Box turtle mandala fine art card digitally printed using pigment inks on silky, bright white, acid-free paper. Folded card is 5.25" by 5.25" and comes with a beautifully made, bright white envelope. The primary photograph I used to create the artwork is printed on the back of the card with the photo location. Interior of the card is blank or choose one of the message options below. The paper is super smooth, not slick, and takes gel, ballpoint, and other inks well.

The card and envelope are packaged together in a plastic sleeve and mailed in a stiffened mailer. Note: one or two cards are shipped USPS First Class without tracking. Three or more cards are shipped via the most economical means, which usually includes tracking.

Interior Message Choices: Blank | Happy Birthday

Framing. This card is created using high-quality materials, such as might be used in a museum. The print is sharp, bright, and frameable. To protect the vibrancy of the artwork, I frame using UV glass or acrylic, and I recommend it. If you use plain glass or acrylic, make sure you hang this sweet, little piece and all your beautiful art away from direct sunlight.

About the art. The digital collage on this card, titled Heart of a Turtle, was created from this photo of Rocky, the resident box turtle at the Deep Creek Lake State Park Discovery Center in western Maryland. The heart on Rocky’s shell in this artwork appeared on its own as I was creating the base mandala. It’s enhanced with a touch of red to emphasize Rocky’s big-hearted demeanor.

Rocky was hit by a lawn mower earlier in life and lost a foot. He stayed in captivity for so long after the injury that he’s not releasable and serves as an ambassador. In the wild, box turtles can live up to a hundred years, feeding on berries, roots, flowers, insects, eggs, amphibians, and the occasional garden vegetable (they’re well-known for taking single big bites out of perfectly ripe tomatoes!) When threatened, box turtles retract their limbs and clamp their shells shut, an effective defense against predators that contributes to their long life spans.