Dash of Inspiration: May Design Challenge
Happy May, happy spring, everyone! Let’s get our creative juices flowing and add some new content to some newly expanded sub-categories.
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Theme: Dog Breed or Cat Breed Specific Birthday
Requirements:
- Create a new Cat Breed or Dog Breed design that celebrates a dog or cat lover’s birthday by choosing ONE breed and creating a birthday related design.
- Choose the breed-specific category within Birthday >> Animals/Pets Birthday Cards
- No Stock card creations will be accepted.
- Blank verse will not be considered for entry in this challenge.
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Entry Deadline: Saturday, May 31st
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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:
Birthday > Animals / Pets Birthday Cards > Dogs
OR
Birthday > Animals / Pets Birthday Cards > Cats
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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: May 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 be NEW, no existing designs.
- Your entry must meet the Challenge Requirements and Theme or it will not be included in the challenge.
- Stock Card Creations entries will not be accepted.
- Your designs should differ from those already offered in the category of your choice to offer shoppers a variety of choices, not more of the same.
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BLIND Judging: We hope each of you enters every month. Entries are submitted anonymously for judging by the GCU Challenge Jury which means that before and during the challenge, judges do not have any way of knowing what artist is behind each entry. This eliminates any and all concerns with ‘favoritism’. Results will post on the Community Blog. The jury will judge the entries on the following criteria:
- How well the card meets the Challenge Requirements and Theme.
- How well the card speaks to the Category the artist chooses for the card submission.
- Creativity, Execution and Marketability.
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Winners: 1st Place:
- The winning designer’s card and store will be featured on the GCU Public Blog – the blog which customers view and follow.
- As well as featured on the GCU Public Facebook Page – over 55,000 followers, now THAT’S exposure!
- The winning card will be Design of the Day following the announcement of the winners (within 48-hours).
EXCEPTION: Horizontal (landscape) cards may not be featured as DOD due to GCU Home Page space restrictions. In these cases, GCU will choose a different vertically oriented card from your store to feature as DOD. Thank you for your understanding and apologies for this limitation.
- The winning card will be added to the Greeting Card Universe Design Challenge Winners Pinterest Board – currently GCU’s Pinterest Page followers: 14.9k!
- The winning card, should the artist choose, may be referenced in a new series by the winning artist and he/she may Fast Track all cards in the new series (being sure to give the Challenge URL and winning card PID in your Notes to Reviewer for each card in this series).
- Winning card will be included in a marketing email to over 100,000 customers!
- GCU will create a Meet the Team board for the winning artist under the Pinterest GCU account where the winning artist will be able to pin and promote her own storefront and all that makes them a unique card designer and one of GCU’s artistic community team member.
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Winning card will be posted on GCU’s Instagram with 10.6k followers and counting!
- GCU will create a Meet the Team board for the winning artist under the Pinterest GCU account where the winning artist will be able to pin and promote her own storefront and all that makes them a unique card designer and one of GCU’s artistic community team member.
- 10 free greeting card credits added to your GCU account. Apply them at checkout and they never expire.
- A Design Challenge GCU digital award for 2025!
2nd Place:
- Your submission will be Design of the Day the following week of announcing the Challenge winners (within 7-days).
EXCEPTION: Horizontal (landscape) cards may not be featured as DOD due to GCU Home Page space restrictions. In these cases, GCU will choose a different vertically oriented card from your store to feature as DOD. Thank you for your understanding and apologies for this limitation.
- Your card will be added to the Greeting Card Universe Design Challenge Winners Pinterest Board.
- Winning card will be included in a marketing email to over 100,000 customers!
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Winning card will be posted on GCU’s Instagram with 10.6k followers and counting!
- 5 free greeting card credits added to your GCU account. Apply them at checkout and they never expire.
- A Design Challenge GCU digital award for 2025!
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Tips:
- Dog Breed Pinterest Inspiration
- Cat Breed Pinterest Inspiration
- GCU Wanted Cards
- Nuts and Bolts: Fortifying Meta-data – Animals & Breeds
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Be inspired to create and learn something new!
