This punny Jaws inspired “Bigger Card” birthday card is perfect for the classic horror lover in your life. Or, you know, for that friend/family member who is really into sharks.
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Printable Jaws Inspired Card Tutorial
It’s not for everyone, but I love a pun. Luckily, I’m not alone.
That’s why you can find awesome stamp sayings like this one from the “Chomp” set at Kindred Stamps.
Not only is it funny, this card is also super easy to make. Keep reading to find out how to quickly make a custom wave stencil and how to work with stamps to create a unique, one-of-kind card.
This uses an A2 book fold card base. Find out how to make it here: How to Make Basic Card Folds and Common Card Sizes. Please note that I used a deep royal blue cardstock for this card base.
Materials for Jaws Inspired “Bigger Card” Birthday Card
Stamps Used
Paper Used
- Deep Royal Blue A2 Book Fold Card Base
- Watercolor Paper
- Scrap of Cardstock (at least 4.5 inches long and 2 inches wide)
- Red Cardstock (at least 5 in. X 6 in.)
- White Cardstock (at least 5 in. X 6 in.)
Ink Used
Adhesives Used
- Large and Small Adhesive Foam Squares
- Glue Runner
- Mint Tape
Tombow Markers Used
- Tombow N65
- Tombow 533
- Tombow 847
Embellishments Used
- Clear Shimmer Pen (Optional)
Tools Used
- Acrylic Block
- Paintbrush
- Small Bowl of Water
- Palette (see Tips and Tricks)
- Small Detail Scissors
- Paper Cutter
- White Gel Pen
Step 1 – Create Your Great White Shark Detail
First, stamp your shark in black ink on watercolor paper.
Next, color your shark using the watercolor technique with Tombow markers. Start by scribbling gray marker on your palette. (I use this Tim Holtz glass mat.)
Then dip your paint brush in water and brush it over the gray scribble.
Run the brush along the outer edge of the body of the shark to color it gray. Repeat dipping your paint brush in water and adding more color as needed.
Then, rinse your brush, and scribble the blue marker on your palette.
Again, dip your brush in water and brush it over the blue scribble to pick up the color.
Gently brush blue over the gray on the shark’s body, replenishing your color as needed.
Very lightly, add blue to the outer edge of the shark’s stomach and under the mouth. You want the center of the stomach to remain white.
Finish coloring your shark by rinsing your brush and adding a small mark of red to your palette. Then dip the brush in water, and brush it over the red.
Carefully paint the inside of the sharks mouth red.
After your shark is dry, cut it out with your detail scissors. Try to stay as close to the stamped edges as possible.
Step 2 – Create the Waves on Your Card Front
Next, grab a scrap of cardstock that is slightly wider than the width of your card front.
Use your detail scissors to cut a wave pattern on one edge of the paper. Start lower on the right side, then curve up to the top edge.
Go back in at the top with your scissors and curve down, and then back up again.
Once your stencil is cut, place it about 1 inch from the top of your card front. You can tape it in place, if needed, with a low tack tape such as washi tape or mint tape. If you choose to tape, be sure not to cover the area that will be the waves on your card front.
Next, use a blending brush to add white ink along the wave stencil. Only cover the tops of the stencil. The white should not go all the way to the top of the card front.
Now, remove your stencil and use a blending brush to add navy blue ink to the top of the card front to mute any areas that got too white.
Finally, go over the ‘caps’ of the waves with a white gel pen. Do this in short, dashing motions along the curves of the white ink.
Step 3 – Attach Your Shark to the Card Front
Add adhesive foam squares to the back of your colored shark. I used larger squares in the center and smaller squares on the fins.
Then remove the paper backing from the adhesive squares and attach the shark, centered, on the front of your card.
Step 4 – Add a Sentiment to Your Card Front
Grab a scrap of red cardstock and cut it so that it measures 1/2 (.5) inches x 4 1/4 (4.25) inches.
Then stamp the sentiment, “We’re gonna need a bigger card” in black ink, centered on the red cardstock piece.
Finally, attach the stamped rectangle to the bottom of your card front so that it is about 1/2 (.5) inches from the bottom of the card front edge.
Step 5 – Add Inside Card Sentiment
Start by cutting a rectangle of red cardstock that measures 3 3/4 (3.75) inches x 3 inches.
Next, mat the red rectangle to a piece of white cardstock using your glue runner and trim so that the matting is about 1/4 (.25) inches.
Then cover the “a jawsome” part of your sentiment (Wishing you a jawsome) with tape. Add black ink to the “wishing you” part of the stamp and remove the tape.
Stamp the partial sentiment centered on the top third of your red cardstock.
Repeat the process of taping, inking, removing, and stamping with the “a jawsome” part getting stamped next. Line it up, centered, under the stamped “wishing you” sentiment on the card.
Lastly, remove the “wishing you a jawsome” stamp and replace with the “birthday” sentiment and stamp in black ink. Again, be sure that it is centered underneath the already stamped sentiment elements inside the card.
After your complete sentiment is stamped, attach the matted cardstock so that it is centered on the inside right flap of your card.
