Upon being informed that my employer of the past decade no longer needed my services - and discovering that my age was going to inhibit my chances for employment anywhere new - my wife suggested I combine my IT background, graphic design skills, and sarcastic wit to see if I could manufacture some added income to the U.S. government's slow repayment of my Social Security taxes.   Granted, it may have also been her way of simply keeping me out of her hair during the daylight hours.

So, now I get to marry my artistic skills with today's technology to help small businesses and individuals promote themselves with an added touch of light-hearted humor - although I try to keep the sarcasm to a minimum.

What started with simply creating personalized caricature artwork now includes something broader: helping small, locally-owned businesses find creative and affordable ways to get noticed.   That might mean creating an attention-getting postcard, developing a direct-mail campaign, designing promotional materials, or producing practical guides and resources that help business owners do more of the work themselves.

I especially enjoy working with small business owners because I understand what it's like to work with limited resources and have to make every advertising dollar count.   You don't necessarily need a huge marketing budget to get people's attention.   Sometimes you just need a good idea, a clear message, and a creative way to deliver it.

That's what I hope you'll find at Festive Faces: useful ideas, creative design, practical tools, and perhaps a little humor along the way.

After all, getting noticed is the first step toward getting remembered.

But don't be confused into believing you have to choose between humor and professionalism - because they actually go hand-in-hand.   Professionalism earns people's trust.   Humor earns people's attention.   You need both to make an impact (see here).

Which brings us to the "process."   Every caricature is created specifically for you.   And you have unlimited creativity simply by asking for personalized backgrounds, clothing, and accessories.   Whether you select just the digital files, or professionally printed products, you get fast turnaround, high resolution artwork, and friendly customer service.

Just upload your photos . . . tell me your theme . . . include any special requests . . . and I'll create your customized caricature.   I'll send you a low-res copy first - for your approval - and then email you the digital file, or ground-ship your postcards.

At 300dpi, image files are ready to be used on anything you desire - for any purpose you want: social media, websites, personalized gifts, invitations, business cards, letterheads, custom stickers, or banners.   Postcards are perfect for both business and personal use.   They're a great tool for marketing and promoting your services . . . reminding your customers about upcoming appointments . . . or inviting clients to special events.   For personal use, they make memorable party invitations, catchy announcements, impressive holiday cards, and unforgettable family keepsakes.