In the Bull family kitchen in Marblehead, there’s a small assembly line powered mostly by markers, imagination — and a 7-year-old artist.
Delaney Bull, a second-grader at Brown School, has launched her own business called Monster Friends Studio, where she creates colorful “Good Mood Monster Cards” designed to make people smile.
What began as a classroom art activity has quickly turned into a creative project with a charitable mission: raising money for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Since February, Delaney has sent out about 100 packs of cards, raising nearly $600 for the cancer center so far. Her goal is to reach $1,000 before a family friend runs the Boston Marathon later this spring.
“I want people to feel happy when they get one,” Delaney said.
Monsters with personality
Each pack includes three hand-drawn monster cards, created by Delaney with markers and laminated. The characters come in all shapes and personalities — a “Pink Punk Monster,” a “Zigzag Monster” and a mischievous “Pointy Tooth Monster,” who, according to Delaney, is “feeling red with anger.”
“She’s come up with all the designs,” said Delaney’s mother, Dana. “We probably have about 20 personalities now.”
Each monster also carries a short message on the back tailored to its personality. One card reads: “Howdy partner. This cowboy monster’s got your back. I’ll keep things feeling calm on the wild days.”
Another favorite, the bright orange character “Orangey Glad,” reassures recipients: “I show up bold, but friendly and always on your side.”
From neighborly kindness to a small business
The project grew from a simple act of kindness.
Delaney first started drawing monsters after an art activity at school. Soon, the drawings began appearing all over the house.
“I was finding them everywhere,” Dana said.
When a neighbor was in hospice care, the family decided to share the drawings.
“We thought maybe we should bring her some of these little monsters,” Dana said. “Then Delaney just started making more and more.”
After Dana posted photos on social media, orders began pouring in.
“I woke up the next morning and about 30 people wanted to buy them,” she said.
What followed became an unexpected lesson in entrepreneurship. Delaney now sells the cards for $6 per pack. Of that, $4 goes directly to Dana-Farber, $1 covers supplies and shipping, and Delaney keeps $1.
“It’s been teaching her how to run a business,” Dana said. “We had to adjust pricing, figure out shipping and even laminate the cards so they’d last.”
A marathon connection
The fundraising effort supports Dana’s childhood friend, Gabriella Callagy, who owns the running clinic Run RX and is running the Boston Marathon to benefit Dana-Farber.
Some customers purchase cards, while others simply donate. The family is also planning to assemble more than 100 cards to send directly to the pediatric unit at Dana-Farber in May.
“That’s the part she’s really excited about,” Dana said. “Knowing they’ll go to kids in the hospital.”
Delaney works quickly — about three or four minutes per monster — often drawing after school or on weekends.
“I can do it all sorts of times,” she said.
A young artist’s dream
At home, Delaney is the oldest of four siblings, with two younger brothers and a baby sister. Her earnings from the project — the $1 she keeps from each pack — sometimes go toward toys at the local shop Mud Puddle Toys.
But even then, Delaney often spends her profits on her siblings.
“She bought the boys little cars,” Dana said.
Delaney already knows what she wants to be someday.
“When I’m a grownup, I want to be an artist,” she said.
For now, her colorful monsters are spreading good moods far beyond her kitchen table — one card at a time.
“I just think of them in my head,” Delaney said with a shrug. “And then I draw them.”
To learn more about Delaney’s monster cards and place an order, visit danabull.com/monstercards.
