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Wednesday 30 January 2013

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!

21 comments:

  1. Your cards are so lovely Vicky and always looks so elegant...

    Anne

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  2. Love this design Vicky. I must admit that I thought this leaf stamp was a bit strange when I first saw it, but then I don't have your imagination. This looks fab with the embossed frame over it. Don't talk to me about bad cats, mine puked up her breakfast all over my dressing gown this morning! Yuk.

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  3. And they say animals are stupid!!

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  4. Hello Vicky ,
    thank you for all the fabulous inspiration from this great stamp set ! These are my favourites so far ( but I know you will come up with some more stunners ! ) because they are so elegant ! Have a good day ! Jane x

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  5. Hi vicky
    Fabulous card... Love the tip on the embossing... Will try next time....
    Hugs Sylvie
    19 degs today....

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  6. These are lovely Vicky! So pretty!

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  7. You're certainly getting your money's worth from this set Vicky and these cards are lovely.
    M x

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  8. Both cards are lovely but I think my favourite is the green.
    We have the same issue with wind howling through the cat flap. Tuppence is clearly a wily creature! xxx

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  9. What a superb manly card. Simple and to the point. Perfect! Thanks for playing along at Dynamic Duos!

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  10. Both these cards are just fabulous - I do like the neutrals on the second card! Great work!

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  11. Stunning stamping Vicky. Thanks for joining in our challenge this week at MMM.
    We were thinking of fitting a cat flap for Louis - maybe having second thoughts now, thanks just the sort of trick he would try too! - Jacqueline xx

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  12. This really works as a masculine card! Never would have thought! Fabulous!

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  13. teeeheeehee i love the cat story...My mum had two boxer dogs and one was very smart...smarter than the other that is for sure...they shared a "special chair" and were not allowed on any other furniture...the smart one would do that to the other and her would jump off the chair to investigate if he could help her get out...she would run to the chair and sprawl across it leaving no room to share with him! He fell for it every time! teehee

    your card is lovely...I am going to ask at my scrapbook shop what a crease mat means as i am not familiar with the term. i have the platform, the 2 acrylic plates, a rubber sort of embossing mat and a metal shim mat...
    Your card looks great and i would love to find a way to use my small folders without the edge showing!
    Your stamping is so lovely and even!

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    1. Sounds like the 'rubber sort of embossing mat' is a crease pad to me Scrappymo! Vx

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  14. Ha ha ha that'll teach you for being a meanie !!! gorgeous cards, perfectly stylish and great for males and females alike, love the embossing on the first one and the muted colours.

    Marie

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  15. What a fabulously clever use of that SAB stamp set! Thanks for playing along with Dynamic Duos this week!

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  16. Hi Vicky! You know, I was not all that excited about that SAB stamp set until I saw your card. What a clever way to highlight the sentiment. Thank you so much for joining us this week at Dynamic Duos! :)

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  17. Fabulous Vicky, love the embossed oval. Thank you for joining us at MMM
    Cats! don't you just love em...I have two chairs with cushions in my craft room and Mizzi is always jumping on the one I've just vacated. I've been known to lift up cushion and cat to move her from one chair to the other.
    Suzi B xx

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  18. You sure know how to get mileage from your stamps Vicky, the foliage looks like laurel branches the way you've them here over the embossed oval :0)
    Jenny x

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I'd love to know what you think. Do leave me a comment - it always makes my day! Vicky x


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