Dash of Inspiration: Send the Right Message

A Dash of Inspiration, A Cup of Creativity by Doreen

Send the Right Message

Today I thought I’d offer some inspiration for sending the right message with your card designs.  We’ve certainly talked about the importance of the image speaking to you and matching not only your added message, but also be a good fit for the category.

To be successful, this is such a critical element in greeting card design. Though there certainly is some percentage of people who lean more toward blank cards so they can add their own heartfelt message, it is a minute percent of the average greeting card buyer.

Most customers come to a place like GCU, because they want to find that perfect card that says exactly what they want to express with the perfect imagery to accompany it.  With that said; writing card verses does not come naturally to all greeting card artists. That’s why most of the greeting card publishers license artwork OR verse, but rarely a design which has both. Publishers match verse from hired writers to images from designers.  At GCU, we do it all ourselves.

If writing a verse for your imagery does not come natural to you, think about your options:

• Is there a friend or family member that loves to write?  Perhaps you could become a team, there are a few successful teams on GCU that have merged their talent to create cards.
• Are there writing courses at your local community college?  Taking a class or two might spark a talent you didn’t know you had.  Or take a class online. Do your research and find something free/affordable that challenges you to learn more.

Greeting Card Writing Online Course Taught by Karen Moore

Sandra Miller-Louden’s Greeting Card Courses Online

Buy a book on writing verses, you never know what a little knowledge can spark in your imagination!

How To Write Poetry – Your Step-By-Step Guide To Writing Poems

What Can I Say?: How To Write Greetings And Verse For Every Occasion

You Can Write Greeting Cards

What you Don’t want to do …

• Don’t say say the same thing on the front that you say on the inside, such as; Happy Birthday on the front of your card and nothing but Happy Birthday on the inside of your card. This is boring and not marketable.
• Don’t copy verses off the internet unless you can offer a link to the reviewers which state the verse is in the public domain.
• Don’t use famous quotes WITHOUT putting the author of the quote in/on the card under your quoted verse.
• Don’t use verses from songs unless you can offer a link to the reviewers which state the verse is in the public domain.
• Don’t use Scripture from any source other than the King James version as it is in Public Domain.

So, here’s hoping you’ve been inspired to create great card verses!  Till next week!