GCU Community

Freebie Wednesday: Kawaii Christmas Clipart.

November 21, 2018

Freebie Wednesday:

Creative Fabrica has a cute set of 27 Kawaii Christmas Clipart for free for another 2 days so you better hurry. Don’t miss out!

This product comes with a complete commercial license.

Rainbow Connection: Thanksgiving Color Inspiration

November 20, 2018

by GCUAdmin

Draw some design inspirtation for next Thanksgiving with these fall colors:

Nuts and Bolts: Design Challenge Feedback

November 16, 2018

tags: nuts and bolts

by GCUAdmin

Nuts & Bolts – Design Challenge Feedback

As we come to the year’s end and the final Design Challenge of 2018, we look forward to the Founders’ Choice Awards which is a time for GCU to look back on all of the amazing card submission of 2018.

GCU runs the Design Challenge every month with each challenge having a different theme. It is a great source of new card designs for GCU, a fun opportunity for artists to challenge themselves and design outside of their norm, and inspiration for artists looking for new ideas.

Heading into 2019, GCU would love to see more artists enter the challenge each month as well as see more artists enter for the first time.

We’d like to get artists’ feedback and suggestions on how to improve the Design Challenges for 2019. How can GCU make the challenges more interesting, easier to enter? Would you like more time, better rewards, input on themes, better communications or reminders to enter, etc.?

By 12/15, please share your feedback in the comments / reply below or if you’d like to send them privately please send an email titled “Design Challenge Feedback” to mindy@greetingcarduniverse.com.

Thank you in advance!

The difference is made in the details!

Mindy
GCU Community Manager

Wanted New Cards: Thank You Blood Donor

November 15, 2018

tags: categories, category, new categories

by GCUAdmin

Wanted Cards – Thank You Blood Donor

There are many different needs for blood – everyday. Supplies are not just needed when we may think they are in high demand like accidents and natural disasters. The majority of blood is needed everyday for surgeries, organ transplants, treatments for blood disorders and other non-emergency uses.

Blood donations are always in need to have supplies of blood at the ready and is one of the most precious gifts that anyone can give to another person.

Some people may be regular blood donors, others may donate when there is a specific need, or others when they are aware of a blood drive nearby.

Please consider creating Thank a Blood Donor cards for this new category. Before designing, please take some time to research appropriate messages for thanking a blood donor.

Business >> Thank You >> Industry Specific >> Healthcare >> Blood Donation / Thank You Blood Donor

Freebie Wednesday: Dellamonde Font

November 14, 2018

by GCUAdmin

Freebie Wednesday:

The Hungry JPEG has a lovely free Classic Script Font available for you this week. You can get Dellamonde by clicking here:

This product comes with a complete commercial license.

Rainbow Connection: Autumn Color Palettes

November 13, 2018

by GCUAdmin

Found a site with lovely Autumn Color Palettes. Here are a few, but you can admire all 25 of them here:

Nuts and Bolts: Word Clouds are Fun!

November 9, 2018

tags: categories, category, new categories

by GCUAdmin

nuts-and-bolts-head

Nuts & Bolts – Word Clouds are Fun!

We are pleased to bring you a guest post by GCU artist Liz Van Steenburgh of Starstock Greetings.

Liz shares the fun and creative process of designing word cloud designs for greeting cards.

Liz shares …

A few weeks ago, we received an edition of Nuts & Bolts about creating word cloud greetings. I was intrigued by the post and decided to try my hand at a few of them.

Where to begin!?

The first obvious step is to decide on the theme or occasion for your design. Any occasion, holiday or

even relationship can make a great word cloud card. Once the theme is established, you can gather a

list of words that compliment the theme. I found a few interesting resources for coming up with words

when I needed to expand on what I already had.

https://myvocabulary.com/

There is a tab for “Subject Word List”. You can find a word list for just about any topic.

https://www.enchantedlearning.com

Here you would add your term to the search to find a word list for the topic you need.

Let the fun begin

Next, I added the main word to the center, choosing an appropriate font and color. From here decide on

a second and third font (if wanted) and a color scheme. The fonts should compliment each other and

the words should be displayed in various sizes and directions. You can add as many words as you’d

like, but I tend to prefer a more minimalist look. I tend to only choose two fonts and two or three

colors. Balance of fonts, colors and placement is key on these designs.

I like to add my own personal style to these cards to distinguish them from some of the other great
word cloud greetings already on GCU. On my cards, I like to add some type of background and a few
graphics to help illustrate the occasion.

The possibilities are limitless

There are so many fun ideas for this type of greeting, and when I get in a designing rut, I now make a

vocabulary list and create something new! I find them a ton of fun to make and kind of cathartic too.

I’m thankful that I gave this style a try and plan on making many more of them.

Thank you, Liz for giving this style a try and adding some fun new designs to GCU holiday categories.

The difference is made in the details!

Mindy
GCU Community Manager

Wanted New Cards: Belated Hanukkah

November 8, 2018

tags: categories, category, new categories

by GCUAdmin

Wanted Cards – Belated Hanukkah

Eight days are celebrated in Hanukkah so plenty of time to get a card in the mail but it happens, people forget or get too busy. Belated Hanukkah cards are in need.

Holidays >> Chanukah / Hanukkah >> Belated

We’d like you to create at least one card for this category using your own graphic designs.

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

Freebie Wednesday: Peppermint Font

November 7, 2018

by GCUAdmin

Freebie Wednesday:

Peppermint Font is a fun textured hand-crafted font and is this weeks free font at Creative Fabrica. Don’t wait too long, the offer expires in 5 days!