When I thought about writing this article, I was thinking that I would like to see an article featuring the men in our lives doing what they do. We have a saying here in Australia referring to men. “He Who Dies With The Most Toys Wins” I know when I talk to my husband about his hobbies and interests, it’s certainly the quote that comes from his mouth the most often!

I put the call out there looking for layouts featuring our men and their toys. I was so surprised at the response. I had lots of gorgeous layouts featuring the “Little Men” in our lives, but very few concentrating on the Big Men. The response leads me to then question, “Why is it that we aren’t seeing Men featured in our layouts?”.

Big Boy Toys by Casey Thompson

Digital Supplies: Kit: Robotrix by Studio Charlize and Studio Flergs (Scrapbook Graphics, Staple: Captured 2.0 by Project B Designs(Funky Playground Designs), Button, String: Explore by Project B Designs (Funky Playground Designs), Flowers, Star: Leaf It To Me by Eva Kipler and Studio Flergs (Scrapbookgraphics), Leaves: Let's Explore by Valerie N Designs (Gottapixel, Ric Rac: Made Pretty Sweet by Mandymade Designs (Ginger Scraps) Stitch Border: Stitch Me Up by Project B Designs (Funky Playground Designs), Paper: My Little Artist by Creations by Rachel (Gottapixel, Template: Blog Template Challenge 6 by ShabbyShoppe, Software: Pixelmator 1.6.2, Fonts: sf Carissa, Jailbird Jenna, For the One Hundreth Time, Love Ya Like a Sister.

Design Notes: I wanted bright and bold for this layout…not my usual color pallet. The title work was fun. I used fonts that I download from the internet, duplicated each word, applied a light blur to the back 'word' layer and then clipped one of the papers that I had already used in the layout to the blurred layer. I thought it gave kind of a neon glow to the title.

Journaling: Micah is growing so fast and so is his desire for Big Boy Toys! He loves to drive his R/C Bulldozer all over the house...it does not hurt that it plays rocking music, beeps when it backs up, and he can drive his Toy Story Alien around in it. He may follow in his Great Grandpa's footsteps and own his own excavating company. Who knows but for now we DO know...he loves his BIG BOY TOYS!

Just Like Grandad By Debbie Lawrence

Supplies: Paper: October Afternoon, Chipboard: 2 Crafty, Alphabet: Jillibean Soup, Alphabet Stickers: Jenny Bowlin, Carolee’s Creations, Flowers: Prima Marketing, Tags: October Afternoon, Jillibean Soup, Paint: Jo Sonja’s, Ink: Versa colour, Thread: Baker’s Twine, Other: buttons, ticket. Tools: Other: sewing machine.

Design Notes: Paint then doodle around chipboard elements to make them stand out. I have used the string as a frame for the photos to highlight them even more. Text printed onto cream paper then backed onto chipboard to make handmade button.

Journaling: Blake loves to ride Grandad’s tractor, Yandina March 2010.

Ride By Peg Hewitt

Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, Pattered Paper: Pink Paislee , Architectural Arch, Tickets, Ruffled Darlings, Alphabet Stickers: Pink Paislee Expressions, Specialty Ink: Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Pins: Jenni Bowlin Studios, Flowers: Paper flowers, Ink: Stazon, Pens: Uniball.  Digital Supplies:  Software: PS CS2, Actions: Urban Acid photoshop action by Steven Almas.

Design Notes: Alter your photos using different pre loaded actions in Photoshop to match the products you have on hand.

Journaling:  It has taken him a long time to want to ride a 2-wheeler but in the last 6 weeks he has picked it up very quickly and is now preferring the bigger bikes to his size.