Cata x sushi

Sushi x cat card with love matcha envelope

I have been making cards for my family for around a quarter of a century now.

By no comments or looks from my family, somehow I put a pressure on myself that not only that the message within the birthday card but the card itself have to be meaningful and profound.

Switching on a meaningful and profound message and design at least 12 times a year is a challenge.

I usually start thinking about a card a couple of weeks before I need to send out the card to allow sufficient time to percolate on the concept.

During this time, I simply realised that it doesn’t have to be deep and meaningful and profound for every card that I create.

Released from the pressure I put on myself, I soon started to play. Play with things that my sister likes – cats. A couple of sketches led me to this birthday card for her in 2018.

The card itself is silly and playful and by no way profound. However, what I appreciate is that every year, a few weeks before my sister’s birthday, I reflect on her. I reflect on who she is, her achievement in the last year and what she means to me. That, I now realised is the profound part of my card making process.

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