Jinx Birthday

For: Terra
Occasion: her birthday

Terra and I got to work together pretty frequently in our MSW coursework. As we spent the year together, we realized that we are very similar, and often say the same thing at the same time. So, here we are in class (I imagine it as SOCW 509, though it could easily have been 514 as well), saying "Oh, wow!"

On the inside, we're both saying, "Happy Birthday!" and Terra has a party hat on.
It's been a real pleasure getting to know Terra, and I am sure I would have lost my mind in class many times had it not been for her.

Spirit Card

For: Theresa
Occasion: end of program

It's hard to believe, but my CCP journey is just about at an end. Theresa and I went out to celebrate, and this is the card I made for her.

After the year we've had, and all the respect and gratitude I have for Theresa besides, I decided I would try to capture her spirit in card form. (If you know Theresa, this image needs little explanation.) It's a woman sort-of-dancing, sort-of-running freely on an earthy hill. I used water-color to paint the figure, and I think it turned out beautifully.

I really don't have the words to describe what Theresa has meant to me, and so I will let this image do the talking.

Descriptive Mother's Day

For: Moms (Greg's mom)
Occasion: Mother's Day

Greg's mom is wonderful. She is also determined, loyal, energetic, bold, friendly, confident, and adventurous. As this is the case, I figured she'd be the perfect person to use my very positive adjective paper for!

On the inside, I used my very best mimic-y handwriting to write, "happy mother's day!"

I hope she had a wonderful day--it was great to see her for a bit of it!

Mother's Day Garden

For: my mom
Occasion: Mother's Day

My mom has been having all kinds of fun in her garden lately, so I figured I would create a garden-theme card for her Mother's day card. Here, three simple yellow flowers and "mom."

On the inside, another flower like the ones on the front and a simple "happy mother's day!" wish.
I hope she gets to work on her garden tomorrow!

Cocomero Birthday

For: Jen
Occasion: her birthday

While at school at the UofI, Jen was a frequenter of the fabulous frozen yogurt place on campus. On the front of her card, I drew and empty Cocomero cup--a picture of sheer possibility for her birthday!

On the inside, it's filled to the brim with three different kinds of frozen yogurt, sprinkles, cookie dough, and gummy bears. And, because it's her big day, they added a birthday candle. The text reads "Hope Your Day Is Filled With Everything You Want!"

Jen is really bubbly and wonderful, and I'm looking forward to seeing her this summer!

CCP: 341 Thank Yous

For: My 341 CCPs
Occasion: End of program

Working with the advanced class this year has been absolutely wonderful--I had a great time watching them develop in their group facilitation skills!

A lot of these students really connected with mandalas this year, and that is what inspired their cards. I feel very blessed to have had all of them in my life, and am honored to call them friends.

CCP: 496 Thank Yous

For: My 496 class
Occasion: End of year

I have had such a wonderful time teaching intentional interviewing and counseling skills to my new class of CCPs!

The joke that ended up on their shirts for next year is based of crayons, which are "all different shades of exciting!" For their "thanks for being wonderful" end of the year cards, I drew different colored crayons that spell out "CCP" and then they all get one crayon with their names on it.
It was a real pleasure, and I wish them all the best in their outreach next year--they better let me know how it goes!

Football Birthday

For: My cousin Luke
Occasion: his birthday

Luke is a big sports guy, and so his cards from me in the past have been baseball-related, given that his birthday occurs in the spring. But this time I figured, "Hey, he plays football too, and I could make his name in the laces." So that's what I did.

On the inside, the goalpost and some fans spell out "HAPPY" and the end zone reads "BIRTHDAY!" Put it all together for "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" and you've got a football card in May.

Spring Birthday

For: Aunt Kelly
Occasion: her birthday

My aunt's birthday is the first day of May, and in honor of the spring weather (or as a way to fight the constant rain we've been having) I created a whimsical flower fairy for her card. The continuation of her whimsical arm spells out "aunt kelly."

And on the inside, the flower skirt has bloomed and the fairy is flying her "happy birthday" banner high. I love how this card sings spring!

I hope my aunt gets some beautiful flowers and great weather on her birthday.

Marathon Bubble

For: Christy
Occasion: The Marathon!

Christy ran her first marathon, and did an absolutely amazing job! I gave her this card, featuring us as bubble people. She's the pink one running across the "26.2" line--I am the red one on the sidelines cheering her on.

On the inside, the bubble twins are hugging, and the Christy-bubble has a medal that's a smiley face. The text reads "I'm so proud of you, twin!"

I was really happy to be able to give her a big bubble hug once she finished the race!

Performance Art Birthday

For: Anna
Occasion: her birthday

Anna is an artist, but a grounded artist. For her card, I created a ridiculous cake-centered performance art scene, with a figure balancing a cake in an almost-yoga pose under a single, hanging lightbulb. "Oh, it's so avant gard..." the text says.

On the inside, the figure has dove into the cake headfirst, and is balancing there. (Oh, art for art's sake.) The image is accompanied with the message, "Happy Birthday!"

I hope Anna's birthday was great and not entirely ridiculous.

Martini Birthday

For: Jess
Occasion: her birthday

Jess is a really wonderful lady who is super busy and doesn't get much time to unwind. Since this is the case, I figured she would like a birthday martini! I like how the candle sits in the glass and how "liquid-y" the drink looks.

On the inside, the same font as the front spelling out a simple "Happy Birthday!" I love how the Ys are empty martini glasses.

I hope Jess has a relaxing birthday and gets the chance to have some fun!