I believe that art should be functional as well as pleasing to it's purpose and so for me, designing cards is my favorite creative expression. I make my sets primarily as gifts for friends and family and my inspiration comes from the people that I care about. There is something wonderful about giving a gift that others will then also enjoy giving away.

I have hundreds of designs that I've done over the past several years. Mostly I work in series so that I do anywhere from three to six designs with a given theme. That way when I package them up, there is a variety of images that all have a similar look and feel.

I have a unique process that involves painting and collage, as well as digital work. Usually I start with a drawing or photograph. Then I combine different papers for layers with painted backgrounds and other imagery to create textural scenes. The last step involves scanning them and adjusting color for maximum impact when printing.

I mount the images on heavy, textured cards and design matching envelopes with corresponding envelope seals. I want the cards to be a complete kit that is fun to use. All of this gets tied with a thick, colorful ribbon and placed in a clear box. I'm working on ways to include charms and matching tags with my gift card packages.

My favorite thing is when someone tells me how they've used my cards or who they've sent them to. I love to know that my cards are on a path of their own. Check out more current work on my blog site.