When I was in middle school in Georgia, my Dad worked with a guy named Mike M. who was in Marketing. Every year he sent us his hand drawn Christmas card. I was amazed and never forgot it. 32 years ago I decided to give it a shot and started sending out my own cards.

Back then it was on thin photo copy paper and only in black and white. It evolved to a bit nicer paper and my wife and I would pass the card back and forth and color in the sections with Sharpies. Now I am able to print them on heavy card stock, and it is much closer to a real Hallmark card quality. To get my thought process started, each year I sit down and write out every holiday word I can think of in my sketchbook.  Then I jot down some current events, and start looking at things that might be interesting to pair together. More often than not I might get the final idea for the card while I am driving in my car.

​I love the fact that each year people seem excited about it, and they ask me if I have completed the artwork yet. I think it stands out as a unique, and I was stunned when people said they have kept them for years! Below are some samples of more recent cards.

This year's card was fun to produce, but admittedly a more involved!
I got the idea like I do most years (see process notes above).  I landed on "The Barbie Movie" (which I had not seen). That got me thinking about my sister having these cutout dolls when she was younger - and BAM! the idea became a Festival Miracle! (Seinfeld reference). Here are some of the best replies. Great creativity, although I could have done without the UNC image from my friend Jerome!!

​Great job everyone, thanks for engaging on Instagram and via text!

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