Madison Avenue for a male

Well so far I've used my free Madison Avenue stamp set to make an anniversary/valentine, some notelets, a Christmas card and a CAS birthday card! Today I've used it to make a male card, inspired by the 'For the Boys' challenge at Make My Monday. Come and have a look:

I heat-embossed this brilliant happy birthday oval sentiment and used two stamps from Madison Avenue to make a symmetrical background. It needed a little bit of detail so I dry embossed this frame over the top - it's a clear embossing folder so it was easy.

TIP: Some people have told me that their card stock creases when using this embossing folder and I advised them to use the crease pad instead of the top cutting pad in their Big Shot sandwich. I don't know if it's the cold weather affecting my  machine, but that no longer seems to be working for me so this is how I got round it: I didn't use a cutting pad at all!

Instead, I used (from bottom to top) the multi-purpose platform fully closed, two sheets of card stock, my embossing folder with card stock in it, the crease mat. Hey presto - a perfect impression with no creases on the card stock!

I liked this design for a male card so I made another, this time inspired by this week's Dynamic Duos colour palette.

There's a hint of the laurel leaf about the card that makes it suitable for our conquering heroes!

Here's what you'll need to make these cards

Stamps: Madison Avenue (free with Sale-a-bration), Perfect Punches

Ink: Gumball Green, Midnight Muse for 1st card, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake for 2nd

Card stock: Crumb Cake for 1st card, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla for 2nd

Other: Clear embossing powder, versamark, heat tool, Designer Frames embossing folder, Big Shot, stamp-a-majig

I'd be delighted to order any of these items for you and have them delivered straight to your address in the UK. I'm committed to providing excellent customer service and am always happy to offer help and advice. To place your order, just send me an email or give me a call on 01280 820593.

• DON'T FORGET TO ADD ONE OF THESE FREE SALE-A-BRATION ITEMS FOR EVERY £45 YOU SPEND

My desk is situated next to some French doors leading out into our little garden and there's a cat flap fitted in a panel next to the door to enable little Tuppence to wander in and out as she pleases. In the winter months, however, the wind blows through the flap and it's a bit like sitting next to an open window, so I've been locking it closed. Tuppence doesn't approve of this of course but has discovered a way to teach me a lesson: She goes to the cat flap, looks at it then looks at me, meowing piteously; I come and bend down to open the flap for her, find that she's disappeared and then discover that she's snuck onto the nice warm cushion that I was sitting on just a minute ago! BAD cat!

It's Three Minute Thursday here tomorrow so I'll be back then for a quick card. See you then!