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Wanted Cards Extra – Harvey Milk Day / May 22

November 20, 2025

Wanted Cards Extra – Harvey Milk Day / May 22

Harvey Milk Day is observed every year on May 22 to honor the life, work, and legacy of Harvey Milk — one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States, and a powerful voice for civil rights, visibility, and hope. In 1977, Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and quickly became a symbol of courage and progress for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. His message was simple but profound: every single person deserves the freedom to live openly, authentically, and with pride.

While Harvey Milk Day is primarily recognized in California schools, it has grown into a national moment of remembrance and celebration. It’s a meaningful opportunity for people to honor LGBTQ+ history, recognize ongoing struggles for equality, and uplift messages of hope, resilience, and visibility.

For GCU artists, this day is a wonderful chance to create cards that inspire, celebrate, educate, and show solidarity. Think bold, think uplifting, think inclusive — designs can be modern, vintage-inspired, typographic, rainbow-bright, minimalist, portrait-driven, or symbolic.

These cards should be placed here:

Holidays >> Harvey Milk Day / May 22 cid#39486

Ideas for illustrations and styles you might explore:

• Portrait or silhouette of Harvey Milk (illustrated, stylized, abstract, or in a quote-based layout)
• Rainbow motifs, pride flags, and inclusive symbols used respectfully
• Graphic typographic posters turned into card fronts
• California or San Francisco landmarks tied to Milk’s legacy
• Hope-themed artwork: candles, light rays, rising suns, open doors
• Community-focused illustrations featuring diverse people
• Inspiring activism imagery: megaphones, protest signs, voting themes
• Vintage ’70s color palettes and retro shapes
• Quotes interpreted in a clean, modern card design

Card Text Ideas for GCU Artists

Inspirational / General Remembrance
Front: Honoring the Legacy of Harvey Milk
Inside: May his courage continue to inspire hope, pride, and equality for all.

Front: Hope Will Never Be Silent
Inside: Today we remember a voice that changed history.

Front: Celebrating Harvey Milk Day
Inside: Thank you to everyone who continues the work of equality and love.

Front: Visibility Matters
Inside: On Harvey Milk Day, and every day, your authenticity is powerful.

Front: Equality. Courage. Pride.
Inside: Honoring a legacy that still lights the way.

For LGBTQ+ Support & Encouragement
Front: You Deserve to Shine
Inside: Harvey Milk Day is a reminder: the world is better with you in it.

Front: Live Out Loud
Inside: Celebrating your courage and your beautiful truth.

Front: Proud to Stand With You
Inside: Today we honor Harvey Milk — and everyone living bravely and authentically.

Front: You Are Loved. You Are Seen.
Inside: On Harvey Milk Day, I’m celebrating you.

Front: Your Voice Matters
Inside: Keep speaking your truth. Keep being you.

Educational or Commemorative Tone
Front: Remembering Harvey Milk
Inside: A pioneer of equality whose legacy reminds us that hope is powerful.

Front: A Day to Honor Courage
Inside: Harvey Milk’s work lives on in every step toward equality.

Front: Harvey Milk Day
Inside: Commemorating a leader whose vision still inspires justice and pride.

Youth / School-Friendly Versions
Front: Harvey Milk Day
Inside: Learning about kindness, courage, and standing up for what’s right.

Front: Be Brave. Be Kind. Be You.
Inside: Harvey Milk showed us that being ourselves can change the world.

Front: Everyone Belongs
Inside: Celebrating inclusion and equality on Harvey Milk Day.

Humorous but Respectful (light touch)
Front: Hope Isn’t Silent — And Neither Am I
Inside: Celebrating Harvey Milk Day with pride and probably too much coffee.

Front: Equal Rights Look Good on Everyone
Inside: Honoring Harvey Milk and all who keep moving the world forward.

Happy Designing!

Corrie

Wanted Cards – Harvey Milk Day / May 22

November 20, 2025

Wanted Cards – Harvey Milk Day / May 22

Please consider learning about this day of observation and about Harvey Milk to create new cards that should go here:

Holidays >> Harvey Milk Day / May 22  cid#39486

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

Wanted Cards Extra – Driving Instructor

November 13, 2025

Wanted Cards Extra – Driving Instructor

Driving instructors are a special breed of superhero. They willingly sit in a car with brand-new drivers, calmly pointing out blind spots, braking distances, and the occasional wrong turn—all while keeping their cool. That’s patience, bravery, and nerves of titanium.

These professionals deserve cards for all occasions, yet they’re widely overlooked. This is your chance to fill a growing niche with fun, heartfelt, humorous, and workplace-friendly designs.

