20,000 Day Dots

 For: Uncle Vince
Occasion: 20,000th Day

Uncle Vince has lived for 20,000 days! To celebrate this momentous occasion, I made dots of several sizes for several hours. The dots get bigger and darker in the middle to spell out 20,000. (I don't know just how many dots there are, but as an artist, I can say it's an interpretation of 20k!). It was so fun celebrating with the fam--I hope the next 20,000 days match the excellence of the first!

Wedding Tangle

For: Mike
Occasion: Our Wedding

I made this card for Mike to open as he was getting ready for our wedding -- it features us tangled up in a hug and holding hands. This card pretty well captures the calm and love I feel when I'm with Mike, and I was so happy to be able to create this image to express how I felt before walking down the aisle. I love my dear husband so much and am looking forward to whatever comes next for us. 

20,000 Film Reel Card

For: Aunt Glor

Occasion: 20,000th Day

Aunt Glor recently lived her 20,000th day, and to help mark the momentous occasion, I did a watercolor of the film reels of her life! In thinking about what it means to have so many days under one's belt, I imagined snapshots from each day, which lead me to the individual pictures that make up a film, like in a film reel! The resultant illustration features a movie called 20,000 Days of Gloria. I really love the sentiment behind this card, and I hope Aunt Glor has 20,000 wonderful sunrises and sunsets to enjoy.

Badass Just Because

For: A Friend
Occasion: Just Because

In one of my greeting card workshops, someone said they were making a "you're a badass" card for their husband, and I thought that was an incredible card genre! In wanting to help raise the spirits of a friend going through a rough time, that genre came back to me and I decided to try my hand at a "you're a badass" card. That left me with this guitar-smashing chap in a field of fire with lightning bolts raining down. I freaking love this card and hope it  brought a smile to their face, if not reminded them of their total baddass-ery. 

Abundance Fireworks

For: Christina
Occasion: Appreciation

Castelli has had a heckuva year, and to celebrate all of her awesomeness (and thank her for being an incredible friend and editor) I drew a portrait of her focused on the theme of "abundance." This lead me to stylized fireworks a-plenty, a cup of coffee, a bouquet of flowers, and of course, an elephant delighted at the scene. Christina is seriously one of the most excellent humans I know, and I am focusing energy on everything good coming her way. 

Grandma's 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 wanted to share the love of Mike and I's engagement somehow, and I was thinking about how my grandma never got the chance to meet Mike; this thought bummed me out, because Mike brings me quite a bit of joy every day. After weeks of thought, I landed on this image of hugging bears to represent our happiness (Mike is the taller blonde bear and I'm the brunette, of course). I could not be more pleased with how the card turned out, and I hope both Grandma and my stranger enjoyed it, too. 

Grandma's Birthday

For: This Year's Stranger
Occasion: Grandma's birthday

Each year in honor of my grandmother's birthday, I make a card for someone in the phone book that has a name similar to hers. I had been doing a lot of biking this summer, and on my hours-long training rides, I found myself thinking about how she would have loved to come visit me in the mountains. To honor this thought I created this colorful mountain in pinks and pastels. I really enjoy making this card every year and I hope it brought some joy to the recipient's day.

Feel The Bern Birthday

For: Bernie Sanders
Occassion: his birthday

I'm a big fan of Bernie Sanders's policies, and feel like if he were president, my job as a social worker would be a lot easier (or just not so impossibly difficult). To show my appreciation, I created this birthday card to send to the Vermont fundraising office (with a 5 dollar bill in tow!). It features the iconic Einstein hair and a birthday cake with 16 candles on it. 

If you want to donate to the campaign, consider going here or here.

Porch Thank You

For: Grandma Dottie and Grandpa Jack
Occasion: Thank You

Grandma and Grandpa are mainstays of The River, and Mike asked me to make them a special card this year as they may be spending their summers down in Florida from now on. I did a watercolor of the two of them sitting on the porch, taking in my favorite view of The River. Some extra special details are the boathouse and Janet's red flowers in view. We had so much fun spending time with them on that porch, listening to 40s music and looking at early photos of New York State. It's always such a treat to see them both, and I hope they enjoy the rest of the summer!

Fireworks 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 couldn't stop thinking about fireworks and how much Grandma said she liked them; I have vivid memories of one evening of fireworks spent with her, and that was what was flashing up in my head all week leading up to her birthday. Therefore!, I tried my hand at watercolor fireworks, and here is the result with some added glitter papers for extra pop. Ultimately, I'm really pleased with the look of the card and hope the recipient was happy to get it.

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.

Abstract Heart

For: Mr. Mann
Occasion: August's card from the Universe

One of my new year's resolutions for 2013 is to create and anonymously send a card to someone who could use a pick-me-up each month--I'm calling it "cards from the Universe."

