Birthday Cards and a Great Book

I'm new enough to papercrafting that I love to buy books and magagzines which show me new ideas and techniques.  While at my LSS, I came across "Card Making With Cricut" published by Annie's Attic.  I love this book, probably because I have all the cartridges that are used in the designs and because the directions are easy to follow with great results.
The first card is a birthday card for a very special boy in our lives.  When I saw him the other day, he was wearing a rockstar t-shirt, and he also loves hunting and the outdoors.  This card (from Card Making With Cricut) seemed perfect.  The inside says U rock and I added a money pocket since he's leaving today for a week's vacation and some spending-money seems like a great idea.  I used Indie Art, Tags, Bags, Boxes, and Plantin.  The background was distressed using very coarse sandpaper.  The second card is for his mother, whose birthday is today.  She's a country girl at heart and her home is decorated in a western theme.  This simple layout is my own.  I used DCWV All About Boys and Doodlebug papers, Just Because Cards, a Hero Arts stamp and scalloped and round punches.
I hope you enjoy my creations.  I love making special cards for special people.