Christmas in August? When to Start Designing for the Holidays
Christmas in Summer?
It’s 93°F outside, the cicadas are buzzing, and my iced coffee is sweating all over my desk… and I’m sketching gingerbread houses!
Most people don’t start thinking about Christmas until the first holiday displays show up in stores. But in the stationery world? The holiday season starts months earlier — long before the weather cools or the first pumpkin spice latte hits the coffee shops.
Why? Because every product you see on my market table or in my website shop has a long journey before it ever reaches you.
The Real Timeline Behind Holiday Designs
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Concept & Design (July)
This is when I brainstorm ideas, sketch out motifs, and create the final artwork. I think about what I’d love to see on my own holiday stationery — playful? elegant? classic? — and how it might work across journals, cards, and stickers. -
Proofing & Samples (August)
Once I choose which designs resonate with me the most, I redraw them and add color to the designs. Once the designs are finished, I send them to my printer for proofs. This is the most important step because color on computer screens and color on canvas or watercolor paper can look quite different. This is where I check and rework colors, paper texture, and evaluate how the artwork looks once it’s a real product. -
Ordering & Production (September)
Printing takes time — I print all my cards in my studio and I have to ensure I have all the paper, envelopes, and packaging material needed before I can assemble the products. I place my orders well in advance so everything arrives with time to spare. -
Unboxing & Prep (October)
When boxes arrive, it’s part Christmas morning, part quality control. I check every product. Then I print and package the products and get them ready for markets and shipping. -
Launch & Markets (November–December)
By the time you’re in full holiday shopping mode, I’ve been living in snowflakes, Christmas trees, and candy canes for months! In November and December I create a launch campaign on social media for the in-person markets and my website.
The Hardest Part of Designing Early
The biggest challenge? Getting into the holiday spirit when it’s still tank-top weather.
Sometimes I’ll put on a cozy sweater, light a pine-scented candle, and blast my favorite holiday playlist — even if the AC is running full blast.
It’s a funny little creative trick, but it helps me channel the season I’m designing for instead of the one I’m living in. Plus, creating for the holidays during summer in south Florida helps to get you through those hot days knowing that the cooler weather is just around the corner.
A Tiny Sneak Peek
While I can’t reveal everything yet, I can tell you that my 2025 holiday collection has a little bit of holiday warmth, a dash of whimsy, and more than one nod to nature. I attached a photo above of a few holiday drawings that will likely make an appearance in the 2025 Holiday Collection.
Designing this far ahead means I get to be ready for you — so when you’re ready to wrap gifts, write cards, and fill stockings, my products are already in your hands, waiting to make the season a little brighter.
Until then, I’ll be over here sipping iced coffee… and drawing snow globes.
Merry August-mas!!