City Trees Birthday

For: Uncle Tom
Occasion: his birthday

I saw this idea online, and thought it would be perfect for my uncle's birthday. It's such an epic combination of nature and city, and Magritte-style white space creativity; something about it struck me as Uncle Tom-like. It was super fun to make, I hope Uncle Tom liked it and had a good birthday too!

Hot Air Balloon Birthday

For: This year's stranger

Occasion: Grandma's birthday

Each year in honor of my grandma's birthday, I make a card for someone I find in the phone book that has a name similar to hers. This year, I decided to pay homage to the hot air balloon that she rode in with my sisters and me at the Kankakee County Fair. I made the most beautiful balloon I could, and the basket is a red and purple hat, a la the Red Hat Ladies that brought her so much joy. Ultimately, I'm really pleased with the look of the card and hope the recipient was happy to get it.

Cupcake Delivery Birthday

For: Sandie
Occasion: her birthday

Sandie  is spending her summer in Hawaii! To send her birthday wishes across the Pacific ocean to get to her, I decided to create a cupcake and parachute combo with my watercolors and touched-up with colored pencil. I really like the puffy clouds in the background too! 

Sandie is truly lovely and so dedicated to her students; I am tickled pink that she will still email with me from time to time, and I hope she had a wonderful birthday!

Gnome Bachelorette

For: Katelyn
Occasion: her bachelorette party

Katelyn loves gnomes, so for her bachelorette party card, her co-gifters requested I create a gnome wearing lingerie. Despite being the strangest thing I will paint this summer, this card turned out pretty neat. My favorite detail is that the gnome is still wearing her boots, despite her sexy ensemble--I guess the hats and the boots just never come off!

Phonogram Bird Birthday

For: Zach
Occasion: his birthday

Zach is probably the hippest person I know, and given that he's musically inclined and smart too, I decided to replicate this funky image I saw online for his birthday card. It's a bird standing on a book, dipping its beak into a bowl and with a tail that's the horn of the phonogram. I think this looks so awesome, and I really like the chevron background paper to keep with the style of the card. I miss Zach a lot and hope he has a great summer in Washington!

Balloon Birthday

For: Eileen
Occasion: her birthday

To celebrate Eileen's birthday, I used my fancy colored pencils to create this image of a girl grabbing hold of one of many greenish-blue balloons. I really like the overall look of this card, particularly how the teals melds with the other colors so well. I miss my Walsh-Rocks and hope Eileen had a great day!

Birthday Smiles

For: Becky
Occasion: her birthday

When I think of Becky Curry, I can't help but smile really big! For her birthday card (and coincidentally, the last card made in Debbie Dots Studio at 28th street) I used watercolor and pen to create a special background paper of many kinds of smiles. With simple blacks and blues, I paired the  design with a blue background and a black-bordered "happy birthday, becky!" I miss her so much and am glad she had a good time celebrating her special day!

Bear Birthday

For: Anna
Occasion: her birthday

Anna is one of the kindest people I know, so to capture that, I created a watercolor of her petting a giant bear. I think it captures her spirit perfectly! I am really pleased with how this card came out and I love the pen detail on the bear. I hope Anna had a great day and I'm so bummed I can't make it to her wedding this summer--I wish her all the best always!

Pug Birthday

For: Katelyn
Occasion: her birthday

Katelyn arguably has the best little pug in the entire world named Beans. To celebrate her day and the number one pup in her life, I created a watercolor of Beans in a party hat and presenting a cupcake for his owner. I love how this card turned out, which is perfect 'cause I also love Katelyn!