Whether it’s for a birthday, a thank-you moment, a holiday greeting, or celebrating a season with their occupation in mind, there’s a real demand here. From cute cartoon cars to minimalist road-sign graphics, there’s loads of room to play.

Design Tips for GCU Artists

  • Think icons & symbols: Steering wheels, signal indicators, L-plates / “Student Driver,” cones, miniature cars, dashboards, mirrors, simple map graphics, key fobs, speedometers.
  • Avoid using trademarked car logos or overly realistic brand-dependent interiors.
  • Go visual with metaphors: Roads forming shapes (hearts, smiley faces, stars), traffic signs used creatively, “journey” themes.
  • Humor is welcome, especially about patience, bravery, and the white-knuckle experience of teaching learners.
  • Inclusive characters: Instructors come in all ages, genders, and backgrounds—keep it flexible.
  • Seasonal versions:
    – For Christmas: reindeer in the passenger seat, Santa behind the wheel, festive cones, snow-covered “Student Driver” signs.
    – For Thanksgiving: a turkey learning to drive, fall foliage around the car, a dashboard pumpkin.
    – For Hanukkah: dreidels as cones, glowing menorah dashboard lights (stylized, not literal interior brand depictions).

Category Placement

If a Driving Instructor subcategory doesn’t already exist, cards can be submitted under:

Occupation >> Other

Otherwise use the appropriate occupation-specific categories:

  • Holidays >> Christmas >> Occupation Specific >> Driving Instructor – cid#39428
  • Occasions >> Thank You >> Occupation Specific >> Driving Instructor – cid#2747
  • Birthdays >> Occupation Specific >> Driving Instructor – cid#39430
  • Holidays >> Thanksgiving >> Occupation Specific >> Driving Instructor – cid#39432
  • Holidays >> Chanukah / Hanukkah >> Occupation Specific >> Driving Instructor – cid#39434

Card Text Ideas for Driving Instructor Cards

Thank You – Driving Instructor

  • “Thank you for guiding me through every turn, every stall, and every ‘oops.’ You made the journey possible.”
  • “Thanks for your patience, your wisdom, and your nerves of steel.”
  • “I couldn’t have done it without your calm voice and great teaching. Thank you for helping me hit the road with confidence!”
  • “Thanks for believing in me—even when the parallel parking didn’t.”

Inside options:

  • You’re an amazing instructor.
  • Thanks for helping me find my way.
  • You’re the reason I passed!
  • Grateful for every lesson, every mile, every moment.

Birthday – Driving Instructor

  • “Happy Birthday to someone who knows how to steer life in the right direction!”
  • “Wishing you a smooth, scenic year with no potholes and plenty of green lights.”
  • “Happy Birthday! May your cake be sweet and your students remember their turn signals.”
  • “Another birthday? At least your teaching skills never age!”

Inside options:

  • Hope your day is a joyride.
  • Enjoy your special day—no student drivers allowed!
  • Wishing you a year of happy miles.

Christmas – Driving Instructor

  • “Wishing you a Christmas filled with joy, peace, and well-behaved student drivers.”
  • “May your holiday season be as smooth as a perfect parallel park.”
  • “Merry Christmas to someone who keeps the world moving—one new driver at a time.”

Inside options:

  • Warm wishes and safe travels.
  • Hope your holidays are merry, bright, and blissfully brake-pedal-free!
  • May the season bring you joy at every turn.

Thanksgiving – Driving Instructor

  • “Grateful for all you do—Happy Thanksgiving!”
  • “Thankful for your patience, guidance, and steady hand on the invisible passenger-side brake.”
  • “Wishing you a holiday full of comfort, gratitude, and no last-minute lane changes.”

Inside options:

  • With appreciation today and always.
  • Hope your Thanksgiving is easy and enjoyable.

Hanukkah – Driving Instructor

  • “Wishing you eight bright nights and many safe miles.”
  • “Happy Hanukkah to an amazing instructor—thank you for lighting the way.”
  • “May your holiday be filled with peace, warmth, and good directions.”

Inside options:

  • Sending light and joy this season.
  • Happy Hanukkah and safe travels always.

Happy Designing!

Corrie

Wanted Cards – Driving Instructor

November 13, 2025

Wanted Cards – Driving Instructor

Being a teacher or instructor takes a great deal of patience. One that rides as passenger with a new driver behind the wheel requires nerves of steel!  

Create new cards for all occasions for a Driving Instructor. They should go here accordingly.

If there is not an existing >> Driving Instructor subcategory, please submit for >> Occupation >> Other.

