Behind the scenes

Behind the Scenes: How I Created My Christmas Card Collection (Featuring Charlie Bubbles)

Every collection has a story — and myCharlie Bubbles Christmas Card Collection is one of the most joyful projects I’ve ever created. It’s a set of eight printable and digital Christmas cards, each featuring my fluffy Maine Coon, Charlie Bubbles, captured in different cozy (and slightly chaotic) holiday moments.

Today, I’m taking you behind the scenes of how this collection came to life: the colours, the sketches, the humor, and the cat who quietly supervises everything from a distance.

1. The feeling I wanted: cozy, funny, a it retro

Before I sketch anything, I choose the mood. For this collection, I wanted:

• cozy winter warmth

• soft, muted retro colours

• simple shapes and clean composition

• humour inspired by real cat behaviour

• a slightly cartoonish style that stays warm

I wanted each card to feel like a little moment you’d instantly recognize if you live with a cat. Not too polished. Not too serious. Just the right mix of winter charm.

2. The Colour Palette: warm ocher, deep teal, coral red & vintage tones

The colours in this collection are directly inspired by soft winter light and old illustrated Christmas books.

The palette includes:

• warm ochre / muted yellow backgrounds

• deep teal green

• soft red accents

• classic Christmas red for typography

• off-white for Charlie’s fur

These colours feel nostalgic, but also modern and clean. They print beautifully on matte cardstock and look great digitally — exactly what I needed for a printable collection.

3. Sketching Charlie (who is always somewhere in the room)

All card designs begin with loose sketches in Procreate.

And yes — Charlie really is my muse. But no, he doesn’t lie on my arm while I draw. He prefers:

• a warm chair

• a blanket on the couch

• a windowsill

• or his favourite high spot where he can quietly observe me

From a distance, he studies everything I do with that “I’m watching you” look. I catch tiny moments and translate them into sketches:

• the offended face when something doesn’t go his way

• the regal attitude only a Maine Coon can have

  These expressions became the heart of the collection.

4. From loose sketch to cartoon linework

Once I find a sketch that feels right, I refine it with soft, hand-drawn lines. I keep my linework:

• slightly uneven

• warm and sketchy

• expressive, not perfect

• simple enough to print clearly

This combination creates a cozy cartoon style that still feels elegant.

5. Adding colour and retro details

After linework, I add colour. This is where the mood comes alive:

• Warm ochre behind Charlie for instant coziness

• Deep teal surrounding him in “Nailed It”

• Coral stars for playfulness

• Soft shadows to keep everything gentle

The goal is always the same: warm, soft, charming, printable.

6. The humor : short, playful, and very “cat”

Every card has a bold, simple, funny phrase — inspired by real cat behaviour:

• “Nailed It”

• “Nothing to See Here”

• “Santa, Define ‘Nice’”

• “Reindeer Chic”

• “Checking It Twice… Later”

Short enough to read instantly. Funny enough to make you smile. And relatable enough to feel true.

7. Preparing the files for Etsy

Each design is prepared in three formats:

• A6 printable folded card (PDF)

• 5×7 inch printable folded card (PDF)

• Digital Christmas card (JPG)

I make sure the PDFs include:

• trim marks

• bleed

• correct proportions

• fold lines

• high resolution

Then everything goes into organized folders with a Read Me file and license — so buyers instantly know what to do.

8. Test printing (matte paper is a must)

Before I publish anything, I print the cards.

I check:

• are the warm yellow tones soft enough?

• is the teal still vibrant?

• do the coral stars stand out?

• is the humor legible at a distance?

If not, I adjust until the print feels exactly right.

9. A collection filled with Charlie’s personality

This collection is a snapshot of Charlie’s personality:

• dramatic

• sweet

• proud

• chaotic

• observant

• fluffy

• and always slightly mischievous

My hope is that when people print or send these cards, they share not just an illustration — but a moment of warmth and joy.

Final Note

Creating this collection was cozy, funny and full of character.

Charlie might be at a distance, but his personality fills every illustration.

Thank you for supporting my art — and for letting a little bit of Charlie enter your holiday season. ✨🎄

See the Collection in my Etsy shop