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Nuts and Bolts: Custom Requests Inside Text

August 17, 2018

Nuts & Bolts – Custom Requests Inside Text 

 

Previously, we have shared custom request tips and best practices previously.  These are requests for a change in a design directly from a shopper via the Manage Custom Requests tool.

 

Sometimes shoppers do not realized that they can change the inside text on all GCU cards themselves.  So you may get requests like these:

 

“can you make the inside read me instead of us?”
” no words, blank on the inside, please”
“please sign the card, love from Nonnie and Poppy”

 

These are all simple requests for the inside text that the shopper is able to do during the personalization step. Give the shopper a little help with an informative reply.

 

Simply reply to the shopper via the Manage Custom Requests tool something like:

 

“Thank you for your interest in my card and for your request.  As with all of the cards on GreetingCardUniverse, you can add your own text to the inside to personalize it.  In fact, you can even change the existing inside text and even remove the entire verse if you like at no additional cost. You can do this in the Personalize Your Card step.”
Be sure to be polite, prompt and professional and you’ll be more likely to get the sale!
 

 

The difference is made in the details!

 

Mindy
GCU Community Manager

Wanted New Cards: Birthday for Adult Grandson

August 16, 2018

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Wanted Cards – Birthday for Adult Grandson

 

GCU has received the following request from a shopper:
“I’m very disappointed with the choices for the custom front cards for my grandson. They’re all for little kids!”

See prior request for birthday cards for adult grandchildren:

 

See tips here for fortifying your meta-data for age ranges:

 

 

Freebie Wednesday: Krabuler Font

August 15, 2018

Freebie Wednesday:

 

Krabuler Font (designed by Cyril Mikhailov) is a cheerful, hand-written typeface. If you want to add a bit of fun and a good mood to your design, Krabuler is the perfect choise!

 

 

This product comes with a complete commercial license.

 

Rainbow Connection: Cornflower Blue

August 14, 2018

 

Cornflower blue is a shade of medium-to-light blue containing relatively little green compared to blue. This hue was one of the favorites of the Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer.

The most valuable blue sapphires are called cornflower blue, having a medium-dark violet-blue tone. (source: Wikipedia)

 

 

Nuts and Bolts: Artist Interview Tam Moody.

August 10, 2018

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Nuts & Bolts – Artist Interview Tam Moody
 
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.

 

Here is July 2018 Design Challenge winner’s, Tammy Moody, interview.
Congratulations to Tammy on her winning card!

 

Note: Read about the other rewards, in addition to bragging rights, of being a Design Challenge winner.

 

 

The difference is made in the details!

 

Mindy
GCU Community Manager

 

Wanted New Cards: Chinese New Year / Year of the Pig 2019

August 9, 2018

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Wanted Cards –  Chinese New Year / Year of the Pig 2019

 

Celebrated on February 5th next year, Chinese New Year will be here before we know it.  2019 celebrates the Year of the Pig.

 

Please consider creating new designs specific to the Year of the Pig.  There are many sub-categories in need of cards.

 

 

 

If you plan on leveraging a design to make a series, please be sure to follow the Series / Concept Review process and submit your first design with a note and await approval before creating the balance of the series.

 

Here are important tips and guidelines on CNY cards and categories worth reading if considering updating a Chinese New Year card from 2018 or different zodiac.

 

 

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!

Freebie Wednesday: Paris Fashion Clipart

August 8, 2018

Freebie Wednesday:

 

Paris Fashion Clipart are 34 hand painted watercolor Graphic Elements saved in PNG format and completely free for a limited time (just 2,5 more days!)

 

 

 

 

All freebies come with a Commercial License.

 

 

Rainbow Connection: Gorgeous Color Combos II

August 7, 2018

 

Here are some more gorgeous color combos I found on the internet this week:

 

 

Nuts and Bolts: Photoshop Action Tip

August 3, 2018

 
Nuts & Bolts – Photoshop Action Tip
 
We are pleased to bring you a guest post by GCU artist Betsy Bush of Dragonfire Graphics and Birthday Cards Cafe:

 

Good day, fellow GCU artists,
I hope everyone is having a great summer so far! It goes so fast!

 

I made this Photoshop action to make designing one step faster and thought if it helps me so much, why not share with you! It is an action that with one click adds vertical and horizontal guides at 25%, 50%, and 75% to your design. We all know how tedious it is to add them one at a time. I know, it doesn’t really take that long, but hey, I am all for time-saving! I use it in conjunction with the GCU templates to police my margin allowances

 

Guides:

Landscape orientation with guides and template:

Portrait orientation with guides and template:

Just click on the link provided below and it will take you to Dropbox where you can download the zip file:
I hope you find this useful to create balanced compositions and centering graphics and text.
Take care,
Betsy
P.S. Here is a link to a tutorial on installing and using actions if you aren’t familiar with the process.  I love Aaron Nance’s tutorials at PHLEARN by the way!

 

The difference is made in the details!

 

Mindy
GCU Community Manager

Wanted New Cards: Estranged Family Birthdays

August 2, 2018

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Wanted Cards – Estranged Family Birthdays
 
Not all relationships are picture perfect. Life is a journey that follows a road with twists and turns that may result in strained relationships with family members; times of limited or no contact, incommunicado, and belabored relations laden with friction.  A birthday can be a good time to extend the olive branch to an estranged family member. Maybe open a door that’s long been closed, possible reconciliation or just wishes for their special day with no expectations.
Please consider creating cards for Birthdays >> For Family Relationship Specific
>> For Estranged Dad / Father
>> For Estranged Mom / Mother
>> For Estranged Son
>> For Estranged Daughter
>> For Estranged Sister
>> For Estranged Brother
 
Use care in your messaging and please DO NOT simply write “happy birthday to our estranged son”.  The label does not and should not be so literal but the image and message together should address the nature of the relationship.

 

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!