Do ya like it clean, or do ya like it dirty challenge


 Do ya like it clean, or do ya like it dirty?  I could not decide. 
I set out to make a card for my son, Joe's 27th birthday tomorrow.  You have got to know Joe a little bit to understand my inspiration for this card.  Joe is always making stuff.   (I wonder where he gets that from?)  He'll grab an empty wine bottle, and wrap it in an old lace curtain, spray paint the outside, stuff twinkle lights inside along with some other odds and ends, slip it in an onion bag, and hang it above the steps in the garage that lead down to the basement, to softly light the steps, so that when his friends come in thru the garage they don't have to turn on all the lights to find their way into the house.  He still lives in the man-cave down in the lower level of our house.  Joe and all of his guests always enter through the back garage door.
Joe will go down to Stillwater, one of the oldest settlements in Minnesota, and dig along the riverbank where an old dump used to be and come home with old belt buckles, with some leather still attached, old square liquor bottles with deteriorating labels, and liquid still sealed inside, and he can't wait to see what he can make out of them.  He makes lanyards with holders for Bic lighters, sometimes for cell phones, too, out of pop cans that he will decorate in many ways.  He wraps them with wires and beads or stones, or wraps in decorative cord, or spray paints them, and then he takes a bunch of them to a festival and barters with others for a bottle of water, or a cigarette, or something to eat. 
So, for Joe I had to whip up a card that looked recycled, or hodgepodge, or funky, or whatever.  The clean one was just not tricked out enough, so I went a little more grungy and got kind of carried away.  What do you think? 
Are they up for a challenge?  Believe it or not, they are. 
The Paper Players Challenge #114 had a nice layout with a few banners.  And, the Photo Inspiration Challenge #155 at Just Us Girls had the colors that inspired be as well as using banners.  (I know that my photo comes off looking almost orange, but the color I used was Cajun Craze, which I thought looked close to the photo along with the Not Quite Navy, Early Espresso, and Crumb Cake.  The printed paper is retired Well Worn DSP. 
Well, I hope he likes it.  I think Joe will get the dirty one for his birthday, along with a pie :)  A messy one!

Mary Alice 

Comments

  1. Love that you created both! I can't decide which I like better! I normally create very clean lined cards BUT I LOVE the look of distressed cards....lol...I can't pull that design off...lol

    I'm sure your son will love this!!!
    Thanks for playing along with us at the Paper Players!

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  2. These are fabulous!! Your explanation of your son's passions transfers wonderfully to the cards you created. Great use of the banners and wonderful distressing. He should love the cards!! Thanks for joining us at Just Us Girls this week :)

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  3. These look fantastic for your son. I like the one on the left best on your main picture. x

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  4. LOL, what a hoot---your son sounds as if he has creative mud, I mean blood, running through his veins! Love the funky one...I think he'll like that! Thanks for playing along with us this week at the Paper Players!

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  5. I think both look great - I'm partial to the shabby, distressed look myself but your layout and papers work well with either style! Thanks for playing along with the Paper Players this week!

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