Bridge Engagement

For: Lexi and Matt
Occasion: their engagement

Matt proposed to Lexi over the holidays on a bridge in Central Park. I was so excited to get a picture from Lexi of the big moment when I texted her to check in on her trip. I decided to do a watercolor rendition of the photo to help them celebrate their engagement. I am so excited for them I can barely stand it! Here's a mash up of the painting with the original.

And with this beautiful moment, that's the end of the year for Debbie Dots. In 2015, I made over 140 individual cards, a save the date, a wedding invite (stay posted for that one in 2016!) and the artwork for an awesomely fun board game. Such a great year for creativity and gratitude! I love you all, and stay tuned for year eight of Debbie Dots. 

Minnie Birthday

For: Riley
Occasion: her birthday

Riley (Mike's niece) went to Disney World for the first time this past Thanksgiving! To help celebrate her birthday and harken back to her awesome vacation, I created an illustration of Minnie Mouse being sassy in a bright blue dress! I had so much fun trying to draw this iconic character, and I'm pretty pumped with how she turned out! We love and miss Riley so much and hope she has a wonderful birthday!

Mountain and Hug Birthday

For: Claire
Occasion: her birthday

To celebrate the most wonderful birthday of Claire, I created a fun illustration of a cloud and sun hugging each other in front of an otherwise bright blue sky. To add some awesome color, I created the most rainbow mountains that have ever been drawn. I love how they look and how the sun and cloud combo appear to be so happy to see them! I miss Claire so much and hope she has the very best NYE birthday this year!

Owl Birthday

For: Uncle Jer
Occasion: his birthday

For Uncle Jer's birthday card, I decided to make a fierce watercolor owl.  I was looking to do something intense and animal-y, and this is what I came up with! I like it a lot and I think it fits with Uncle Jer design-wise. He is quite the artist, and otherwise just an all-around awesome guy! It was so great catching up over Christmas--here's to another great year!

Marshmallow Christmas

For: Christy
Occasion: Christmas

The Twin has been loving marshmallows lately, so I watercolored her some of the happiest marshmallows I ever could in the coziest snowman mug! I just love how this looks--it's so Twinly, with its smiley faces and wintery festivity! Merry Christmas to all!

Tall Elf Christmas

For: Nathan
Occasion: Christmas

Nathan is a tall guy! For his Christmas card this year, I imagined him as an elf, but only the legs from below the knee fit on the card. Nathan's the best brother bear any girl could ask for, and I'm so grateful that he's hosting me again this year over Christmas!

Stretching Santa Christmas

For: Ames
Occasion: Christmas

Amy is in a physical therapy assistant program, and I was just tickled pink when I thought of this idea. Santa's hammies are probably pretty tight after going around the world in one day--why not use a therapy band? I hope Ames has a great Christmas and is feeling loose herself!

Sweater Christmas

For: Dad
Occasion: Christmas

My dad really likes elaborate Nordic style sweaters, so this year, I created an elaborate sweater for his Christmas card! It was fun sketching this all out--I'd wear it, I tell you. I love my dad so much and hope he's enjoying Christmas! Break out that fruit cake, pops!

Ho Cubed Christmas

For: Mom
Occasion: Christmas

My mom is a pretty big math nerd, so this year her Christmas card features an ornament that reads "Ho^3," meaning Ho, ho, ho! I painted the ornament in watercolor and added a (paperclip) hook to hang it onto the forest green cardstock I chopped up to look like a Christmas tree branch. It all makes me giggle so--I hope Mom has a great Christmas! 

Ice Cube House Christmas

For: Michael
Occasion: Christmas

Whenever it's chilly at home, I ask Mike, "Why do we live in an ice cube house?" For his Christmas Card this year, I featured a very cozy igloo decorated with lights and a wreath. I love the little feet peaking out of the blanket! I love Mike so much and enjoyed celebrating our little Christmas together.

Reindeer Games Christmas

For: The Currys
Occasion: Christmas

The Currys refer to all games they play as "reindeer games," and luckily for me, I pieced that together just in time to make them a topical Christmas card! It features Rudolph and a buddy (let's say it's Blitzen) who are playing a version of Sequence (a game that they introduced me to over Thanksgiving!). I just can't stop giggling about this card. I love the Currys so and hope they have a wonderful Christmas!

Keane Family Christmas Card

For: The Keanes and Kadlecs
Occasion: Christmas

Because I had so much fun making the family card last year, Mike and I decided it would be fun to send another rendition to his family. We won't be seeing them over Christmas again this year, but hopefully the new design will add some of our cheer into the holiday!

This year, I am decorating Mike as a Christmas tree. I love the design so much, and hope the "in-laws" have some very happy holidays!