For August, my sister recommended the card go to one of her friends' fathers whose own father is not doing well. I created an abstract out of some watercolor paper I'd painted, and it ultimately looks a little like a cell phone. The message on the front of the card ends up being a sort of text message: "...thinking of you..." 

I hope the Mann family is doing well and finding some peace during this time. 

Have a friend who could use a card from the Universe? Find us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DebbieDotsGreetingCards and message me your suggestion.

Thankful Card

For: Karly
Occasion: Moving Away

Karls moved back to California last week, and in order to honor the amazing impact she's had on my life out in Denver, I wanted to make a card that was from myself and her two roommates. Karly hosted "family dinners" every Sunday, and part of that tradition included "thankfuls." Each member of the table would share what they were thankful for and the others would cheers to it. The four glasses here are the four of us, with glasses from the 1440 kitchen.

I am going to miss Karly more than I can say, and I hope California is ready for her bright and wonderful spirit.

Hello Yellow

For: Whoever
Occasion: July's card from the Universe

One of my new year's resolutions for 2013 is to create and anonymously send a card to someone who could use a pick-me-up each month--I'm calling it "cards from the Universe."

For July's card, I didn't have any nominations, so I created this lovely little yellow "Hello!" card and left it on the sidewalk, in hopes that whoever needs a little push in my neighborhood would be drawn to it, pick it up, and be motivated to start accomplishing their dreams.

This card was fun to make and I got to practice my Xacto knife lettering, which is a valuable skill for cardmakers to hone. 

Have a friend who could use a card from the Universe? Find us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DebbieDotsGreetingCards and message me your suggestion! 

Grandma's 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 honor Grandma's rambunctious spirit by creating this little girl hanging upside down from a tree. I loved listening to stories about her growing up and climbing trees and playing with her sister in the neighborhood. 

I had a lot of fun making this card, and I hope Grandma and my stranger enjoy it.

Camera Card

For: Em
Occasion: June's card from the Universe

One of my new year's resolutions for 2013 is to create and anonymously send a card to someone who could use a pick-me-up each month--I'm calling it "cards from the Universe."

My friend Justin recommended his friend Em for June's card--sounds like she's been through a lot and has a lot coming up as well. She likes to snap pictures of her life, so I thought I'd feature this funky camera to help keep her spirits up. On the inside of the card, I wrote this simple quote: "You can capture the world." 

I hope this card helps Em have the courage to capture the next steps of her journey. 

Have a friend who could use a card from the Universe? Find us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DebbieDotsGreetingCards and message me your suggestion.

Potato Kitty Card

For: Jamar
Occasion: May's card from the Universe

One of my new year's resolutions for 2013 is to create and anonymously send a card to someone who could use a pick-me-up each month--I'm calling it "cards from the Universe."

For May's card, I watercolored Mr. Potato Head holding hands with Hello Kitty, at the request of my dear friend Rukiyah. She is going traveling soon, and wanted to send a special card to her Mr. Potato Head. 

Have a friend who could use a card from the Universe? Find us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DebbieDotsGreetingCards and message me your suggestion.

Sharing Sheep Card

For: Christina
Occasion: April's card from the Universe

One of my new year's resolutions for 2013 is to create and anonymously send a card to someone who could use a pick-me-up each month--I'm calling it "cards from the Universe."

For April's card, I watercolored two sheep on a bench. One of the sheep looks a little down in the dumps, so the other one is sharing his coat. The inside of the card reads, "We're all pulling for ewe."

I think it's a playful way to send some good vibes to my friend's sister, who has been having a bit of a rough go of things. Here's hoping this card will lighten her spirits!

Have a friend who could use a card from the Universe? Find us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DebbieDotsGreetingCards and message me your suggestion.

Umbrella Card

For: Shanna

Occasion: March's card from the Universe

One of my new year's resolutions for 2013 is to create and anonymously send a card to someone who could use a pick-me-up each month--I'm calling it "cards from the Universe."

For March's card, I designed this playful watercolor for a friend of a friend who has been having a rough time. When I heard about her situation, I couldn't get this image out of my head, so I did my best to create it. I love how the watercolor looks in the rain and the clouds, and the little drops bouncing off the umbrella.

I hope this card brought a little protection from the rain.

Have a friend who could use  next month's card? Find us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DebbieDotsGreetingCards and message me your suggestion.

Color Test Cards

For: Day Program Staff
Occasion: Communication Training

I run monthly processing groups for my staff, and last month we did The Color Test. The test breaks communication styles into four colors, and we made "communication Valentines" based on whichever color was our primary style. I have the blue communication style (feelings and empathy!) so my background is blue. The image is a depiction of how I feel when I have successfully communicated my needs: it's mood bear, an emotion identification tool whose face you can change based on how you feel, and he is so happy with himself.

I think the training went great--I love an opportunity to get people making cards!