Secret Santa

For: Alli
Occasion: Christmas

We drew Alli in the Keane sibs Secret Santa, so to accompany her gift, I made her a card of Santa in disguise glasses! I'm amazed this idea has never occurred to me before, but man I want to use it again as often as possible. The background is a funky red and green abstract thing, because sometimes that happens. We hope she has a great time hosting her first Christmas this year!

Family Christmas Card

For: Walsh relatives and the Keane clan
Occasion: Christmas

Sending a Christmas card to Mike's family when he can't visit for Christmas has become a tradition over the past two years (check out the previous designs here and here). Since we're both staying in Denver for the holidays this year, I decided to expand the tradition to my Walshes as well! That meant beefing up the number of cards from five to 13.  Here's a few photos to capture the six or so hour process:

 I sketched a few extra because I figured there'd be a mistake along the way--and look, there was!

I had so much fun making these cards, listening to Christmas music and getting in the holiday spirit. Now we're wishing a very merry Christmas to all our family from the ski slopes of the Colorado mountains!

Tattoo Santa

For: Sarah Sot
Occasion: Christmas

Sarah has had the stupidest year I've ever heard of, so to try to add some light to her holiday season, I sent her a tattooed Santa card! He's got ink of stars, trees, reindeer, holly, and of course, an homage to Noel on his shoulder. X-MAS 4EVA, amirite? I love Sarah so, miss her so much, and am focusing all my Christmas wishes on her health and happiness in 2017. 

Hanukkah Dreidel

For: The Biegens
Occasion: Hanukkah

To wish the Biegen family a happy Hanukkah, I created a dreidel made up of different festive symbols including a menorah, candles, coins, presents and stars of David! Doesn't it look pretty awesome? We had a lot of fun visiting a few weeks ago and I'm glad they liked the bread I made them for the challah-days!

Penguin Dreams Birthday

For: Aunt Katy
Occasion: her birthday

I love my aunt so, so much,  and hope all her dreams come true this year. To help demonstrate, I featured some penguins having their dreams finally realized by flying with balloons. Look at that little guy belly down in the corner--too fun! Aunt Katy has been such an amazing support in my life and I really hope she gets to fly this year, if that's what she wants to do!

Christmas Reindeere

For: The Currys
Occasion: Christmas

Mark and Becky have a bunch of John Deere farm equipment, so for their Christmas card this year, I made the logo festive and made a play on "reindeer!" I love how pretty this card is, and I'm glad they liked it, too! It was so fun seeing my twin-laws over Thanksgiving and playing reindeer games with them again!

Forest Animals Birthday

For: Aunt Glor
Occasion: her birthday

My Aunt Glor is a truly awesome lady. Twin says that Aunt Glor is her spirit animal, meaning that she'd like to be more like her (loving, uncomplaining, just truly excellent) and I totally agree. That strange turn of phrase between us inspired this year's card, which features several spirited animals (get it?). I hope she has a most amazing day--I was so happy to see her and the gang over Turkey day and hope that Christmas is lovely day for her as well!

Recliner Birthday

For: Grandpa Jerry
Occasion: his birthday

To celebrate Grandpa's birthday this year, I did a watercolor of the recliner I remember from my youth (though I'm pretty sure he got a new one many years ago). The chair is kicked back a bit and has a party hat and piece of cake resting on the arms, because there is clearly a party happening in the house! I hope my grandpa has an awesome birthday and I'm bummed to miss out on the festivities this weekend.

Mark Card Birthday

For: Mark
Occasion: his birthday

Mark is a great card player (some might say he is the "Great Dalmuti," even), so for his birthday card this year, I made him his own card! Loosely based off a Jack of Spades, the Mark card features Mark in a crown and holding a very festive balloon. I love, love, love when I get to see the Currys, and was so delighted to play games with them over Thanksgiving again this year!

Banner Birthday

For: Aunt Kat
Occasion: her birthday

My Aunt Kat is one of the nicest and sweetest people I know. For her birthday card, I wanted to capture and celebrate her friendly essence, so I featured an adorable cartoon version of her with a big, garland-y birthday banner behind her and other party paraphernalia. One of my favorite details is how you can see the banner through the balloon! It was so awesome seeing Aunt Kat over Thanksgiving again this year!

Piñata Birthday

For: Paul
Occasion: his birthday

I realized that I had never done a piñata-themed birthday card just in time to do on for Paul's birthday! This piñata may be filled with candy, but he is ready for some cake as well. I hope Paul gets whatever sweet treat he wants today!

Cubs Goat Birthday

For: Uncle Jim
Occasion: his birthday

Hey Chicago, what do you say? Watching the Cubs World Series win was the highlight of November for sure. To keep that good juju flowing into December, I mixed all my Cubs metaphors and made my Uncle Jim this delightful card. It features a billy goat with 108 years of beard tied in a knot wearing a cubs hat and a pair of Harry Carey glasses. The text reads, "'Bout time." I love how this card turned out, and I'm so glad Uncle Jim got to 1)experience the curse being broken and 2)be the recipient of my excitement about the win in card form. Go, Cubs, Go!