Holidays >> Christmas >> Occupation Specific >> Driving Instructor  cid#39428

Occasions >> Thank You >> Occupation Specific >> Driving Instructor  cid#2747

Birthdays >> Occupation Specific >> Driving Instructor  cid#39430

Holidays >> Thanksgiving >> Occupation Specific >> Driving Instructor  cid#39432

Holidays >> Chanukah / Hannukah >> Occupation Specific >> Driving Instructorcid#39434

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

Nuts & Bolts – Best of 2024 Feature Page

November 7, 2025

Nuts & Bolts – Best of 2024 Feature Page

As we round out the final Design Challenge of 2025 and then next comes 2025’s Founders’ Choice Awards, see all the winners of the Best of 2024 Founders’ Choice Award on their very own landing page which is linked from GCU’s homepage.

Best of 2024 Founders’ Choice Award Winners

This is GCU’s annual “Best of” awards as part of the monthly Design Challenge series.  Be sure to check each month’s challenge as it may be a perfect opportunity for you to submit a design that’s been on your mind, or something totally new, getting you outside of your comfort zone or overcoming an artist’s block.

Design Challenges are run each month and announced on both the GCU community blog and GCU Design Challenge forum boardNovember’s challenge was recently announced here.

Tip: for a design challenge, and any new card for that matter, take a look at what is currently offered in the category and do a little brainstorming to offer something DIFFERENT not just more of the same. This will help your card stand out from the crowd and offer shoppers more choices, and ultimately sales!

The difference is made in the details!


Mindy Rosso

GCU Community Manager
mindy@gcuniverse.com

Wanted Cards Extra – Handfasting Ceremony Invitation

November 6, 2025

🌿 Wanted Cards Extra – Handfasting Ceremony Invitation

Handfasting is an ancient Celtic tradition that has found a beautiful place in modern weddings and commitment ceremonies. The ritual of “tying the knot” — quite literally — symbolizes the binding of two souls, their love, and their promise to journey together through life.

Today, handfasting can be part of Pagan and Wiccan ceremonies, but it’s also increasingly embraced by couples from all walks of life who want something personal, symbolic, and rich with meaning. You’ll see handfasting in weddings, vow renewals, and even elopements — sometimes as the centerpiece of the ceremony, and sometimes as a symbolic addition alongside other traditions.

For GCU artists, this means a wonderful opportunity to create invitation designs that honor heritage, spirituality, and love in equal measure. Think of soft natural tones, Celtic patterns, knotwork, ribbons, and elements from nature — such as ivy, oak leaves, wildflowers, or stone circles.

You might also consider versions that feel more rustic and earthy, as well as elegant or minimalist takes for modern Pagan couples. Handfasting ceremonies often happen outdoors — in forests, gardens, or meadows — so designs with greenery, sunlight, and natural textures will feel right at home.

Be sure to include both “Handfasting” and “Wedding Invitation” in your text or keywords, since couples searching may use either term.

These cards should go here:
Invitations >> Wedding >> Religious >> Pagan / Wicca
cid#4530

✨ Text Ideas for GCU Artists

Front of Card Ideas

  • Join us as we “tie the knot” in a sacred handfasting ceremony
  • Bound by love, joined by spirit – please celebrate our handfasting
  • Two hearts, two hands, one bond of love
  • A handfasting celebration of eternal love and unity
  • With hearts and hands entwined, we begin our journey together
  • Love bound by sacred cords – you are invited to our handfasting
  • By knot and by vow, we bind our lives as one

Inside Verse Ideas

  • Please join us as we celebrate the binding of our hearts and hands in a handfasting ceremony filled with love, light, and joy.
  • Together we will weave our love into a bond everlasting – surrounded by friends, family, and the blessings of nature.
  • Our hands will be tied, our hearts forever joined. Please share this moment of love with us.
  • As the cords are bound, so are our hearts – in trust, in respect, and in eternal love.
  • Join us under the open sky as we bind our lives together in the ancient ritual of handfasting.
  • A celebration of love, tradition, and unity – please be part of our sacred handfasting ceremony.

Optional Add-on Text for Formal Invitation Details

  • Date, time, and ceremony location to follow
  • Reception to follow in the garden / hall / meadow
  • Kindly RSVP by [date]

Happy designing!

Corrie

Wanted Cards – Handfasting Ceremony Invitation

November 6, 2025

Wanted Cards – Handfasting Ceremony Invitation

Handfasting is an ancient Celtic ritual in which the hands are tied together to symbolize the binding of two lives. While it is most often included in Wiccan or Pagan ceremonies, it has become more mainstream and pops up in both religious and secular vows and readings.

These cards should go here:

Invitations >> Wedding >> Religious >> Pagan / Wicca  cid#4530

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

Dash of Inspiration: November Design Challenge

November 1, 2025

DashInspirationBanner_2015

Time for the LAST design challenge of the year! Can you believe it? Enter the card you are most proud of creating this past year.

