Dash of Inspiration: Founders’ Choice Awards December 2016

Founders’ Choice Awards for 2016 results are in!

1. Best New Artist: Joy Ellaga joining GCU in April 2016.

Honorable Mentions for Best New Artist are awarded to: Ness Norberg and Lyasya Sinkovski

2. Best Overall New Card: Stephanie Laird – PID 1451206

3. Hottest Seller: Ron Magnes – PID 1456758

4. Best Custom Front card:

a) Custom Text: Sue Cassell Broadwell PID 1436126

b) Custom Photo: Liz Van Steenburgh PID 1457116

c) Business Logo: Penny Cork PID 1453390

5. Funniest Card: Nobleworks PID 1457040

Honorable Mention: Brian McConnell PID 1417240

6. Most Creative Stock Card Creations (BigStock) card: Ginger Yvonn PID 1439878

7. Rising Star card: Cathie Richardson PID 1421146

Honorable Mention: Gerda Steiner PID 1428442

8. Nailed It Wanted Cards Request Card: Stacia Gorge PID 1421734

Honorable Mention: Pamela Jorgensen PID 1439434

9. Best Uncommon Card: Lisa Crisafi PID 1454418

Honorable Mention: Sandra Rose PID 1419152

10. Best Design Challenge Submission: Barbara Schreiber PID 1430324

Honorable Mention: Michelle Lanoue PID 1458070

11.  Simply Clever: Ivy M. Brown PID 1458340

Honorable Mention: Colleen Kong-Savage PID 1454016

12. Reviewers’ Choice:

Phoebe Reviewer #443 – Barbara Schreiber PID 1423208

Ella Reviewer #758 – Christie Black PID 1440548

Rebecca Reviewer #619 – MG Doodle Studio PID 1450600

Fiona Reviewer #825 – JJBDesigns PID 1460622

Desiree Reviewer #121 – Carol Kearns PID 1448954

John Reviewer #233 – Doreen Erhardt PID 1436130

WHEW! What a great list! CONGRATULATIONS to all and cheers to a new year of creating cards for the world’s best greeting card store!

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WOW!  Where did the year go? Here’s hoping each of you had fun, learned something new and were inspired to step outside your designer’s comfort zone this year. Before we kick off December’s Challenge – let me explain what GCU is doing this year end.

For those of you who were involved with last December’s Dash of Inspiration Challenge, this year will be different. The December 2016 Challenge will be handled as every other month (unlike last year), so it’s your last shot at creating the VERY BEST card you’ve ever created!

GCU is announcing the Best of 2016 Founders’ Choice Awards! The difference being is that our founders; Mindy and Nasser, will be choosing from ALL the cards created in 2016 – not just from challenge submissions – to keep the mystery of this exciting event, none of us know what the specific categories are which they will be giving out awards! Personally, I love the idea and the beauty of having all artists and all 2016 creations being included in Mindy and Nasser’s choices. Winners of the 1st Annual Founders’ Choice Awards is expected mid-January, 2017. For those who won ‘digital awards’ last year, the same type of recognition will happen with these awards – it will simply be a bit more prestigious!

Now for December’s Challenge:

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Theme: Your BEST Design in 2016

Requirements:

• If ever there was a time to put you best foot forward, this is it. Last call for 2016 creations to be considered for a possible Founders’ Choice Award!
• Any category, any subject, any medium.
• Since marketable cards have a message and verse which speak to your imagery, category and recipient – blank cards will not be considered for entry in this challenge.
• Previous challenge cards – whether they won or not – are eligible should you choose to enter one of those cards as your Best of 2016

NOTE: Please understand that your entries for the December Challenge act as a nomination for your Best Card in 2016. There will be no voting or winner for December, but by posting your best will ensure it’s consideration for the 2016 Founder’s Choice Awards!

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Entry Deadline: Saturday, December 31^st

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How to Enter: Post the PID (card number) and the URL (public storefront link – please WAIT for the card to be available in the public marketplace, please DO NOT post a link to your Manage Cards area) as a post in the challenge blog. We’ll forward your entry to the jury.

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Category: Any Category / Any Occasion

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Rules:

• Submission must meet GCU’s Submission Guidelines and be Approved through the usual Review Cycle– Fast Track your submission with this in the Notes to Reviewer: December Design Challenge Submission here is the link to the blog post: (include THIS blog post URL)
• Only ONE card per artist per challenge.
• Submissions must have been created and approved in 2016.
• Your entry must meet the Challenge Requirements and Theme or it will not be included in the challenge.
• Stock Card Creations entries will be accepted.

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Time to start choosing or creating your most marketable, most creative, most unique creation!