In the past 30-plus years of my illustration career, some of my favorite projects to work on are hidden object puzzles. I illustrated these games for Nature Friend Magazine for years before creating a line of Can You Find® hidden object greeting cards. Featuring full-color illustrations of everything from a green frog hanging in a tree to a barnyard celebration, I was always asking my family what else I could hide in these fun illustrations.
My Can You Find? greeting cards earned two awards — a Dr. Toy Award and a Creative Child Magazine Seal of Excellence in 2006. They became the featured illustrations for other family-friendly, playful products such as jigsaw puzzles. I have also illustrated a series of hidden object books, called “Invisibles” for Carlisle Press.
My love of playful artwork with an element of surprise is something I have carried with me into my paper sculpture designs as well. I always want to add a touch of humor or an unexpected visitor — like a ladybug passing through — to give those who look carefully a fun surprise to discover.
All this said, because I always associate the holidays with family, I am reminded of all the hidden object puzzles I have done over the years. They’ve given my own family so much joy and laughter, and I want to share that with all of you, too. So, Can You Find? all the objects hidden in these three holiday-themed illustrations?
