Birthday Cupcake

For: Riley

Occasion: her birthday 

Riley loves Oreo cupcakes and requests them on her birthday every year! To help celebrate the big day, I did a watercolor of the tasty treat with some sparkly purple accents. This looks good enough to eat and I hope Riley enjoyed a helping or two of the real deal!

Cappy Birthday

For: Claire

Occasion: her birthday

To ring in Claire's birthday, I did a drawing of a internet-famous-ly chill capybara with lots of party parephenalia. I have enjoyed seeing videos of these goobers out in the world and hope this one brought Claire some peace on her big day! 

Birthday Creature

For: Uncle Jer

Occasion: his birthday

For Uncle Jer's birthday card, I created a weird little long-legged lizard to help ring in the birthday festivities! He's got a birthday hat and a fine set of choppers to shout "Happy Birthday" in bubble letters. I adore Uncle Jer and hope this next year will be the best yet.

Slopes Christmas

 For: Michael
Occasion: Christmas

For Mike's Christmas card, I used brown paper and white pen to create this delightful gondola scene. I can't wait to start up our ski season together -- here's hoping we get plenty of snow in the mountains this year! Looking forward to an epic 2024 of whatever adventures await us!

Pikachu Christmas

 For: Owen
Occasion: Christmas

To help Owie have the happiest Christmas, I drew him a picture of Pikachu in a Santa hat with a present and candy cane! I wish I could see him playing Christmas-themed Pokemon with Adam, but am sure it will be tons of fun! I miss Owen so and hope to see him so much in 2024!

Pokeball Christmas

 For: Adam
Occasion: Christmas

Adam has taught me so much about Pokemon! For his Christmas card this year, I created a pokeball ornament and used a broken earring to make it look real! The tree branch is made out of strips of green paper that I glued on to emulate a tree. I miss my Adam so and hope he has the best Christmas!

Sloth Wreath Christmas

 For: Christy-Twin
Occasion: Christmas

To send The Twin the snuggliest Christmas vibes I could imagine, I drew her a Christmas wreath with a sloth hanging on! I drew a background door and am so pleased with how it turned out. I miss The Twin so and hope her Christmas is as fun as can be!

Santa Hoop Christmas

 For: Nathan
Occasion: Christmas

For Nathan's Christmas card this year, I did a silly illustration of Santa going up for a dunk! His peace sign doubles for the two points he is about to score. I love Santa's belly and knee brace -- I think Nathan could definitely take him. I hope he has a wonderful Christmastime! 

Cat Tree Christmas

 For: Amy
Occasion: Christmas

Amy and Alex have the goofiest cat! They decided not to have a Christmas tree because of his antics, but I had fun imagining what it could have gone like. There's some silly fish ornaments and I love Catsby's surprised little eyes and mouth. I am bummed to not see Ames this Christmas, but hope she has a great time!

Coffee Christmas

 For: Alex
Occasion: Christmas

For Alex's Christmas card, I played on his penchant for coffee and made a snowman out of a mug stain (it's really watercolor)! This card concept just tickles me pink -- I hope Alex has enjoyed many caffeinated beverages this holiday season!

Skating Christmas

 For: Dad
Occasion: Christmas

I have many fond memories of skating with my Dad; to honor those happy times, I did this sweet illustration of he and I skating and making a heart with our blades. I feel like I really got the colors of our early '90s winter outfits in this one! I miss my dad so and hope he has the happiest Christmas!

Cel-e-brate Christmas

 For: Mom
Occasion: Christmas

My mom is a big Dr. Who fan! To help her celebrate the holidays, I created the most festive Dalek we've ever seen! Covered in tinsel and wearing a Santa hat, this guy has had a change of heart and wouldn't dream of exterminating us. I hope Mama has the very best Christmas!

Curly Christmas Tree

 For: Mollie
Occasion: Christmas

For Mollie's Christmas card, I played on her beautiful curly hair and made her into a Christmas tree! I love the greens of the hair and sweater and decorations (particularly the candy canes). I have missed my Mollie so and am excited to see her in 2024!

