attached it to the base.

Forth, I cut the sunset paper just slightly smaller than the black paper I cut for the background mat. I did not attach it to the base yet. I used my paper cutter to cut a square out of the middle of the paper. I lined up the edge of the paper and made a cut 3/4 of an inch into it. I slowly extended my cut lines until all of the cuts touched and the square popped out of the middle of the piece.

Next, I attached the frame (that's what it looked like once the square was out of the middle) to the black mat paper.

Then, I matted the square onto a piece of black card stock. I made a border that was about 1/4 of an inch around the sunset paper. I wanted the matting to stand out.

Seventh, I stamped the flowers onto the sunset paper. You can use any kind of scenic stamp though.

Eighth, I added the ribbon and fake bow.

Then, I used foam to pop up the piece with the flowers, and I attached it to the card.

Finally, I added a few gems for some bling.

The idea for this card came from the Crafter's Companion site. I changed it slightly to meet my needs, and so I could use what I already had at home. I love coloring scenery with my Spectrum Noir markers! Hopefully I'll have some more projects up soon!