No joke here folks. I actually experimented with this idea in 1974 and had modest success. I was a silkscreen artist at the time and was experimenting with ink alternatives.
My first attemps were with chocolate (fudge ice cream syrup). I created a whole series of proto-type business cards. Some were designed to resemble a fudgicle-pop, others said "lickem-here" with a patch of chocolate. Some had conventional typeface but with a panel of lick- able chocolate on the back. The printed typeface was also chocolate. To prevent stickiness each card was inter- leafed with a thin sheet of velum paper. They were quite stable and I still have some of them stored to this day.
Other examples were ketchup and mustard. Food coloring had to be added to intensify the color density.
One really weird idea I tried was just using clear cooking oil with some type of stabilizer to facilitate with the printing process. The result created a controlled graphic typeface which was oily. Subtle oil stain-like graphics. I tested out various card stocks from very porous to hard, smooth,finishes. I got my inspiration for that one looking at a grease stained pizza box. I was trying at the time, to infuse the oil with the smell of pepperoni pizza. I never applied to get a patent, I was trying to expand the boundries of artistic invention.-- Cosmo, Aug 26 2003 would have been useful here http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Cookbookvoted on by four autoboners [FarmerJohn, Oct 04 2004] LSD http://www.erowid.o...icals/lsd/lsd.shtml [DeathNinja, Oct 04 2004] Preston's Candy Cards http://www.prestonscandy.com/customThey make business cards too [monkeywidget, Oct 04 2004] Edible Business Cards http://mrl.nyu.edu/...iments/ebc/ebc.htmlFiction. [jutta, Apr 28 2005] MeatCards http://www.meatcards.com/Beef jerky business cards [hippo, Apr 28 2009] How about "scratch 'n' sniff" business cards, which would be infused with the corporate smell?-- peterd, Aug 26 2003 Anything that brings roaches to a competitor's desk get's a lickable picture of a croissant from me. +-- k_sra, Aug 26 2003 All business cards are lickable, but your cards probably tasted better. I personally never eat things from anyone's wallet aren't individually wrapped. '74 huh? Did you try dipping your cards in the usual '70s chemicals. I can think of atleast 3 of them that would make humans want to lick your cards. Chemicals like that are the other reason why I won't lick any one's cards, especially if they ask me to do so. Possibly, fine for other humans though. +-- sartep, Aug 26 2003 <notes the words 'other humans' and smiles to self>-- k_sra, Aug 26 2003 // make humans want to lick your cards //
I could imagine coming home to candles, food, and a wife wearing nothing but my business cards.....hopefully I didn't choose "ketchup" cards...-- DeathNinja, Aug 26 2003 Might want to add a disclaimer for avoiding any responsibility for tongue-based paper cuts... ow! Hmmm. Why not make the edges salty just to add to the experience???-- Dustoff, Aug 26 2003 Margarita letterhead with salt sealing envelope.-- k_sra, Aug 26 2003 It was the early 1970's and the scratch and sniff concept was just being tested. I remember a Martini scent and Natural Gas. I was inspired........-- Cosmo, Aug 26 2003 Business-card-shaped stick of chewing gum would be flat, would stack with other cards, and be more sanitary.-- flypaper, Aug 30 2003 flypaper,..........this gives me a new idea! What about business cards made out of an edible, durable foodstuff. Highly compressed granola or something, with non-toxic soy- bean inks for the printing.-- Cosmo, Aug 31 2003 bizarre. delicious. call the nurse.-- benfrost, Apr 28 2005 random, halfbakery