Snow Angel Christmas

 For: Sarah
Occasion: Christmas

To help Sarah celebrate Christmas, I did an illustration of her as a little snow angel among falling snowflakes. I love how peaceful and happy she looks here! I miss my Sarah and have loved chatting with her about all things holiday and all things!

Colorful Christmas Wreath

 For: Marie
Occasion: Christmas

Marie loves bright rainbow colors! To help her and the fam celebrate Christmas, I did an illustration of the brightest wreath I could imagine, with lots of colorful ornaments with some pine interspersed. I hope they have the very best first Christmas as a complete family!

Print Christmas Tree

 For: Jackie
Occasion: Christmas

I love the look of a wood-block print! Since I don't actually have any, I did a pen line illustration of a Christmas tree and red star to emulate the look. I hope Jackie has a very Merry Christmas!

Heart Tree Christmas

 For: Leia
Occasion: Christmas

To share love and light with Leia this year, I did a simple illustration of a Christmas tree made up of a strand of hearts. I adore my Leia, and she has the biggest heart I've ever encountered. I hope she has a great holiday season and that we get to hang out a bunch in 2024!

Snow Family Christmas

 For: Lexi
Occasion: Christmas

To help Lex and family celebrate Christmas, I created a simple illustration of them all as snowpeople on white! Matt and Lex snowpeople are holding hands, and G and G are dancing in the snow! I love and miss Lex so much and can't wait to see her in February!

Abstract Christmas Card

 For: Jennifer
Occasion: Christmas

To help Jen celebrate Christmas, I made an ornament that features the abstract shapes similar to Clyfford Still's style! We had a great time going to the museum together this past year, and I wanted to send a little bit of Denver out to her this season. Can't wait to see her again in the new year!

Colorful Christmas Tree

 For: The Mungers
Occasion: Christmas

To help my Mungers celebrate the holiday, I used every bright pen I own to create this shape of a Christmas tree! I really love pointillism in all its forms, particularly a holiday variety. I hope the Mungers have the best Christmas ever!

Spirits Christmas Card

 For: The Currys
Occasion: Christmas

This year, it occurred to me that spirits are part of drinks! Armed with this knowledge and to wish my Curry twin-laws a Merry Christmas, I made a picture of a green drink with a candy cane in it! The text reads "making spirits bright." I miss my Currys and hope they have the very best Christmas and are looking forward to fun on the farm!

Nutcracker Christmas

 For: The Families
Occasion: Christmas

To celebrate with all family near and far, Mike and I's annual Christmas card of us in goofy Christmas-themes are features us as Nutcrackers! We saw the play this year and I got a kick out of making us into the regal soldier-types. I added some small smile lines at the mouths to help us look less shocked/horrified.

I miss all my Chicago family and hope they have a merry time celebrating! Most of the candy Keanes are getting together this year and I hope we have a holly jolly holiday together. 

Mexican Flags Birthday

 For: Aunt Katy
Occasion: her birthday

Aunt Katy loves to visit Mexico for its relaxing beaches! To help her celebrate her birthday, I created an illustration of a tissue flag with Feliz Cumpleaños! I love Aunt Katy so and hope she has the very best birthday ever and enjoys her vacation.

Cupcake Birthday

 For: Grandpa Jerry
Occasion: his birthday

To celebrate Grandpa's birthday, I created a simple collage of a cupcake with a candle in it. I hope Gramps has a happy birthday and enjoys some cake!

Squatchy Birthday

For: Aunt Glor
Occasion: her birthday

Aunt Glor is such a wonderful human with a penchant for the goofy and delightful in life! For her birthday card this year, in honor of a Sasquatch-themed donut shop she and Uncle Vince had seen when out in Colorado this fall, I made a birthday-themed Sasquatch! The text reads "Squatchy Birthday!" I love this card and I love Aunt Glor and I hope this year is the very best yet!