Doreen Erhardt© SalonOfArtGreetings
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Wanted Cards – Musical Performance Instrument Specific
Celebrate the fine arts with congratulation cards for a musical recital and kudos for specific instrument performances. GCU has many cards for piano recitals but not for other instruments. Consider other specific instruments like flute, violin, viola, string quartet, guitar, harp, etc.
These cards should all go here:
Occasion >> Congratulations >> Performance / Recital >> Musical cid#27300
Note: cid# is the speed entry method of adding a category to your card via category id number (cid#) vs using search terms or click and hunt. See here on the blog:
To expedite the review of these cards, please check Fast Track Review on the card image details page when you create your card and add a Note for Reviewers like “for BLOG– Wanted Cards”.
Consider using Stock Card Creations to create new cards quickly. These cards are automatically set for expedited review so no need to Fast Track. Remember, when you’re submitting your new stock card, add a little note about the intended category in your Notes to Reviewers.
Be inventive, be clever, be creative. Go for it!
Mindy Rosso
GCU Community Manager
mindy@gcuniverse.com
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Nuts and Bolts – Design Challenge – Before and After
Nuts & Bolts – Design Challenge – Before & After
One of the newer features of GCU’s monthly Design Challenge is Judges’ Notes on all submissions. The notes can range from composition, font style, inside verse suggestions and more. As the cards have already been approved and have met the Submission Guidelines, these notes are simply suggestions and judges’ observations not required changes.
See this wonderful example by GCU artist Laurie Schneider on her most recent entry, PID#1913328
Judges’ Notes:
Thank you for entering the March Design Challenge. The judges would like to share their feedback: The judges all felt the design was colorful, pretty and cute for a cat lover’s spring birthday. Some were not fans of the yellow on yellow and although a fun birthday card for a sister, mentioned it did not have a strong ‘sisterhood’ theme.
Before:
After:
Laurie’s response:
I look forward to the feedback from the judges. It helps me improve my designs and grow. Every time I receive their feedback; I use it, and my design is always so much better. I appreciate everything about GCU.
Wonderful work by Laurie resulting in a more eye-catching design with colors that pop!
The difference is made in the details!
Mindy
GCU Community Manager
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Wanted Cards Extra – Take Your Dog to Work Day
Pawsitively Perfect: Fun Greeting Card Text Ideas for Bring Your Dog to Work Day
Bring Your Dog to Work Day is more than just a chance to show off your furry best friend—it’s an opportunity to bond with coworkers, boost office morale, and share a little lighthearted fun. Whether you’re handing out cards to your teammates or leaving a surprise note for someone else’s pup-loving desk buddy, greeting cards are a tail-waggingly delightful way to celebrate.
Need help figuring out what to write? We’ve fetched some playful and pun-filled greeting card text ideas for every office vibe—from sweet and silly to downright pun-derful.
🐾 Classic & Cute
Sometimes simple and sweet wins the day.
- “Work is better with wagging tails and wet noses.”
- “Thanks for letting your pup brighten our day!”
- “A little fur makes everything better—especially Mondays.”
😂 Funny & Punny
Who doesn’t love a good dog pun?
- “Paw-don the interruption—there’s a cuteness overload in the office today!”
- “You’re pawsitively the best coworker (and your human’s okay too).”
- “Take your dog to work? More like bring joy to the office day!”
- “Unleash the productivity… and maybe a little chaos too.”
🧠 For the Brainy Bunch
Got a team of techies, academics, or spreadsheet wizards?
- “Finally! A meeting attendee who doesn’t interrupt—unless there’s a squirrel outside.”
- “Doggos: The only acceptable form of workplace distraction.”
- “Low bark, high output. Now that’s efficient.”
🐶 For the Dogs (Yes, Really)
Leave a card by a pup’s water bowl? Why not.
- “You’re employee of the month in our hearts. And you didn’t even have to fill out a timesheet.”
