Thanks for Protecting Our Freedom (for VLV challenge)

With July 4th looming, I thought there isn't a better time to thank our troops with a card sent through OWH.  I'm always thankful and proud of them, but felt inspired with the newest paper line from BoBunny, Liberty, to work on one for the Viva la Verve! June week 4 sketch challenge:

I used a sentiment from Verve's American Hero set with the Verve Vintage Oval Frame stamp and backed with the coordinating die.  The star is from the same set, and backed with a die from My Favorite Things, the Stacking Stars Die-namics.  The star border is also MFT's, the Star Border Die-namic.  

Happy Birthday for VLV challenge

For the Viva la Verve! June week 3 sketch challenge: 

Just decided to make a birthday card to add to my stash.  I realized I was running low on them when I went to pick one out for a friend recently.
I used a sentiment from Verve's Birthday Bash set.  Papers are MME Stella and Rose.  I used a lot of dies/punches for this one. For the bottom section, I used the Mini Filmstrip Dienamics from MFT, cutting out every alternating vertical line and backing the little windows formed with the different papers.  For the fishtail piece in dark grey, I used a die from Papertrey Ink, cutting in half and adhering part above and part below the flowered panel.  The scallop is the SU punch.  
I also added a MFT Rolled Daisy Dienamics and Sizzix leaves with a touch of Sakura glitter pen for the veins.  A few flatbacked pearls on the sentiment panel finish it off.
Thanks for looking!

MME Father's Day card for VLV Challenge

For the Viva la Verve! June week 2 sketch challenge:

I used a sentiment from Verve's Dad's Day set on a Spellbinders' Fancy Tags Three die popped over the front. 
MME Stella Rose papers. I accordian folded the striped paper to make the bottom panel, and stitched around the edges, which is holding the pleats in place. 
Scallop punched the bottom edge and added a few flat-backed pearls. 
I embossed the kraft card front with a houndstooth folder, but almost all of it is covered by the main panel. It still added a nice texture and looks cool on the inside.

Father's Day card for my stepdad (for VLV challenge)

For the Viva la Verve! June week 1 sketch challenge:

I made this father's day card for my stepdad using the largest tree in Unity's Bella Trees set and the sentiment from Verve's Happy Phrases set.  The sentiment is cut with Verve's Charming Banner dies.  The tree is silhouette cut and mounted on a Spellbinder's oval and scallop oval.  Some paper piercing and flat-backed pearls.
The tree paper is Basic Grey Pyrus, and the orange and blue-green papers are MME Lime Twist.
I'm not sure why, but I've come to use either stars or trees/plants (not flowers) for male cards.  I'm stumped for what other images are masculine enough otherwise.  I don't know that I've ever really made a conscious choice that stars are masculine.  And I'm sure there are plenty of feminine plants and trees.  But it works for me.  
Thanks for looking!