Sparkly Retirement

For: Aunt Glor
Occasion: her birthday

Aunt Glor retired! To help mark this feat in her epic career, I created a simple card with some dictionary definitions - "career," "librarian," and "retirement." I particularly love the definition of retirement: "the period at the end of a career when a person stops working to relax and enjoy their savings." I hope Aunt Glor enjoys this next chapter!

Sparkly Dreidel Hanukkah

 For: The Biegens
Occasion: Hanukkah

To help my Biegens celebrate the season of love and light, I used all my sparkly blue papers to create a dreidel in a heart that is emanating light. There's never been a better time to wish light and love on all the world--may we all settle in to the spirit of the holiday season.

Bears Birthday

 For: Mark
Occasion: his birthday

Mark is a big Bears fan! To celebrate his birthday, I created the Bears logo in blue on orange and wearing a party hat. The Bears logo is super complicated, y'all--but worth it to help my Father-twin-law celebrate his big day!

Tea Birthday

For: Aunt Kat
Occasion: her birthday

For Aunt Kat's birthday card, I drew a sweet little teacup on a brightly colored saucer. The cup is filled with a tea bag (ginger peach turmeric!). Aunt Kat is among my favorite humans on the planet and an inspiration for health. I hope she enjoys this tea and has a great day!

 

S'more Birthday

 For: Paul
Occasion: his birthday

To help Paul celebrate his birthday, I created an illustration of a marshmallow roasting on a stick. The marshmallow has caught fire! The text reads "Make a wish." I hope Paul has a fantastic birthday and is looking forward to a great year. 

Birthday Portrait

 For: Uncle Jim
Occasion: his birthday

For Uncle Jim's birthday card, I did a stylized version of him wearing a party hat! Uncle Jim has such a calm presence -- it was fun to try to capture it in an illustration. It was so fun to see him in October, and I hope he has an amazing year!

Golf Ball Birthday

For: Liam

Occasion: his birthday

Liam loves to golf more than anyone I've ever known! For his first birthday card from me, I drew this happy little golf ball wearing a tee as a party hat (the fluff at the top is some green!). It's been so great getting to know Liam this past year--here's hoping the next year is amazing!

Trip Birthday

For: Aunt Joan

Occasion: her birthday

To celebrate Aunt Joan's birthday, I did a watercolor of a sun with bright rays encircled with "Another trip around the sun." This card is whimsical and bright and I love the small puffy clouds in the sky. It's been such a treat to connect with Aunt Joan this past year and I hope we get to keep it up this year!

Give Thanks Thanksgiving

 For: The Walsh-Rocks
Occasion: Thanksgiving

To thank the epic hosts of the Walsh+ Thanksgiving this year, I did a festive foliage watercolor and paired it with a simple "Give Thanks" calligraphy. I am forever and always grateful for the Walsh-Rocks overall incredibleness, and so appreciate all their work in allowing us to get together. 

Lower Decks Birthday

 For: Quam
Occasion: his birthday

Quam has been my docent through the illustrious Star Trek universe, and he most recently introduced me to the cartoon spinoff gem of Lower Decks. To celebrate his birthday, I did an illustration of the four main lower deckers all in party hats: Tendi, Rutherford, Boims, and Mariner. I hope Quam has the most incredible day and gets to enjoy whatever Star Trek he likes!

Unicorn Birthday

 For: Jaimie
Occasion: her birthday

Jaimie is a sparkly unicorn of a human, so for her birthday card, I did an illustration of a sparkly unicorn! I love the colors and glitter and happiness of this sweet creature. I hope Jaimie has the very best birthday possible and that this next year is an incredible, magical year!

Latte Birthday

 For: Rukiyah
Occasion: her birthday

Rukiyah has always made me so joyful, I tried to capture this experience in a coffee cup! This little latte is vibrating with love, as evidence by the heart shape in the cream. I hope Rukiyah is doing great and has a lovely (and caffeinated!) birthday!

