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GREENSBORO -- Sue McBean entered our wrapping paper contest on a whim.

The Haw River State Park superintendent sheepishly admits she doodles constantly. Pen or pencil in hand, she doodles while on the phone or during meetings. As a student, her notes were always bordered with elaborate designs.

"It's kind of a bad habit when you're sitting in a staff meeting and should be taking notes," McBean said. "But it's fun.

"I thought this would be a legitimate opportunity to doodle and not feel guilty about it."

Her design, featuring delicate line work and an imaginative use of color, was this year's winning entry.

Gallery of the entrants

Margaret Baxter, a News & Record staff artist who helped judge the contest, said McBean's submission "stood out because it was so rich and full of detail."

"The colors were just gorgeous," Baxter said.

McBean used softer greens, yellows and pink rather than the deeper reds and greens usually associated with the holidays.

Although she appreciates fine art, McBean, 42, would never have called herself an artist. But after taking a fabric-painting class at the John C. Campbell Folk School this summer, she decided to follow her teacher's advice and enter a contest.

When it comes to wrapping paper, McBean calls herself an "adamant reuser." If she receives a gift in pretty paper, she tries to unwrap it very carefully so she can use the paper again.

This year's contest drew more than 100 submissions from throughout the Triad and even Raleigh. Submissions came from budding artists as young as 6, talented teenagers and creative grandmothers inspired by their grandchildren.

Greensboro resident Wynola Caviness entered art created by her younger brother, Don. He was an artist and musician who died of pancreatic cancer this year at 42.

Jeryl Johnson wrote all of the things she was thankful for on a Christmas tree, including family, friends, rainbows, stars and flowers.

The Manga art from students Justin Frazier and Gina Allen was not only well-drawn but also conceptually creative.

Judge Sally Wilson, art director for Shamrock Corp., said she would wrap her gifts in any of the entries we received.

"There were so many creative and varied uses of color — some very bright, others more elegant and subdued," she said.

Baxter said the runners-up captured the childlike spirit of the holiday season.

Meet them now.

Lindsay Voy, 11

The Voy Christmas tree in Trinity is filled with homemade ornaments made by Lindsay and her younger siblings.

Their 6-foot tree revolves, showing paper angels, a glittery cross, wreaths trimmed with green and red ribbons, and reindeer made of clothespins. Some ornaments are decorated with their school pictures.

Judge Greg Hinton said Lindsay's glittery Christmas montage used a lot of materials that "created a very unique design."

Lindsay's mother, Kris, said she was the only child to help her decorate the tree this year.

"Lindsay just loves celebrations," she said.

The Hopewell Elementary fifth-grader joined the art club this year and had work on display at the Archdale Public Library.

Laura Hartig, 47

Greensboro Manor resident Laura Hartig loves to create cards for people.

She made all of her holiday cards this year, using construction paper, acrylic paints and craft-store cut-outs of poinsettias, ornaments and lights.

"I get a real thrill out of making something," she said.

Her gift wrap design was inspired by her love of stained-glass windows and doors with etched glass. Hinton said Hartig's use of color and layout was excellent.

Deana Shepherd, activities coordinator at Greensboro Manor, sees Hartig painting in the activity room daily. Sometimes she's even painting past midnight.

And when it's not the holiday season, Hartig paints whatever inspires her: Farm houses. Nature. Or more cards.

Savannah Raines, 8

This Pierce Elementary third-grader draws inspiration from her experiences and from those around her.

Her Santa and penguin design came from how she was feeling at the time she sat down to draw. "I felt, like, really hot," she said. "So Santa and penguin just kept blurring in my head."

She shows Santa and a penguin dressed for different occasions based on her family's interests and activities.

Savannah was a rapper for Christmas and played soccer this year, so the penguins wear a long gold chain or a jersey with a soccer ball on it. Her dad played football in college, so one penguin carries a football.

This was the second year she designed her family's Christmas cards. Her mother, Trish Holder, said Savannah has always been creative. She has written and illustrated her own books since kindergarten, sometimes creating two or three a week.

And it's rare that she lacks inspiration.

"Ideas are just booming in my head," she said.

Nan Perry, 8

An aspiring artist and veterinarian, Nan Perry found a way to illustrate her own interests on her gift wrap design.

There are dogs with bones and cats with fish at their feet. Monkeys hold bananas, and birds chase worms. And, of course, there are reindeer. ("Rudolph" was on television.) She also drew inspiration from studying the designs on gift wrap at home.

"The animal pet entry is very original and funny," Hinton said of the third-grader's design.

Nan, a student at St. Pius X school, takes after-school art lessons there weekly. She credits her teacher, Mrs. Brunhuber, for helping improve her art skills this year.

But Nan's mother, Kirsten, also believes some of her talent could be inherited. Nan's grandmother, for whom she's named, was a medical illustrator.

Nan draws all the time — after school, at home and even during free time in class.

Taylor Freeman, 10

It's not necessary to look for hidden meanings behind this fifth-grader's design of pink hearts and blue snowmen and snowflakes.

"I like snow, and I love snowmen," she said.

But this Walkertown Elementary student is also drawn to the more ethereal. Her favorite project in art class this year was when they created Aboriginal Dreamings, a traditional art form that incorporates concentric circles, curved lines and symbols to tell a story.

Karen said she has liked drawing since her sisters taught her how. She created her gift wrap design at her grandmother's house on Thanksgiving day.

She draws there frequently, she said.

"Sometimes I draw really big cards for my mom because I love her," she said.

Contact Tina Firesheets at373-3498 or tfiresheets@news-record.com.