Tips and Tricks
- I recommend using a large acrylic block as your palette for scribbling your Tombow markers. You can also use a glass mat like the one from Tim Holtz that I use.
- If you struggle, or simply don’t trust yourself, to free-hand cut the wave stencil, first draw out your waves on the scrap of cardstock. Then, go back and cut along the drawn lines.
- As per usual, I added a tiny bit of glitter to the inside of the card. I drew stars with a shimmer pen around the matted sentiment. This is totally optional and depends on your personal tastes as well as the recipient’s tastes. If you choose to add some shimmer pen fun, be sure to allow it to dry for folding up and closing your card.
Printable Jaws Inspired “Bigger Card” Birthday Card Tutorial
Jaws Inspired "Bigger Card" Birthday Card
This punny Jaws inspired “Bigger Card” birthday card is perfect for the classic horror lover in your life.
Materials
- “Chomp” Set - Kindred Stamps
- Deep Royal Blue A2 Book Fold Card Base
- Watercolor Paper
- Scrap of Cardstock (at least 4.5 inches long and 2 inches wide)
- Red Cardstock (at least 5 in. X 6 in.)
- White Cardstock (at least 5 in. X 6 in.)
- Black Dye Ink Pad
- White Pigment Ink Pad
- Large and Small Adhesive Foam Squares
- Glue Runner
- Mint Tape
- Tombow N65
- Tombow 533
- Tombow 847
- Clear Shimmer Pen (Optional)
Tools
- Acrylic Block
- Paintbrush
- Small Bowl of Water
- Palette (see Tips and Tricks)
- Small Detail Scissors
- Paper Cutter
- White Gel Pen
Instructions
- First, stamp your shark in black ink on watercolor paper.
- Next, color your shark using the watercolor technique with Tombow markers. Start by scribbling gray marker on your palette. (I use this Tim Holtz glass mat.)
- Then dip your paint brush in water and brush it over the gray scribble.
- Run the brush along the outer edge of the body of the shark to color it gray. Repeat dipping your paint brush in water and adding more color as needed.
- Then, rinse your brush, and scribble the blue marker on your palette.
- Again, dip your brush in water and brush it over the blue scribble to pick up the color.
- Very lightly, add blue to the outer edge of the shark’s stomach and under the mouth. You want the center of the stomach to remain white.
- Finish coloring your shark by rinsing your brush and adding a small mark of red to your palette. Then dip the brush in water, and brush it over the red.
- Carefully paint the inside of the sharks mouth red.
- After your shark is dry, cut it out with your detail scissors. Try to stay as close to the stamped edges as possible.
- Next, grab a scrap of cardstock that is slightly wider than the width of your card front.
- Use your detail scissors to cut a wave pattern on one edge of the paper. Start lower on the right side, then curve up to the top edge.
- Go back in at the top with your scissors and curve down, and then back up again.
- Once your stencil is cut, place it about 1 inch from the top of your card front. You can tape it in place, if needed, with a low tack tape such as washi tape or mint tape. If you choose to tape, be sure not to cover the area that will be the waves on your card front.
- Next, use a blending brush to add white ink along the wave stencil. Only cover the tops of the stencil. The white should not go all the way to the top of the card front.
- Lastly, remove your stencil and go over the ‘caps’ of the waves with a white gel pen. Do this in short, dashing motions along the curves of the white ink.
- Add adhesive foam squares to the back of your colored shark. I used larger squares in the center and smaller squares on the fins.
- Then remove the paper backing from the adhesive squares and attach the shark, centered, on the front of your card.
- Grab a scrap of red cardstock and cut it so that it measures 1/2 (.5) inches x 4 1/4 (4.25) inches.
- Then stamp the sentiment, “We’re gonna need a bigger card” in black ink, centered on the red cardstock piece.
- Finally, attach the stamped rectangle to the bottom of your card front so that it is about 1/2 (.5) inches from the bottom of the card front edge.
- Start by cutting a rectangle of red cardstock that measures 3 3/4 (3.75) inches x 3 inches.
- Next, mat the red rectangle to a piece of white cardstock using your glue runner and trim so that the matting is about 1/4 (.25) inches.
- Then cover the “a jawsome birthday” part of your sentiment (Wishing you are jawsome birthday) with tape. Add black ink to the “wishing you” part of the stamp and remove the tape.
- Stamp the partial sentiment centered on the top third of your red cardstock.
- Repeat the process of taping, inking, removing, and stamping with the “a jawsome” part getting stamped next. Line it up, centered, under the stamped “wishing you” sentiment on the card.
- Again, do this one last time with the “birthday” part of the sentiment stamp. Again, be sure that it is centered underneath the already stamped sentiment elements inside the card.
- After your complete sentiment is stamped, attach the matted cardstock so that it is centered on the inside right flap of your card.
This Jaws inspired “Bigger Card” birthday card is so much fun! I mean, how often do you get to say, “Happy Birthday” with a big ol’ shark?
Looking for even more birthday card inspiration? Check out this colorful and sparkly Balloon Dog Birthday Card!
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