When you’re browsing holiday cards in October or shopping for festive gift ideas in early November, you might not realize that the artist behind those designs was creating them months earlier—often in the heat of summer or the first hints of spring. As an independent artist who licenses my work commercially, my creative calendar runs completely opposite to the seasons you experience as a consumer. And honestly? That’s one of the most interesting parts of this job.
Designing Christmas in Spring
Every company operates on its own unique timeline. Typically, I’m designing holiday work from September through May each year. Yes, that means I’m sketching snowman and reindeer while most people are planning beach vacations, and I’m finalizing holly wreaths when others are planting their spring gardens.
Living in northern Canada has become my secret weapon for getting into the holiday spirit off-season. When snow blankets the ground from October to April, it’s not that hard to channel winter magic. I also do a big creative push leading up to the holidays, when I’m naturally excited and looking forward to cozy evenings and family traditions. Those authentic feelings translate into the work, even if I won’t finalize the designs until months later.
One thing I’ve learned about licensing: you can’t wait to be chosen. This is a highly competitive industry, and I’m very proactive about reaching out and pitching my work. Since I can only estimate when that “right time” might be, I’ve learned not to take rejection personally. Sometimes a design I submitted last year gets redesigned and finds success the following season, which brings me to my first collaboration.
This Year’s Holiday Collaborations
Minted Holiday Cards
My collection with Minted holds a special place in my heart this year. One design in particular—Winter Garland—started as a design that wasn’t selected last year. But I believed in it, so it became the first holiday card I redesigned this year. The inspiration goes back to my childhood, when my mom would send packages wrapped in brown paper with hand-drawn holly leaves in the corners. At the time, I was completely amazed by her drawing skills. This design is an homage to those memories and the simple, heartfelt touches that make the holidays special.
Postable Cards
I’m thrilled to be working with Postable, my newest client! Their concept is genius: select a card design, write your message, and they’ll address, stuff, and mail it for you. No trips to the post office, no licking envelopes—just beautiful cards sent with ease.
One of my favorite designs is “Holiday Tiles,” a festive holiday photo card featuring hand-drawn classic Christmas icons including candy canes, bells, snowflakes, gingerbread man, ornaments, and Santa hats. It’s classic with a touch of nostalgia, perfect for families who want something timeless yet personal.
Villager Puzzles
Working with Villager Puzzles for the second time has been incredible, especially being included in their first holiday collection. My family has a long tradition of working on puzzles during the winter holidays—something I look forward to continuing with my children when they’re a bit older.
The Northern Cabin design features a small fishing cabin in the woods under dancing aurora lights, with skis outside the door representing how my family picked up cross-country skiing when we moved to Labrador, NL. When you live in a small industrial town where snow covers the ground for eight months of the year, you learn to love winter quickly. I’m fortunate to see the northern lights regularly from our front porch, but there’s something even more special about being alone in a cabin with the lights performing overhead. It’s a feeling I tried to capture in this design.
A Time to Celebrate
While the design work happens months in advance, the holiday season brings its own magic when product samples arrive. There’s something profoundly special about holding a card I designed in bed or a puzzle I sketched at the kitchen table, now real and ready to be sold across the country.
This holiday season, I encourage you to look for products created by independent artists. When you purchase a card, puzzle, or piece of stationery designed by an artist like me, you’re supporting someone’s creative business and their ability to keep making art. And consider supporting the companies that choose to work with independent artists in the first place. Those partnerships make it possible for artists to do what we love while reaching people we might never meet.
