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Wanted New Cards: Christmas Grandson & Granddaughter in Law

November 30, 2017
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Wanted Cards – Christmas Grandson & Granddaughter in Law
 
The perfect card will speak to relationships exactly how shoppers feels. Grandson & Wife and Granddaughter & Husband may fit the bill or suffice when there are no other options but for other shoppers “wife” or “husband” may be too impersonal.

 

Please consider creating cards for these new subcategories:

 

 

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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Freebie Wednesday: Textures

November 29, 2017
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Freebie Wednesday:

Here are some Freebies for your design arsenal – as always, be sure to thoroughly read and follow the contributors TOU (Terms of Use), and to offer that link in your Notes to Reviewer when you utilize 3rd party resources.

Graphicburger offers 7 Glitter Textures for all your festive holiday needs:

 

or if you’re looking for something more vintage, here are 6 Wood Textures:

or how about 7 Natural Paper Textures:

and for the trendy modern look there are some Polygon Textures:

 

 

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from → Fonts, FREEBIES

Rainbow Connection: Indigo Blue is hot for Summer 2018

November 28, 2017
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It seems that Indigo Blue is the hot new trend for Summer 2018:

 

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from → Rainbow Connection (Colors)

Nuts and Bolts: Last Design Challenge of 2017

November 24, 2017
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Nuts & Bolts – Last Design Challenge of 2017

 

With the holidays approaching, this will be the last challenge for 2017 and the deadline will be extended to December 15th to give all of you a bit more time to participate in both your seasonal hustling and the challenge too.

 

Give it a try, November’s Design Challenge – Make Them Laugh
Tip: this challenge is a Stock Card Creations (aka: BigStock) only challenge so be sure to glean some Design Challenge and BigStock Card Creation Tips from repeat challenge winning GCU artist Betsy Bush.

 

The difference is made in the details!

 

Mindy
GCU Community Manager
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Wanted New Cards: Phlebotomist

November 23, 2017
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Wanted Cards – Phlebotomist
 
Such a variety of professions and occupations!  Many of whom provide services that shoppers may want to remember on special days and holidays.

 

Please consider creating birthday and holiday cards for a Phlebotomist.  Specifically …

 

Birthday >> Occupation Specific >> Phlebotomist
Holidays >> Thanksgiving >> Occupation Specific >> Phlebotomist
Holidays >> Christmas >> Occupation Specific >> Phlebotomist
Holidays >> Valentine’s Day >> Occupation Specific >> Phlebotomist
 

If you submit to a holiday or occasion that does not list Phlebotomist please submit to >> Occupation >> Other.

TIP: These are holiday and birthday cards so although phlebotomists work with blood the designs don’t necessarily have to be … well, bloody.

 

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

Rainbow Connection: Spring / Summer 2018

November 21, 2017
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Stylist Priya Chander of PC Trend Research is giving us some lovely color forecasts for Spring/Summer 2018:

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Nuts and Bolts: Like Image Series Stock Card Creations.

November 17, 2017
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Nuts & Bolts – Like Image Series Stock Card Creations

 

There are many different steps and guidelines with GCU’s Stock Card Creations service (aka: BigStock Cards) vs traditional submissions. Since announcing in 2015, the number of Stock Card Creation submissions is picking up speed and is now a collection of nearly 3,000 cards. All reside here as the primary category Collections >> Off the Cuff.

 

We have noticed that once an artist gets the hang of the tool it opens a floodgate of opportunities and ideas.

 

One thing that is the same that you may not think of is a like image collection or series.  Once you have a card design that you think is a real winner (and it has passed review), just like any other card, consider variations of the design for other categories like an age specific or relation specific series.

 

Here is a wonderful example of a Thanksgiving In Remembrance series by GCU artist Danielle Duckery:

Consider how that concept can be replicated for a different occasion / category as clever Danielle has done here for a Christmas in Remembrance series:
Be sure to follow the Series Concept Review process to save you and the review team time and grief.  Since Stock Card Creations are already expedited there is no reason to request FastTrack review as is customary with the series concept review process.

 

Note: While submitting a Stock Card Creations card, if it didn’t dawn on you to create a like image series and the idea for a series came after its approval, no worries! Simply create your next design (2nd like image submission) and include in the Notes to Reviewer your intention to create a series based on the original design PID######).

 

The difference is made in the details!

 

Mindy
GCU Community Manager
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Wanted New Cards: 1st Holidays as Newlyweds Relationship Specific

November 16, 2017
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Wanted Cards – 1st Holidays as Newlyweds Relationship Specific 

 

Being newlyweds is a very special time, so many new firsts! Officially sharing each holiday together as a married couple is the beginning of many new traditions together.

 

Please consider creating relationship specific cards (Especially for >> Son & Daughter in Law and >> for Daughter & Son in Law) for the following categories and any other holidays for that matter:

 

 

Any relationships without a specific subcategory should be submitted to >> Other.

As well as for spouse to spouse on the 1st holiday together for >> Our 1st Thanksgiving Together:

 

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 – Peomy Free Script Font

November 15, 2017
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Freebie Wednesday:

Here is a cute Freebie Font for your design arsenal.

 

Peomy Free Script Font is a handwritten free font made by Wild Ones Design. The handwriting style of the font is perfect for unique and personalised concept designs. Peomy has only caps letters and a huge character bade – 385 characters, all Caps letters. Free for personal and commercial use!

 

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from → Fonts, FREEBIES

Nuts and Bolts: Card Finish Default Setting.

November 10, 2017
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Nuts & Bolts – Card Finish Default Setting

 

As the artist you have the control on setting the default Card Finish for each and every card you submit;  matte or glossy.  Please be sure to give it some thought as shoppers trust your judgement.  Shoppers often inquire what the difference is between the finishes and what finish GCU suggests. We typically suggest the finish that the artist has set for the card.

 

Of course people may simply have a personal preference across the board.  Some of us are glossy fans, and others are matte lovers.

 

Here are some elements worth consideration when you set the finish:

 

1. tone and occasion of the card – glossy tends to be showy and modern making it not be well suited for a somber, sad occasion like sympathy or to a vintage or antique design
2. predominant color – if your design is predominantly black these cards unfortunately are susceptible to scratches so glossy is a good choice to “protect” the color
3. glossy does tend to make colors more vibrant but at the same time a bit darker / deeper

 

On the site GCU advises shoppers:
Matte finish has a traditional and flat finish. It is a good choice for black and white photos and subtly colored images. Glossy finish has a high shine and smooth finish.
It is a good choice to show off rich vibrant colors.
Shopper can change the finish before purchasing, but please note that they do tend to rely on your recommendation.

 

Tip: See for yourself!  It would be good for you to see a variety of your own cards in the different finishes.  If you have not done already, order a card or two of your own cards each in both finishes and keep for reference.  Note: In Store Pickup (Target / Bartell’s) only prints in 1 finish, semi-gloss, so the default setting is not used in that case. 

 

The difference is made in the details!

 

Mindy
GCU Community Manager
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