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Nuts and Bolts: Artist Interview Betsy Bush.

October 25, 2019
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Nuts & Bolts – Artist Interview Betsy Bush

 

One of the many perks of being a GCU Design Challenge winner is an interview.  These mini-interviews are fun reads and a peek into the makings of the winning card.
Note: Read about the other rewards and the two new rewards for 2019, in addition to bragging rights, of being a Design Challenge winner.  And be sure to enter October’s Stock Image Only Design Challenge.

 

The difference is made in the details!

 

Mindy

GCU Community Manager
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from → Nuts & Bolts

Wanted New Cards: Thinking of You – Natural Disaster.

October 24, 2019
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Wanted Cards: Thinking of You – Natural Disaster
 
Like a death or illness, the occurrence of a serious accident or natural disaster is one in which you are thinking of friends & family impacted but simply don’t know what to say.  So nothing is said, which can be even worse.

 

Thinking of you cards can drop a thoughtful little note of care and concern.

 

This new category and subcategories are in need of cards:
>> General Natural Disaster
>> Blizzard / Snowstorm / Ice Storm
>> Drought
>> Earthquake
>> Fire / Wildfire
>> Flood
>> Heat Wave
>> Hurricane
>> Thunderstorm / Hailstorm
>> Tornado
>> Other Natural Disaster
Before you jump into designing mode, be aware that this is a topic requiring sensitivity on your part. Some research will be required to ensure you set the right tone in image and verse.

 

Here is an interesting read from a grief expert on what to say (and not to say) after a disaster / catastrophe.


We’d like you to create at least one card for these categories using the Stock Cards function (Bigstock) or your own graphic designs.

Remember, when you’re submitting your new card, add a little note about the intended category in your Notes to Reviewers. Be inventive,  be clever, be creative. Go for it!

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from → Wanted: New Cards

Freebie Wednesday: Emily Diana Font

October 23, 2019
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Freebie Wednesday:

 

Emily Diana is an equally adorable and elegant handwritten font. It’s free at Creative Fabrica for another 5 days so you better make sure you don’t miss out!

 

This product comes with a complete commercial license.

 

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from → Fonts, FREEBIES

Nuts and Bolts: Dedicate Yourself to the Details.

October 18, 2019
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Nuts & Bolts – Dedicate Yourself to the Details
 
It is often the little details that escape the artist’s eye. It is always a good idea to step away from a design that you have been meticulously working on or ask a brutally honest companion to give it a once over.  The review team is certainly a fresh set of eyes and often catches tiny fixes or areas of improvement.  GCU is grateful for artists who are open to collaborating with the reviewers on minor adjustments that make a big difference.

 

With a keen eye for design and composition, the review team asked GCU artist Sharon Fernleaf the following:

 

Reviewer’s Request for Edits:
 Hi Sharon – because of the smoothness of all the edges on the other graphics, we find that the rough edges of the heart are a little distracting. Would you please smooth the outline of the heart? Thanks. 
Original Image:

 

Resulting Image:

 

 

Thank you to Sharon, for her adept design skills and collaborating with our review team to create a cheers worthy submission.

Refer to the GCU Submission Guideline for Composition – Balance of Elements for the foundation of this request for edits.

 

The difference is made in the details!

 

Mindy

GCU Community Manager
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from → Nuts & Bolts

Wanted New Cards: First Thanksgiving.

October 17, 2019
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Wanted Cards: First Thanksgiving 

 

If there is something to be thankful for it’s a special first on Thanksgiving.
Please consider creating cards for these First Thanksgiving categories in need of cards:

 

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from → Wanted: New Cards

Freebie Wednesday: Christmas Cuties Illustration Mini-Pack.

October 16, 2019
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Freebie Wednesday:

 

A super kawaii Christmas Cuties Illustration Mini-Pack gives you just the bare necessities – 17 Christmas elements in vector EPS and transparent PNG formats, in one, inexpensive pack. It’s free at Creative Fabrica for another 2 days so you better make sure you don’t miss out!

 

This product comes with a complete commercial license.

 

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from → FREEBIES

Rainbow Connection: Top Ten Wedding Color Trends to Inspire in 2020

October 15, 2019
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Elegant Wedding Invites gives us the Top Ten of Wedding Color Trends for 2020. Get inspired!

To see all ten, visit the site.

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from → Rainbow Connection (Colors)

Nuts and Bolts: Custom Request Term Variation.

October 11, 2019
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Nuts & Bolts – Custom Request Term Variation 

 

We have seen shoppers requesting term variations on cards. This is very common when the greeting on the cover doesn’t exactly match their occasion. And of course when the card is NOT a custom front text card. That was the case with this shopper’s request for a Get Well Pneumonia card by GCU artist Gail Pepin.

 

The shopper’s request:
“recuperation from pneumonia at the hospital for an elderly friend who was in the hospital for over 2 weeks. Can you change “have” to “had”?”
This is permitted as a new card submission with differentiating word variation of a like image design (as long as the variation is on the cover).

 

Well done, Gail, and thank you for your quick turnaround of the new card and congratulations on the sale!

 

 

TIPS:
– be sure to include the specific term in your metadata (card title, keywords, artist’s notes) to help searching shoppers find the perfect card
– add a note to the review team in the Notes to Reviews calling attention to the variation like “this design based on pid#xxxxxx with a variation for “had” vs “has”

 

The difference is made in the details!

 

Mindy

GCU Community Manager
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from → Nuts & Bolts

Wanted New Cards: Anniversary When We First Met.

October 10, 2019
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Wanted Cards – Anniversary When We First Met
 
Love and romance makes us want to celebrate all the little and big memories & milestones. Especially when we look back on the journey that has led to a wonderful union or marriage.
One of these special dates is the anniversary of when a couple first met.

Please consider creating cards for this new category:

Occasions >> Anniversary – First Met / When We First Met

>> General
>> For Him
>> For Her
>> For Wife
>> For Husband
>> For Partner / Life Partner
>> Photo Card / Your Picture Here
>> Year Specific
>> Other

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from → Wanted: New Cards

Freebie Wednesday: Watercolor Floral Wreath Collection.

October 9, 2019
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Freebie Wednesday:

 

The Hungry JPEG has a beautiful hand drawn freebie for you this week.  Watercolor Floral Wreath Collection by Maya Navitz is perfect for wedding invitations, baby and bridal shower invitations, any other invitation design, scrapbooking, cardmaking, announcement cards, blogs, logos , etc.. Available for one week only, so don’t miss out!

This product comes with a complete commercial license.

 

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from → FREEBIES
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