Merry Christmas

For: The Park Ridge Walshes
Occasion: Christmas

The Park Ridge Walshes host Christmas for the Walsh clan every year, and I wanted to thank them for the great effort! This card is very festive and fun, and I really like the ornament and candy candy cane detailing for the letters.

Clothesline Christmas

For: The Currys

Occasion: Christmas

The Currys live on a farm with lots of open land and fresh country breezes that dry their clothes on a clothesline. I figured Santa would want his ensemble dried this way, so I created a Christmas watercolor of the big red man's clothes and a little bird on the wire.

I miss my twin-laws so much and hope I get to see them soon!

Christmas Coping Skills

For: Pat
Occasion: Christmas

Pat is a phenomenal supervisor, and I wanted to let her know how much I've appreciated working with her. For her card, I jazzed up the following hilarious holiday mental health message: "Wishing you peace, love, and coping skills."

I wish coping skills to one and all this Christmas!

Christmas Snowman

For: Amy and Eric
Occasion: Christmas

Amy and Eric had their annual Christmas party over the weekend, and I gave them this card to thank them for hosting. I love this snowman with the branch arms that make a heart--he may make a comeback next Christmas!

Christmas Dog

For: Karly
Occasion: Christmas

Karly and I got together for dinner the other night, and I gave her this card of a quirky dog in a hat. There's something about this card that just gets me, and it struck me as something Karly would get too. It was great catching up with her and I hope she has a wonderful holiday!

Christmas Reindeer

For: Sofi
Occasion: Christmas

Warren, Sofi, and I got to get sushi together recently, and I made Sofi this Christmas card to help convey a sense of calm during this busy time of transitions. I am going to miss Sofi a lot, but am excited to go visit her in Vail!

Christmas Ornament

For: Warren
Occasion: Christmas

Warren, Sofi, and I got together for a holiday/Sofi's moving dinner, and this is the card I made for Warren. I really like the white space of the ornament, and am honored that this card will have a place up on the mantle.

Christmas Penguin

For: KADEP
Occasion: Craft Fair

I made a few cards for my work's craft fair, and this design was the big hit! I donated the entire proceeds to KADEP, and am glad someone will be getting this little guy at Christmas.

Key Birthday

For: Aunt Katy
Occasion: her birthday

I was at a loss as to what to make for Aunt Katy's card--she's such an interesting and vibrant person, and I didn't know how to feature her amazingness appropriately. I talked to The Twin about it, and she said that Aunt Katy is kind of the key to our family, checking in on everyone and keeping us connected. I loved that image so much that I created this unique birthday-themed skeleton key, with the teeth of the key being an elaborate "K" for Katy. I am really happy with how it turned out, and I hope she has a wonderful year. I can't wait to see her in a few short days!

Bandana Birthday

For: Charles
Occasion: his birthday

My friend Charles always wears a bandana, and I miss him so much that I decided to paint his likeness on his birthday card! The card background has some subtle bandana paisley drawn on in silver, and the overall effect is very neat.

I sincerely hope Charles is doing well out in Ireland, and I am still plotting to go see him.

Paperboy Birthday

For: Grandpa Jerry
Occasion: his birthday

My grandfather introduced me to all kinds of video games, including the Atari gem called Paperboy. The point of the game was to deliver newspapers to all your houses on the block and try to escape various perils, including someone we called "Grandma Gerty" who ran out of her house with a pin and tried to pop your tires. I was recently reintroduced to the game at an arcade bar in Denver, so I wanted to feature the fond memories in Grandpa's card this year.

The newspapers that the paperboy is throwing have special headlines, like "Jerry turns 78" and "Happy Birthday Grandpa."

I hope he is doing well and still enjoying his games!

Book Page Birthday

For: Aunt Glor

Occasion: her birthday

For Aunt Glor's birthday card this year, I capitalized on a recurring theme in her cards--the joy of reading. For this card, I sketched a woman sitting under a tree with a book, and used colored pencils to accent. The leaves of the tree are overlayed with words clipped out from a book page, which read, "you are tremendous eccentric pleasant whole-hearted" among other adjectives and ends with "an extraordinary person." 

I love my aunt Glor and hope she has a wonderful birthday! I can't wait to see her in a few days!