Nicola Ginzler

Senior Graphic Designer
Two square vintage-style illustrations of a gray tabby kitten, sitting in a red Santa boot, side by side. Behind each kitten is holiday greenery. The kitten on the left has a small, unsmiling mouth and blue eyes, and is holding a card that says "From ME!" The kitten on the right has a larger, smiling mouth and yellow-green eyes, and is holding a card that says "Happy Holidays from Nicola & Eights"

Transforming a vintage holiday kitty into Eights the Cat!

This is the original image I bought from a vendor on Etsy.

Square vintage-style illustration of a gray tabby kitten, sitting in a red Santa boot. Behind the kitten is holiday greenery. The kitten has a small, unsmiling mouth and blue eyes, and is holding a card that says "From ME!"

The kitten’s mouth is so small and sad—we can’t have that! Plus, although she’s gray like Eights, she has blue eyes to Eights’ light green.

Vintage-style illustration of a smiling white kitten wearing a red Santa hat and a green bow, on a green background with stylized snowflakes.

I liked this kitty’s smiling mouth much better, so I silhouetted and copied it.

Square vintage-style illustration of a gray tabby kitten, sitting in a red Santa boot. Behind the kitten is holiday greenery. The kitten has a larger, smiling mouth and blue eyes, and is holding a card that says "From ME!"
I changed the mouth…
Square vintage-style illustration of a gray tabby kitten, sitting in a red Santa boot. Behind the kitten is holiday greenery. The kitten has a larger, smiling mouth and blue eyes, and is holding a blank card.
…and blocked out the original type.
Square vintage-style illustration of a gray tabby kitten, sitting in a red Santa boot. Behind the kitten is holiday greenery. The kitten has a larger, smiling mouth and green eyes, and is holding a blank card.
I changed the eye color to Eights’ light green…
Square vintage-style illustration of a gray tabby kitten, sitting in a red Santa boot. Behind the kitten is holiday greenery. The kitten has a smiling mouth and light green eyes, and is holding a card that says "Happy Holidays from Nicola & Eights"
…and used a script typeface to add the holiday message. Finished!
Extreme closeup photo of the face of a gray and white cat with light green eyes. There's gray and intense orange fabric behind her.

Here’s Her Royal Highness, looking intense, as usual.

Happy Holidays from both of us!