Happy new year! I’m easing my way back into the print studio after a busy few months. In December I made a small run of holiday/end-of-the-year/new year cards to send to friends and family. Rather than choosing holiday-specific imagery for these cards, I usually go with something that is generally comforting, pleasant, happy. My dog Bernie wearing her pajamas was the subject of my 2020 end-of-the-year cards.

For this most recent run, I used a vintage hot chocolate ad as the basis, and I added a few fun touches to make them fancy.

One of the hot chocolate–themed cards I screen printed at the end of 2021. The card is mostly red and features a mug of hot chocolate with glittery steam and a marshmallow puff.

I used cocoa powder and transparent base to mix the brown ink.
I used Jacquard’s puff additive solo for the puffy, marshmallowy texture in the mug. I puffed them in my oven, setting it at 275 degrees Fahrenheit and leaving the prints inside for about 20 seconds each.
I brushed on tacky glue and sprinkled clear glitter on the steam above the mug.

A detail of the cocoa-y, puffy, and glittery areas of the card.

I’m sorting out my next project and will post an update soon. I have a couple of hot chocolate cards left—if you’re out there reading this and would like one, send me your mailing address.