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Wanted New Cards: Cochlear Implant

July 28, 2016
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We have a new category that need your attention

 

 

this is a new category with 0 cards.
Consider cards not only for elderly but also people of all ages who have hearing loss.

 

There is a specific subcategory for:

 

Similarly, a related and new category (also with 0 cards) in need of cards:

 

Humorous surgical get well cartoon card (1336164) 2016-07-28 14-42-42

 

 

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: Yummy Color Inspirations

July 27, 2016
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Here is some extra yummy color inspirations I found on the internet this week:

 

AutumnBrightsH1

HuskedHuesH-1

TomatoSpectrum_150-1

PineapplePaletteH

ProducedHuesH_copy

 

 

 

 

 

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from → Rainbow Connection (Colors)

Dash of Inspiration: Fun Font Finds

July 25, 2016
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DashInspirationBanner_2015

The right font for the job is such a critical design element for any professional design, but especially for greeting cards. It provides the viewer a sense of mood, these are things we chatted quite a bit about and I’ve gathered some of them below so that if you’re new to professional greeting card design, or just find it refreshing to reread and spark your creativity you have them at your fingertips.

Today I found some good additions for your toolbox which are Free for Commercial Use. Hope there is something in the mix you may not have.

Andrea Karime font — Created in 2010 by Grafito Design

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Fun font for kids through teens/tweens and of course humorous occasions.

Asenine font — Created in 2001 by Apostrophic Lab

4f71a2f68f07fff9112c81c7a50e76e8

Great for lighthearted messages.

Brandy font — Created in 1999 by Rick Mueller

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Really fun retro font – use sparingly!

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Dash of Inspiration: Capitalization

Nuts and Bolts: Superscript & Ordinal Numbers

Dash of Inspiration: Typography the “Golden Rules”

Dash of Inspiration: Typography Terms

There are many, many more great tops and font finds when you search Typography on the Community Blog, so have fun!

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Until next time … Learn … Create … Inspire!

Don’t forget, this is the last week for entries in our July Dash of Inspiration Design Challenge with the theme of Peace!

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from → Dash of Inspiration, Fonts, FREEBIES, Uncategorized

Nuts and Bolts: No As-Is Usage of 3rd Party Content

July 22, 2016
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Nuts & Bolts – No As-Is Usage of 3rd Party Content

GCU looks for unique and creative submissions, not creative that can be found on many other sites. As such, 3rd party content cannot be used ‘as is’.

 

‘As is’ usage would be considered; just adding text, changing color, adding a border, etc.

 

If you wish to use 3rd party images on GCU, you must create something new and different by using them as an element in a new design where the original image is no longer recognizable in it’s original form.

 

Despite the original artist’s permission to use their images ‘as is’, GCU will not accept them if not transformed into a new design.  Using the original work ‘as is’ with no or only nominal or subtle changes to create a card is merely ‘copying’ and is not permitted on Greeting Card Universe.
This encourages artists to raise the bar for themselves resulting in unique and creative cards that shine and differentiate GCU’s offerings from other sites.

 

Here is a great example of the same PD image used by two GCU artists resulting in two very different designs by Alda Monteschio and Doreen Erhardt respectively.

 

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Alda1426570-1_3d

Doreen1327086_3d

 

TIPS: Include in your Notes to Reviewer links to the 3rd party elements you’ve incorporated into your design and indicate what you’ve done to create a new transformed design.  Additionally consider giving credit to the original artist(s) in your Artist Notes.

 

You may say GCU’s Stock Card Creations allows just that – “as is” usage of BigStock images with the only value add being text.  You’d would be exactly right!  However GCU’s Stock Card Creations differs in a few important ways and is not subject to the “no as-is usage” guideline.  GCU has established a relationship and licensing with BigStock for this express usage, artist earnings from Stock Card Creation cards do not count towards quarterly thresholds and lastly the review process is very picky with cards being declined for just about any reason.  The service is to spawn quick and clever cards for categories in need and afford artists who are good with words and not images to contribute.

 

Be sure to read this related blog posting with helpful examples:
https://gcucommunity.com/2015/11/23/dash-of-inspiration-dont-be-a-copy-cat-2/

 

The difference is made in the details!

 

Mindy
GCU Community Manager
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from → Nuts & Bolts

Wanted New Cards: Invitation Rib Cook-off Party

July 21, 2016
by

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We have a new category that needs your attention.
Invitations >> Party by Theme >> Rib Cook-off Party
It's Time for a BBQ Barbecue Grill Outdoor Invitation card (735202) 2016-07-21 09-39-47

At the moment there are 0 cards in this category.