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Theme: Your BEST 2025 Card

Requirements:

  • Card MUST have been created and approved in 2025
  • Card, or any variation of the card, CAN NOT have been entered in any previous design challenge.
  • OR create your BEST card ever for the year and enter that.
  • Blank verse cards will not be considered for entry in this challenge.

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Entry Deadline: Sunday, November 30th

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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:

Any category

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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: November 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.
  • 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!
  • 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:

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Be inspired to create and learn something new!

Nuts & Bolts – Founders’ Choice 2024 – 37th Annual LOUIE Awards

October 31, 2025

Nuts & Bolts – Founders’ Choice 2024 – 37th Annual LOUIE Awards

A few years ago GCU added a new and exciting prize for selected top winners of the Founders’ Choice Awards (FCA). This year we will be choosing a few of the top FCA winners as well as a few other hand selected submissions. 

GCU will be entering and funding the FCA top winning cards into the Greeting Card Association’s (GCA) 37th Annual Louie Awards which honors the best cards of the year. 

These cards will be in the running and judged by a panel of nationwide industry experts with the opportunity for wonderful exposure and coveted bragging rights.

See the 36th Louie Award finalists, winners and categories submissions here.  See prior GCU posts on the GCA and Louie Awards.

Congratulations to these GCU 2024 FCA winners who have earned an entry into the 37th Annual Louie Awards:

Best New Series Card – Heather Kerr of Dreaming Mind Cards – #1842770

Hottest Seller – Christmas – Glen Mink of Cotton Callie ards – #1887806

Hottest Seller – Chinese New Year – Doreen Erhardt of Salon of Art – #1889694

Hottest Seller – Birthday – Cathy Sudzius of Cedar Rue – #1870150

Funniest LOL Card – Ron Kanfi of NobleWorks Cards – #1825058

We will contact these artists at the end of the year when GCU submits their entries so they can follow along the process. We will also be posting here on how you can follow along too.

The difference is made in the details!

Mindy

GCU Community Manager
mindy@gcuniverse.com

Wanted New Cards Extra – Silly Goose Baby Shower Invitation

October 30, 2025

Wanted New Cards Extra – Silly Goose Baby Shower Invitation

The phrase “Silly Goose” has made a delightful comeback — and it’s taking over baby showers and first birthday parties! Playful, sweet, and full of charm, “Silly Goose” is now the theme of choice for new parents who want something lighthearted and modern for their baby’s special celebration.

From cheeky pastel goslings wearing party hats to retro-inspired illustrations with a wink, Silly Goose offers the perfect mix of fun and whimsy. It works beautifully for both genders and gender-neutral events, and it pairs well with popular party palettes like soft yellows, sage greens, pale blues, and warm neutrals.

Many shower hosts are going all in on the goose motif — think “What a Silly Goose!” napkins, rubber ducky-like décor (but make it a goose), and adorable pun-filled invites. This trend also spills over into first birthday parties, where “One Silly Goose” is quickly becoming a favorite catchphrase.

Artists, this is your cue to spread your creative wings!

Design Ideas for Artists

  • A cheerful mother goose with her gosling wearing a tiny bonnet or bow tie.
  • A cartoon or watercolor goose waddling with balloons, confetti, or a cupcake.
  • “One Silly Goose” spelled out in fun hand-lettering or vintage children’s book typography.
  • A modern minimalist goose outline paired with trendy colors and baby icons (rattle, bottle, or pacifier).
  • Rustic farmhouse or cottagecore versions featuring soft brushwork, florals, or gingham accents.
  • Retro mid-century children’s book style geese for a nostalgic look.

Card Text Ideas for Artists

Front Text Suggestions:

  • “What a Silly Goose! Join us for a Baby Shower”
  • “Oh, you silly goose! A new baby is on the loose!”
  • “Welcome, Little Silly Goose”
  • “One Silly Goose Turns One!”
  • “Our Little Goose is Turning One!”
  • “Let’s Honk and Celebrate!”
  • “Honk if you love baby showers!”

Inside Text Suggestions (for editable text areas or samples):

  • “Waddle on over and help us shower the parents-to-be!”
  • “Join us as we celebrate the arrival of our little gosling!”
  • “It’s going to be a honking good time!”
  • “Come celebrate one year of giggles, waddles, and silly goose adventures!”
  • “Help us celebrate this sweet little goose as they turn one!”

Categories to Submit To:

  • Invitations >> Baby Shower >> Silly Goose — [cid#39406]
  • Invitations >> Birthday Party >> Age Specific >> 1st Birthday — [cid#790]

This trend is light, fresh, and full of personality — just like the little ones it celebrates. So spread your feathers, get a little goofy, and have fun designing your own take on this adorable Silly Goose theme!

Happy Designing!

Corrie