Embellishments that aren't girly?

[hsmom69]

I'm working on my grandson's scrapbook and having trouble with how to embellish it without it being too girly. His first year wasn't hard with all of the "baby" embellishments. I'm on his second year now and need more ideas. I use buttons, of course, but need more than that. ;)

Ideas?

[buggainok]

I searched the Gallery for boy scrapbook pages. Here's a link:

boy scrapbook pages - Homemade Cards, Rubber Stamp Art, & Paper Crafts - Splitcoaststampers.com

[binx]

I often find this a challenge.

My main go-to is stars. Generic, but not inherently girly. I have lots in bought embellies, but I mostly use my star punches and stamps to customize color and patterns. But then, I make cards, so I'm guessing that I can repeat more than you can on scrapbook pages (you know, gets boring after awhile).

This is going to jump around all over the place, but have you considered: any geometric shape; twine in the right colors; torn paper; burlap; corrugated paper; buttons (you mentioned those already); even sandpaper in small doses. Colors, of course, are key. The grunge stamps that are available now are perfect. For little boys, trucks, planes, trains, cowboys, superheroes, then sports and maybe music for older boys. Animals, both domesticated and wild; nautical is another good theme. I've also used space (rockets, aliens) and robots. I also rely on texture a lot; for my cards, i use a lot of eb folders.

Is your grandson 2? Yeah, boys are tough. These are the things that come to mind at the moment; perhaps someone will be along soon has better ideas.

[binx]

forgot cork, but if he's still little, some of these may not be the way to go. hth

[SophieLaFontaine]

Wow! Binx has a lot of great ideas!! One more embellishment that I can think of are brads: screw brads (brads that look like screws), normal brads, eyelets...

I have two nephews and I just let their interests guide me. Both of them when they were two (and still now) LOVED cars. Now the older one also loves cowboy/western stuff, football stuff, etc. Even if you just have one car stamp for example, you could stamp it over and over again and just colour it different colours (or stamp on different coloured papers).

[Kate Stamps]

I just made a page for a grandson and I used a camera (Sizzix die cut) and film strips(Sizzix die cut). Those worked well for me. I also made a page for a great grandson using pictures of him outside. I made a big tree with lots of leaves on it and then put on a caterpillar, frog, grass... all things a boy would find outside. There are also cars, blocks, trucks... anything a little boy with play with.

[Lmn]

WOW Binx!

You came up with a great list! I had all sons and nephews until 1 year ago my sis had a little girl [] so all of my scrapbooks are Boys, boys and boys.

I ended up learning to use lots of the items she mentioned and stamps as embellishments to add versatility.

My Cricut has expanded those options too. At first it was more difficult but it helped to find companies that had more "boyish" colors and products and from there .... 23 scrapbooks later, LOL!

[hsmom69]

You ladies are awesome! Thanks for all of the ideas. I really appreciate it.

Binx, I wouldn't have thought of the burlap and sandpaper but it sounds neat! Do you have photos in your gallery where you've used these? I need to look for some of those stamps too. ;)

[scrappyoz]

Binx has a great list and stars are also my quick, easy & 'go to' embellishment for boys too.

To add to the list for boys across varying ages, I do tend to add a lot of metal embellishments on a boy page and use dragonflies instead of butterflies, dragon stamps/rubons, cogs/wheels (have dies of varying sizes), compass, maps, kites, balloons (hot air & party), tribal & celtic motifs, barbed wire stamp & chipboard, leather strips ( thin like a shoelace instead of ribbon), birds, playing cards, fleur de lis, wrought iron style border punches, computer & watch charms/stamps, arrows and definitely music signs on my son's pages (he's music mad).

To get some quick & cheap metal embellishments, I bought a roll of thin adhesive backed aluminium tape from the plumbing store and use my embossing folders (like the Cuttlebug checkerplate/diamond plate folder) to add texture too. The advantage of this metal tape is that it can be coloured with copics too to match the project and still look masculine.

[BathBelle]

Some great ideas there, but bear in mind you are only on the 2nd year. Some of them might be better kept for slightly older years, concentrating more on thongs like cars, trucks, planes, balloons, cartoon animals. There are a lot of years to come!

Ruth

[SuG]

arrows are good too

[hsmom69]

More great ideas! Definitely need to print these out. I hesitated at asking the question but so glad I did. ;)

I think I was trying to "match" things up too much and didn't think about adding things like cartoon animals, balloons, kites, etc. I'm so excited to get to work on some new pages. Little man's here now though so it'll have to wait until he goes home this evening.

Now to raid my hubby's building for some sandpaper and metal tape. ;)

[live4stampin]

Distressed metal is always a good option... Pewter, brass, etc. Jute also is a good embellishment.

Anne

[Jill with a G]

I have three sons, and I've made quite a few boy scrapbook pages. Geometric is one of my favorites. Sport themes, Nautical themes, and whatever their interest was at the time. Boy Scouts, Camping, hiking, skateboarding, rollerblading, and things like that. For two-year olds, think of outdoors, lightening bugs, insects, sandboxes, dinosaurs, baby pools, and TV show characters they love. Matchbox cars, Lego's, crayons, baking! Yes, my toddler boys loved to bake with Mommy and Grandma in the kitchen! They even had their own baking goods drawer full of their own baking toys and real kitchen safe gadgets that were theirs to play with in the kitchen. Pets. Bright Colors are perfect for boy's pages.

[hsmom69]

More great ideas! Thanks ladies.

[Susan_Stasel]

Punches are also an option for making lots of animals, characters, monsters, tools, etc. Check out some of these boards on pinterest:

Stamping - Punch/Die Designs
Stamping - Punch Collections

[hsmom69]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Susan_Stasel

Punches are also an option for making lots of animals, characters, monsters, tools, etc. Check out some of these boards on pinterest:

Stamping - Punch/Die Designs
Stamping - Punch Collections

I have a Cricut that I use to cut some animals, cars/trucks and shapes. I don't have many cartridges but have SCAL. I'd like to find some tools svg files.

[Susan_Stasel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hsmom69

I have a Cricut that I use to cut some animals, cars/trucks and shapes. I don't have many cartridges but have SCAL. I'd like to find some tools svg files.

Here are a few svg tool options:

1. http://www.sherykdesigns-blog.com/20...and-tools.html
2. http://www.scrapyourstory.com/free-s...ox-and-hammer/
3. http://www.misskatecuttables.com/pro.../mr-fix-it.php
4. http://www.misskatecuttables.com/pro...en-at-work.php
5. http://cre8ivecutz.com/99centstore/i...products_id=39\
6. http://www.silhouetteonlinestore.com...true&theme_id=

[hsmom69]

Thanks so much Susan!

[bobkitten]

Stampin' Up!'s new Candy Dots in the Brights, Regals or Neutrals would be a smaller, nearly flat accent that you could use. The Naturals Designer Buttons and the 7/16" burlap trim are a little bulkier but would add a masculine or natural touch.