 

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

Font Frenzy: The Five for $5 Bundle

July 20, 2016
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The Hungry Jpeg has a lovely offer for you this month.
Five Fonts for $5 by TheHungryJPEG - TheHungryJPEG.com 2016-07-20 11-38-43
Five Fonts for $5 by TheHungryJPEG - TheHungryJPEG.com 2016-07-20 11-40-08

 

The Hungry Jpeg has partened up with Area Type Studio to offer you a collection of five beautiful 100% accessible Script Fonts for just $5!!

Normally priced at $54, this amazing pack is available for purchase for just one month only!! Grab your copy today.

This amazing pack comes complete with a full commercial license, allowing you to use these beautiful fonts across a wide range of commercial activities.

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from → Fonts

Rainbow Connection: Animal Hues

July 19, 2016
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Here are some Animal color inspirations I found on Pinterest this week:

 

ColorPastureH

CreatureTones1_150

CreatureHues_150

CreatureColor_150-3

CreatureTones1_150-1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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from → Rainbow Connection (Colors)

Dash of Inspiration: Prepare for the Holidays!

July 18, 2016
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DashInspirationBanner_2015

Thinking that I had updated all my Christmas 2015 and New Year 2016 cards back in February, I realized this morning that I must not have ‘finished’ the updating. So, today I pass on the reminder that for me anyway holiday card sales have already begun and I urge you all to be ready for them. Here are some tips:

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  • Be sure to update card fronts with 2015 and for New Year 2016.
  • Don’t forget to follow through with each card’s updating by fixing and improving your Card Title, Keywords and Artist Notes.
  • If you offer photo cards and/or custom front text on these cards, consider taking the time to update the year in the custom tool. Remember customers shop visually first and not all realize they may change the year themselves.
  • Don’t forget other holidays which occur during the festive season. If you have cards for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa for example – be sure to update those too.

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It’s also time to be thinking of new designs for the upcoming season, and the perfect time to give those very old holiday cards a new lease on life with some design fine tuning and meta-tag data upgrades.

Whether you like it or not, as a greeting card designer July is the month when you need to be in full holiday mode to be ready for the shoppers!

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Remember to check out the July Dash of Inspiration Design Challenge and join in this month’s theme; PEACE.

So until next week … Learn … Create … Inspire!

 

 

 

 

 

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from → Community Shout Out, Dash of Inspiration

Nuts and Bolts: On the Lookout for New Occasions

July 15, 2016
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Nuts & Bolts – On the Lookout for New Occasions

 

Think outside of the box, find an occasion in your own life or circle of friends that you connect with, or an occasion that you have a different or fresh take on.  If you pay attention there are ideas for new card occasions around you every day!

 

Once you get started it can lead to other ideas.  Kind of like the children’s book “If You Give a Pig a Pancake”.  One thing always leads to another.

 

Get invited to a Rib Cook-off Party?  That’s a good idea for invitations.  Hmm, probably a good idea for Chili Cook-off Party invitations too.  And a Salsa Cook-off.  Three new category ideas all started by one little rib!

 

Go river rafting this summer?  Have the best guide ever who didn’t let you fall in (unless you wanted to)?  Thank You Rafting Guide cards, voila!  Maybe raft guides can be certified.  Do a little online research to find out.  Congratulations on your Raft Guide Certification cards.  Speaking of certification, wonder if those guides have to be CPR certified.  Congratulations on your CPR Certification cards.  Boom!

 

See these standout examples:

 

Customizable Names-Encouragement for Dyslexic-Girl with... (1440548) 2016-07-15 17-11-23
Thank You for the Time at the Lake, A Great Experience card (1127924) 2016-07-15 17-12-57
GCU gets some of their best new category suggestions not only from shoppers requesting cards they cannot find but from artists too!

 

TIP: if you create a card that does not fit into an existing category simply put the card in >>Other subcategory of the closest matching category and include in the Note to Reviewers your intention and the new occasion you feel that may justify a new category.

 

Before you make your card you can also suggest a category here on the forum:

 

This will not only set you apart from other artists but helps round out your offering of cards giving your store depth and breadth.  It also continue to make GCU the source for any card imaginable!

 

The difference is made in the details!
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from → Nuts & Bolts

Wanted New Cards: Gorgious Grandma Day – July 23

July 14, 2016
by

wanted new cards head

We have a new category that needs your attention:

Holidays >> National & International Days >> Gorgeous Grandma Day – July 23

You Know You're Getting Old When......... card (1107872) 2016-07-14 12-28-10

 

We only have 0 cards in this category:

 

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
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