Tips for Masculine Layouts by Tonya Gibbs

 

 

Well this is my last post of the month, and I issued everyone a challenge to create masculine  projects. The scrapbooking industry is full of products for feminine designs and it is sometimes a challenge to create for the men in your life. All month Peggy and I have been sharing some great projects, that I hope have inspired you. Today I thought I would recap some tips on how I set out to create Masculine layouts.

 

 

 

1)  Dig around in your stash for items that have a neutral theme and color.   I like to select colors that are blue, red, neutrals (grey, tan, brown, black, white) and green.  Not that there is any kind of rule to sticking to a color, I just find that these colors help my focus stay masculine.

 

2)  Look for embellishments in your stash that are not gender specific, like the Dictionary Tissue Tape from Tim Holtz, Star Sequins, and chevron designs, notebook paper, cameras, arrows, tickets, labels, wood veneers and tags. Metal accents are awesome for Masculine projects.

 

 

3) Select papers that lean more on the masculine side.  Like the Heidi Swapp No Limits papers - which were actually travel papers, but you can't tell after it was used and the Echo Park Note to Self (which has a lot of things you can fussy cut to add interest to your layout).

 

   

 

 Here is a process video of me making the layout!

 

 

Here is the finished layout. 

 

 

My son's girlfriend said to me yesterday "I like that this layout is very masculine, but still has a lot of sparkle!"   Don't be afraid to use sparkle elements or even flowers on a masculine layout - just don't over do it!  

 

 

I hope this post has helped you with ideas on creating masculine projects.

 

Thanks for stopping in today,

 

Tonya Gibbs

http://www.psychomoms.com



Resources: 

Heidi Swapp  - No Limits Paper collection
Heidi Swapp - Confetti Stencil 6x6
7 Gypsies Paddington clear stamp
7 Gypsies - Postale Index Cards7 Gypsies - Naked Index Cards

[PDF] 7 Gypsies - Library Drawer - Tabbed Dividers - Naked Tabs

My Mind's Eye - Everyday Funday kraft - Everyday Fun stamps
My Mind's Eye - Find Your Wings & Fly - Stamps

Tim Holtz - Idea-ology - dictionary tissue tape

Tim Holtz - Idea-ology - Tiny Attacher

Sizzix - Tim Holtz - Alterations Frameworks Border Die Chevron

Studio Calico - Wood Veneer Hearts & Arrows

Studio Calico - Wood Veneer School Days Speech Bubbles

Ranger Ink - Archival Ink Vermillion

Cosmo Cricket - Glitter Adhesive Sheets  Red, Blue, Silver

Fiskars Circle Punch - 1.75 Inches

Marvy Circle Punch - 2 Inches

Washi - Red Chevron

Prima Wood Veneer Camera

Black Sharpie

EK-Success-Notebook-Border-Punch
EK Success Zig Writer
Clear Glitter Nail Polish
Star Sequins

Grid Line Index Cards

Labels

Color Box Pigment Stamp Ink Silver

Color Smart Pigment Stamp Ink White

Hampton Art - 7 Gypsies - Clear Acrylic Stamps - Varsity
Hampton Art Rubber Stamp A Day To Remember Numbers
Echo Park  Note to Self



Football Layout by Tonya Gibbs

From the first of August until sometime mid December my feet are planted in the grass of one football field after antoher 3 - 4 times a week.  I walk the field taking photos of children between the ages of 6 - 18, and I LOVE IT! This year my Nephew, Cooper, played his first down of tackle football the age of six, and you bet, Aunt Tonya was right there walking the field. 

Photos of my Nephew, Cooper, during his first football game.  Photos by Tonya A. Gibbs.

Today,  I want to give you five prompts for creating a layout. Hopefully these prompts will give you a place to start next time Mojo goes on vacation.  For today's layout, I'm going to use the photos from the above mentioned photo shoot.

Prompt 1 - Select papers that do not fit the theme or color pallet of your photos. 

My photos are clearly football themed, and predominately red, white, and blue. Themed papers are obvious selections, and I'm looking for unexpected. I don't need a football sticker to know this is a football layout. Also, if I chose the colors in the photo then my photos would compete with my background. Since I want the photos to pop, I've selected a neutral color palett of black, taupe, and gold. These colors are neutral which means they go with ANYTHING ANYWHERE!