- “Wag more, bark less—HR approved.”
- “Don’t worry, we won’t tell the cats you were here.”
💼 Remote-Friendly Ideas
Working from home? Send a virtual card or message.
- “Wish we could sniff each other’s butts in person, but Zoom will do!”
- “Your home office pup is the best coworker on the team—just don’t tell Karen in HR.”
- “Even through the screen, I can tell your dog deserves a raise.”
Whether you’re a seasoned dog parent or just an admirer of floppy ears and happy tails, Bring Your Dog to Work Day is the perfect excuse to celebrate your four-legged coworkers. So go ahead—spread the joy, share a pun, and make the day as fetching as possible!
Happy Designing!
Corrie
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Wanted Cards – Take Your Dog to Work Day
Wanted Cards – Take Your Dog to Work Day
Although many people are still working from home, maybe on this special day man’s best friend gets a cameo on a video conference. A round of furry introductions would be so fun!
Please consider creating new cards for this observation day which is celebrated on the Friday after Father’s Day. They should go here:
Holidays >> National / International Days >> Bring / Take Your Dog to Work Day cid#24286
NOTE: be sure to fortify your meta-data for breed specific designs.
Note: cid# is the speed entry method of adding a category to your card via category id number (cid#) vs using search terms or click and hunt. See here on the blog:
To expedite the review of these cards, please check Fast Track Review on the card image details page when you create your card and add a Note for Reviewers like “for BLOG– Wanted Cards”.
Consider using Stock Card Creations to create new cards quickly. These cards are automatically set for expedited review so no need to Fast Track. Remember, when you’re submitting your new stock card, add a little note about the intended category in your Notes to Reviewers.
Be inventive, be clever, be creative. Go for it!
Mindy Rosso
GCU Community Manager
mindy@gcuniverse.com
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Nuts and Bolts – Instagram Campaign
Nuts & Bolts – Instagram Campaign
For those of you following us on Instagram, you will find over the next 30 days some changes and content that differs from our norm. We are trying something new. More lifestyle oriented, more engaging, more stories and reels.
Remember to follow us at @GreetingCardUniverse and be sure to set your Instagram to Public so anyone can see and appreciate your content. See more here.
The difference is made in the details!
Mindy
GCU Community Manager
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Wanted Cards – Foodie Father on Father’s Day
Wanted Cards – Foodie Father on Father’s Day
Hobbies are a great way for card designs and verses to resonate with the recipient – that perfect card. Consider creating cards for a Dad/Father on Father’s Day who is a big gastronomy fanatic, gourmet enthusiast aka: foodie. Think beyond the grill, pizza and beer.
Those cards should go here:
Holidays >> Father’s Day >> For Dad / Father cid#8623
Note: cid# is the speed entry method of adding a category to your card via category id number (cid#) vs using search terms or click and hunt. See here on the blog:
To expedite the review of these cards, please check Fast Track Review on the card image details page when you create your card and add a Note for Reviewers like “for BLOG– Wanted Cards”.
Consider using Stock Card Creations to create new cards quickly. These cards are automatically set for expedited review so no need to Fast Track. Remember, when you’re submitting your new stock card, add a little note about the intended category in your Notes to Reviewers.
Be inventive, be clever, be creative. Go for it!
Mindy Rosso
GCU Community Manager
mindy@gcuniverse.com
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Wanted Cards – Birthdays Dog Breed Specific
Wanted Cards – Birthdays Dog Breed Specific
We’ve talked about and seen how shoppers are drawn to cards featuring their favorite animal and breed. We’d like to offer cards featuring all the listed dog breeds for Birthdays. On this page you can see the count of how many cards for each breed. Some breeds have plenty and others have very few to none. GCU offers 170 breed specific categories here.
Please consider creating birthday cards featuring dog breeds that are currently under represented on the site.
Birthday >> Animals / Pets >> Dogs >> … dog breed specific subcategory …
NOTE: Remember to fortify your card meta-data for breed, see tips here.