Floral Pattern Birthday

For: Aunt Katy
Occasion: her birthday

Aunt Katy is one of the loveliest people I know. For her birthday card, I created a funky floral pattern in watercolor that is laid over some "happy birthday to you!" text in the background. I've never done something like this before (having the words not be the feature), and I have to say, I really like it. But I like Aunt Katy even more and am so excited that I've gotten to see her so many times this year!

Big Cake Birthday

For: Charles
Occasion: his birthday

For Charles's birthday card, I created a pen sketch of a guy with a ginormous birthday cake (so big it created the Wilson effect from Home Improvement. I miss Charles a lot and hope all is well for him out in Ireland!

Sonic Birthday

For: Grandpa Jerry
Occasion: his birthday

When I was younger, we used to play all kinds of video games and Grandpa Jerry's house. This is where I got introduced to Sonic the Hedgehog, the fast-spinning, coin-collecting, bad-guy-fighting spiny mammal. I have Sonic some sass and a party hat to finish off the card. I hope Grandpa has a great birthday and has some fun games to play.

Woven Heart Birthday

For: Aunt Glor
Occasion: her birthday

For Aunt Glor's birthday card, I created a woven heart of several different earthy fall colors. The idea came to me when I was talking to The Twin about how amazing Aunt Glor is in regards to Thanksgiving. We were remarking on how she's got such a big heart and always helps other people, and a woven Danish heart came to mind. And here it is! I hope she has a great day and I can't wait to see her again over Christmas!

MBA Congrats

For: Alli
Occasion: MBA graduation

Alli wrapped up her MBA last week, and to help celebrate this amazing accomplishment, I wanted to send along a congratulations card! I used some fun lettering to spell out MBA, and in an acrostic, I had it stand for "Master of Being Awesome." A big congratulations to Alli, and I hope she enjoys her new-found free time!

Survivor Birthday

For: Mark
Occasion: his birthday

The Currys are all big fans of the show Survivor, so for Mark's birthday card, I doctored up the logo with some birthday fun! The text reads "Outwit, outplay, outbirthday: Survivor," and the torch turned into a birthday candle. Pretty cool, if you ask me. I had the very best time playing games with Mark over Thanksgiving and I hope he's having the best birthday ever today!

Pretty Cake Birthday

For: Aunt Kat
Occasion: her birthday

For Aunt Kat's birthday card, I did a pen sketch of a very elaborate and beautiful cake. I love how detailed it is (go ahead and click the photo for the full size! You know you want to). It was so lovely seeing Kat over Thanksgiving, and I'm so excited to hang out more at Christmas! 

Bubble Letter Birthday

For: Paul

Occasion: his birthday

For Paul's birthday card, I actually started with the drawing of the pedestrian running across the street (presumably) with his party hat on. To mimic the lined design of the little guy, I created bubble letters with stripes in different blues. I like how it all came together, and I hope Paul had an awesome day!

Moose Birthday

For: Uncle Jim
Occasion: his birthday

For my uncle's birthday card, I created an image of a moose flying a kite. The wind changed and the kite got tangled up in his antlers. This card is so playful and fun that I just love it. It was so great to see Uncle Jim so close to his birthday on Thanksgiving!

Kayak Birthday

For: Aunt Joan
Occasion: her birthday

Aunt Joan has recently started kayaking (every day!) and seems to be having a wonderful time hitting the waters and getting the kayak cart into the lake. For her birthday card, in honor of this aquatic hobby, I created a aerial view of her in a kayak with a water-y "Happy Birthday" message just under the water. This card makes me so happy and I'm glad she had a great time celebrating her big day!

Ice Cream, Possibly Cake Birthday

For: Quam
Occasion: his birthday

 

Quam is a big ice cream aficionado (the Quam family freezer was notoriously stocked with infinite varieties), so for his birthday card, I created a Georgian Era style woman holding a banner that reads, "Let us celebrate your existence with ice cream," with the afterthought "and possibly cake" below. I've been holding on to this idea for Quam for just under a year, and I am really delighted with how it turned out. It was so lovely seeing him over Thanksgiving, and I hope he had a great birthday!

Cute Monster Birthday

For: Rukiyah
Occasion: her birthday

 

For Rukiyah's birthday card, I adapted this cute image I'd seen of a girl who found a monster and wants to take him home ("Can I keep him?"). This card is so playful and fun! If you click on the picture, you can see the watercolor pencil lines, which add even more whimsy to this fun card. I hope Rukiyah is enjoying being back in the states and that this year brings her all kinds of adventure!

Huggy Bear Birthday

For: Win
Occasion: her birthday

For Win's birthday card, I created a watercolor of the happiest, huggiest bears with a party hat and big red balloon. Win has two adorable kiddos, so I'm sure she is inundated with fun, playful images like this all the time, but I'm not and wanted to celebrate! I love Win so and miss her so and hope she had a great day!