Santa 'stache

I mentioned previously that I really wanted to make a set of cards for a few friends and family members as an early Christmas gift. But I could not decide what kind of cards to make. Do I go with classic designs that can be given to anyone? Or cute designs with adorable critters and sweet patterns? Or do I throw caution to the wind completely and make some funny/amusing ones?

After a much-too-long-and-agonizing internal debate, I decided that I just couldn't settle for one type. So, I'm doing them all! Each gift set will have 3 classic, 3 cute and 3 funny cards, plus 1 unique one-of-a-kind card that's a bit more complex than the other ones. It will be a little extra work, but not so much that I'll stress over and not finish.

I decided to first make the funny cards, and I grabbed the brand new Tis The Season stamp set from Ellen Hutson. This set has several great iconic images and funny sentiments, and it came packaged in a stamp storage pocket- how cool is that?!

I started by creating my card base out of Kraft cardstock by trimming and scoring half a sheet into a standard A2 card base (4 1/4 by 5 1/2"). I then grabbed a background stamp from Impression Obsession called Dotted Argyle.

I first stamped the background in Tsukineko's VersaCraft White Pigment ink. I bought the white pigment ink fairly recently because the only other white ink I have is Hero Arts Unicorn White - which has fantastic coverage, but it takes ages and ages to dry. Since VersaCraft promised that it would dry quicker, I figured I'd give it a try. But after stamping with it, it didn't show up very well on the cardstock.

So, I inked up the background once again, this time in Avery Elle's Cherry pigment ink. I stamped the card front again, making sure that it was offset a little from the white stamp. I think it created a very unique and subtle effect.

I cut a scalloped circle out of green cardstock, then a smaller plain circle out of white cardstock. I stamped the funny Santa face from Tis The Season onto the white circle, and quickly colored him in with my Prismacolor pencils. I adhered the two circles together, then added it to the card front with foam squares.

I created a sentiment panel by matting a piece of white cardstock onto some patterned paper. I stamped the sentiment in navy blue, and adhered it to the card base with foam squares.

Supplies:
Ellen Hutson LLC Tis The Season stamp set
Impression Obsession Dotted Argyle background stamp
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black and Cobalt Blue
Tsukineko Versacraft White pigment Ink
Avery Elle Cherry pigment ink
Sizzix Framelits in Circle and Scalloped Circle
Prismacolor Pencils
Scrapbook Adhesives 3D foam squares
Tombow Mono Dot Adhesive runner (pink)
Neenah Desert Storm environmental cardstock in 100#lbs
Simon Says Stamp cardstock in Green Leaf
Neenah Solar White cardstock in 80#lbs