To expedite the review of these cards, please check Fast Track Review on the card image details page when you create your card and add a Note for Reviewers like “for BLOG– Wanted Cards”.
Consider using Stock Card Creations to create new cards quickly. These cards are automatically set for expedited review so no need to Fast Track. Remember, when you’re submitting your new stock card, add a little note about the intended category in your Notes to Reviewers.
Be inventive, be clever, be creative. Go for it!
Mindy Rosso
GCU Community Manager
mindy@gcuniverse.com
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Card Sharp: Your Weekly Cut of Greeting Card Creativity – Teacher Appreciation Day Text Ideas
Fun and Creative Text Ideas for Teacher Appreciation Day Greeting Cards
Teacher Appreciation Day is the perfect opportunity to honor the educators who inspire, guide, and shape the future. A thoughtful greeting card can go a long way in expressing gratitude and admiration. Whether you’re looking for heartfelt messages, funny quips, or subject-specific notes, here are some creative ideas to make your cards memorable.
Heartfelt Messages
For a genuine expression of gratitude, heartfelt messages are always appreciated. These can be tailored to reflect the teacher’s impact on a student’s life.
- “Thank you for believing in me and helping me reach my potential. You make learning exciting and meaningful!”
- “Your patience and kindness have made all the difference in my journey. I’m so grateful for everything you do!”
- “You’ve inspired me not just as a student but as a person. Thank you for being an incredible mentor!”
Funny Messages
Lighten the mood with humor while still showing appreciation. These witty lines are perfect for teachers with a great sense of humor.
- “I can’t even imagine how much coffee it takes to do what you do—thank you for being amazing!”
- “Congrats on making it through the year with our class! You deserve a medal (or a vacation).”
- “You’re more like Miss Honey than Miss Trunchbull—thank goodness!”
Subject-Specific Messages
Personalize your card by referencing the teacher’s subject or specialty. This adds a thoughtful touch that shows you’ve noticed their unique contributions.
- For art teachers: “Thank you for your ARTful attention to detail and creativity—you’ve inspired me to see the world differently!”
- For math teachers: “Kid + Teacher Like You = Happy Kid. It’s just math!”
- For music teachers: “My child loves music because of you—even if the clarinet sounds are still squeaky! You are a gift.”
Messages from Parents
Parents can express their gratitude by highlighting how the teacher has positively impacted their child’s growth and learning experience.
- “Thank you for creating such a warm and loving learning environment for my child! Your dedication means so much to us.”
- “Your encouragement has helped my child gain confidence and thrive—thank you for being such an inspiring teacher!”
- “We’re grateful for the way you support and challenge our child every day. You’re shaping their future beautifully!”
Short and Sweet Notes
Sometimes, less is more! Short messages can be just as impactful, especially when written with sincerity.
- “You’re an educational rockstar—thank you!”
- “Real heroes don’t wear capes…they teach! Thanks for being amazing.”
- “Thanks for shaping young minds with grace and humor.”
With these creative ideas, your Teacher Appreciation Day greeting card will stand out as a heartfelt tribute to the educators who make a difference every day!
Happy Designing!
Corrie
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Nuts and Bolts – 1Q25 Earnings and Payment
Nuts & Bolts – 1Q25 Earnings & Payment
It’s pay day! The 1st quarter payments for 2025 are being processed reflecting commissions earned from 1/01/25 – 3/31/25. Part of this process is reconciling those stores who have met the quarterly threshold. The checks are scheduled to be in the mail or PayPal payments made by Wednesday, 4/30/25.
Moved recently? Before 4/14, be sure to update your artist account with your current mailing address if you receive a mailed check. Better yet, change your payment preference to PayPal, see the many benefits here.
If you are an artist residing outside of the United States you’ll need to have a W8-BEN form on file to receive your payment. See here.
Congrats on your well earned and deserved first payments of 2025!
The difference is made in the details!
Mindy
GCU Community Manager
mindy@gcuniverse.com
GCU Community 