Teresa Collins Memorabilia Line released summer 2013

Teresa Collins' Memorabilia line was perfect. The colors are neutral and the theme is centered around a family story, rather than a specific event.  The black chalkboard papers give great contrast against my bright sunny day photos.  If your photos are dark - you may want to consider lighter colors for your background.

Prompt 2  - Place Embellishment clusters directly on your photos. 

 

 

This technique will help to anchor the photo to the page, and also give it depth and interest.   This is  a great technique for photos that have a lot of negative space or distracting elements in the background.  

Prompt 3 -  Layer Sequins 

Sequins have become a super trendy embellishment.  I'm noticing that some are metallic and some are flat, they come in different shapes, sizes, and colors.  The sequins in this collection are rather large, and I simply added a wood veneer star from Studio Calico to the centers. Love how these made a cute embellishment, without taking away from my photos.

Technique Tip: Hot glue will melt most sequins.  This is how I placed mine...I placed the glue on the layout in a dot formation. Let it cool for a second until it is more than 50% solid, then add gently place the sequin ontop of the glue without pressing it too hard.  This makes the hot glue more like a pop dot and elevates the sequin off the page. 

Prompt 4 - Use Clear Glitter Nail Polish 

My wood veneers needed a little pop, but I wanted them to stay neutral.  So I reached for clear  gold glitter nail polish and painted them.  When selecting my nail polish - I go for the cheapest with the chunky glitter pieces.  This will give you a nice bokeh look when applied.  You may need several coats to achieve the look you're after, but I love the effect! 

Prompt 5 - Use Ribbon in an unusual way

The ribbon on my page is the only thing that has color found in the photos.  I did this so that your eye finds a base, or weight to the bottom of the photos.  I love how it is just waving across the layout.  You expect to see ribbon as banners, or tied neatly across an element, but squishing it up gives it a fresh look and provides movement and depth. 


and ...drum roll please ...  this brings me to my completed layout.

I know masculine layouts can be challenging.  So, I hope you have been inspired next time Mojo goes away on vacation. 


Thanks for stopping in today,

Tonya A. Gibbs
http://www.psychomomscrapbooks.blogspot.com

Resources:

Teresa Collins - Memorabilia Collection - 6x6 Paper Pad
Teresa Collins - Memorabilia Collection - 12x12 Double Sided Paper - Chalkboard
Teresa Collins - Memorabilia Collection - 12x12 Die Cut Paper
Teresa Collins - Memorabilia Collection - 12x12 Cardstock Stickers
Teresa Collins - Memorabilia Collection - Border Strips with Glitter Accents
Teresa Collins - Memorabilia Collection - Chipboard Buttons
Teresa Collins - Memorabilia Collection - Decorative Brads
Teresa Collins - Memorabilia Collection - Envelopes
Teresa Collins - Memorabilia Collection - Sequins
Studio Calico - Classic Calico Vol. 2 - Wood Veneer Shapes - Tiny Stars
Studio Calico - Yearbook Collection - Wood Veneer Pieces - Speech Bubbles

Friday Night Lights

For those who know me - my passion is FOOTBALL. Seriously I even volunteer so that I can stand on the sidelines with my toes in the grass. In my community - I'm known as Psychomom. They dubbed me this years ago. Every child I've ever photographed will tell you the name is well earned. They know if they are playing, I'm on the sidelines for them!  I pace the field with lens in hand, and hold my breath for that perfect SHOT!  I rush home, spend an hour cropping and posting so the kids/parents can see the photos.   It started when my son played his first game as a Pop Warner Mitey-Mite at 7 - he is now 16 and this is his first year at Varsity. 

A few weeks ago,  thanks to a friend who works for a local newspaper, I had a sideline bird's eye view for his first varsity football interception. 

 

That game he had 2 interceptions in the pouring rain.  So I decided to make an 8x10 collage print to hang on his wall.  As you can see I have every single step from before he caught the ball, until he jumped up!  Prints like this are great for sharing a number of pictures with loved ones.  I love making these because at a glance you get the entire story.

This year has been a little different because his stats are not just small talk among family, they are now posted in various newspapers around the state, and broadcast on local news stations.  I'm trying to collect up the stats from the newspapers and Internet highlights to make him a book . I'm so proud of him for giving everything on the field.  He has worked so hard, and it is so rewarding to see him put everything into his passions.  He may not be the largest one on the field, but he plays like he is 10ft tall and bullet proof. 

Thanks for stopping in today,

Tonya Gibbs
http://www.psychomomscrapbooks.blogspot.com