Birthday Fishes

 For: Carson
Occasion: her birthday

To help Carson celebrate her big day, I created a watery scene with some bright fishies in party hats! I figured her little family might appreciate the pun. I miss Carson a lot and hope all is well in her world. 

Cannon Beach Birthday

 For: Jennifer
Occasion: her birthday

Jen moved to Oregon, and so to celebrate her most recent adventure, I did a stylized illustration of Cannon Beach! We had a wonderful time exploring that area at a conference a few years ago and I am envious that she gets to spend so much time there. The text reads "To another year of adventure!" I miss my Jen so and can't wait for when I can go visit her on the coast!

Cheers Birthday

 For: Win
Occasion: her birthday

Win is a connoisseur of vino, so for her birthday card this year I created a simple glass of red with a silver heart charm to claim it as hers. The text reads "cheers on your birthday!" I adore my Win and hope this year is full of relaxation and joy! 

Retirement Chair

 For: Marilynne
Occasion: her retirement

After all these years, Marilynne got to retire! To celebrate this feat, I did a sweet illustration of a happy little yellow friend kicking her feet up, basking in her success! The cut out letters read, "You did it!" I am so impressed with Marilynne's perseverance and can't wait to hang out in this post-work chapter of her life!

Line Birthday

 For: Rosemerry
Occasion: her birthday

To help celebrate the incredible gift that Rosemerry is to the world, I created a watercolor and ink illustration for her birthday, featuring her on the left connecting to mountains and trees in a single line. I wanted to try to capture interconnectedness as a theme of the card, and I hope she appreciated the poetics of the effort! Here's hoping she has an incredible year of exploration.

Coffee Birthday

 For: Maddie
Occasion: her birthday

To help celebrate Maddie's birthday this year, I drew here the happiest little cup o' joe holding a piece of cake and a balloon and wearing a party hat! This is such a pleasant image for a fall birthday. Here's hoping she has an incredibly pleasant day!

Halloween Eyes

 For: Adam and Owen
Occasion: Halloween

For Adam and Owen's Halloween card this year, I fit in as many spooky eyes as I could! Every letter of "Happy Halloween" has a pair (and it's laid out in a Jack-o-lantern shape) along with a handful of other watching creatures. I hear they counted the total number of eyes, which delights me to no end -- Auntie Twin loves educational cards! Here's hoping the little nephs have the best day ever!

Wine Balloon Birthday

 For: Alyssa
Occasion: her birthday

For Alyssa's birthday, I drew her a collection of wine glasses as balloons! I think this card is a super fun concept, and I enjoyed filling the wine glasses with different colors and then giving them some shine. I hope Alyssa has a wonderful day and gets to relax and celebrate!

Desert Collage Birthday

 For: Theresa
Occasion: her birthday

Theresa loves to do soul collage and recently moved to New Mexico! For her birthday card this year, I tried out some collage of my own, playing with a hiking boot, hat, cat, bird, light heart, desert heart and crane. It was a total blast making this card, and I hope Theresa has an amazing year of adventure and exploration!

Blackjack Birthday

For: Uncle Jim
Occasion: his birthday

Uncle Jim taught me Blackjack over the summer, so for his birthday card I made some playing cards featuring a wining hand -- an Ace and a King (in the heart suit for love, of course!). After I dropped the card in the mail, I realized I could have used a Jack, which would have made sense with his initials -- as with gambling and card-making, you live and learn!

Robot Birthday

For: Tom
Occasion: his birthday

For Tom's birthday card, I drew a robot serenading him with a birthday song: "Happy Birthday, Dear Tom-Tom!" As ever, I appreciate the absurdity of Tom's cards and have so appreciated that we have gotten to see each other as much as we have in the past few years -- here's hoping to more visits this year!

 

Birth-month Birthday

 For: Lidia
Occasion: her birthday

To help Lidia celebrate her birthday, I made a card honoring the entire month! The text reads, "Happy Birth-day Month!" with 'day' crossed out. It was such a treat to see Lidia during the birth month and help celebrate with her!