You're a Gem — Birthday, Thank You Card

"You're a Gem." 

When I found out that one of my college classmates died two years ago, I was determined to design a card for him. I didn't feel like I had the right one yet to send to his parents and fiance and I was compelled to let them know the impact he'd had on me.

He was an amazingly talented illustrator, and I always appreciated his voice in the class critiques. He was one of the nicest guys I knew in college, and when I learned that he designed a USPS stamp, I wasn't surprised. 

But I was totally shocked to learn that he had died from cancer. 

I felt like I wanted to honor him in someway with a drawing, and to be honest I was really intimidated. Ultimately, I decided that a diamond was a fitting way to represent him, because of the cool geometric feeling of it, the brilliance, and the colorful shapes. 

I wish I could have sent him this card before he passed away. 

I hope it will help give you a way to tell people what a gem they are, whether that's as a thank you, a birthday card, or even just out of the blue.