Cotton Candy and Carlton Fisk

For: My dad
Occasion: his birthday

My dad recently captured a very funny memory from my youth for a short story. In it, he described his one and only interaction with Carlton Fisk at a Sox game during the summer of '92. For my dad's birthday card, I created a 3-flap card to try to capture what that story conveyed.

This is Carlton Fisk looking at my dad.

This is my dad, not sure why Carlton is looking at him like that.

And here's what was really horrifying Carlton: A four-year-old me, covered in cotton candy.

I love, admire, and respect my dad so much. You can read the inspiration for this card (aka his version of the story) here.

Tie Metaphor Birthday

For: Ryan
Occasion: his birthday

Ryan is a really metaphorical guy: he creates amazing and elaborate themes for his workshops that blow the rest of us away. He's also a snappy dresser, and thus! the tie metaphor: "Ryan, I hope your birthday is a fierce tie..."

"Fabulous and fun!"

I was really excited when this card concept came together--it's definitely one-of-a-kind (just like Ryan!).
Can't wait to see what kind of ties and metaphors the next year brings!

Baseball Facts Birthday

For: my cousin Joel
Occasion: his birthday

My cousin Joel is a really smart cookie and loves baseball, so I thought I'd see what interesting factoids I could find for his birthday. Turns out, the first indoor baseball game was played on his birthday (April 9th) in 1965. Did you know that?

On the inside, the following warm sentiments: "A lot of important things happened today. Happy Birthday!"
I hope Joel's birthday is lots of fun--one for the history books!

Canasta Birthday

For: Mom
Occasion: her birthday

Over break, my mom taught me how to play Canasta and it is really fun! The image on the front of the card is a clean canasta (meaning it has no wild cards) and it's made of aces, which are 20 points a piece. All told, just this canasta would get her 640 points.

On the inside, she gets another hundred points for having a red three. The text reads, "hope this year deals you a winning hand!" and given the points she's already gotten in this card, that seems pretty likely.

I hope my mom has a great birthday, and I can't wait to play canasta with her again soon!

Self-Care Card Workshop

For: The Graduate Social Work Association
Occasion: Self-care workshop

I was delighted to be asked to do another workshop about the therapeutic benefits of greeting cards for my peers. This time, we made greeting cards to ourselves that focused on self-care!

On the front of our cards, we drew images of what we do for self-care. This is a picture of a candle that I light to help me relax. On the insides of our cards, we wrote messages to ourselves that were inspirational and encouraging. 

I really enjoyed myself (as I always do) and am grateful to everyone who came out for the workshop!

Guitar Birthday

For: JP
Occasion: his birthday

My cousin JP is quite a musician. He's been in bands and playing instruments for as long as I can remember, and is currently the front man for The Stolen Season out in Texas. This is a silhouette of JP rockin' out on the guitar.

On the inside, a simple "happy birthday" in the block cursive I created just for this card. JP is really super talented, and I can't wait to see what kinds of gigs and CDs he does in the next year!

Agency Thank You

For: my future supervisor
Occasion: Thank you

I flew out to Denver over break to meet with a possible field placement site (to finish off the Master's degree) and absolutely fell in love with the place I'll be working! I am very excited because it seems like it's going to be a great fit.

For this "Thank you so much for letting me do my internship with you" card, I used the agency's "A" symbol as the main image. All together, it says "Thanks!"  I also dig the fact that it looks like a mountain, which is precisely where I plan to spend my time when I'm not working.

Full speed to the future!

Bubblegum Birthday

For: Aunt Julie
Occasion: her birthday

When my sisters and I were young, my Aunt Julie babysat us frequently in our home in Bolingbrook. On one fateful occasion, we suggested that she try to blow a bubblegum bubble with an entire roll of Bubble Tape, which was a six feet long roll of the chewy stuff.

She did.

New Baby

For: The Biegen Family
Occasion: Danielle's birth

My Win gave birth to a beautiful baby girl early this week! Her name is Danielle Stella, and she is absolutely gorgeous.

For this nontraditional congratulations card, I drew a wide-eyed baby Danielle, ready to get started on what promises to be a life full of adventure. By way of introducing herself, she says, "hi, i'm new here!"
I cannot wait to meet my spirit niece and go on adventures with her.

Sympathy Tree

For: Pam and Brian
Occasion: In sympathy

A childhood friend of my family's passed away in a car accident on campus last week. It was strange to learn that it was Brad, someone my sisters and I met through play dates some 17 years ago. My heart goes out to his family and friends.

In some ways, this card feels like what comedian Mike Birbiglia said about sympathy cards--that it is ridiculous to think that an image of a daffodil can somehow make up for such a great loss. But, on the other side of that, all we really can do is let the family know they are in our thoughts--and they are, and will continue to be. I hope that they may all find peace some day.

Great Wall Birthday

For: Amy
Occasion: her birthday

Amy recently went on a trip to China and had a wonderful time climbing the Great Wall. It appears that someone (perhaps Mulan!?) has lit a warning sign in one of the towers!

Imagine that: it's not a warning, but a great big birthday cake!
This year, Christy and I went home to surprise Amy with a special birthday visit. Though short, it was lots of fun and I got to see all Ames's pictures from her trip to China and--of course--we watched Mulan.

Fortune Cookie Birthday

For: Julie

Occasion: her birthday

Julie is living is currently living in China. And, fortune cookies being an American invention, I thought a fortune cookie would be a fun feature for her birthday card this year--kind of mixing the homeland with the current-land. I wonder what her fortune is!

But of course! "Happy Birthday!" and her lucky numbers are her birth date: 3-2-85.
I hope she had a wonderful birthday, and that the coming year brings her all kinds of fortune!