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Wanted New Cards: New Job Special Education Teacher

May 11, 2023

Wanted Cards – New Job Special Education Teacher
 
It takes a special teacher to become a Special Education Teacher.
 
Please consider creating new job congratulations cards for a Special Ed Teacher.  They should go here:

Occasions >> Congratulations >> New Job >> Occupation Specific >> Teacher Special Education  cid#37496

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:

https://gcucommunity.com/2022/06/10/nuts-and-bolts-new-artist-enhancements/  

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!

 

 

 

Nuts & Bolts: Artificial Intelligence Policy

May 5, 2023

 
 
 
Nuts & Bolts – Artificial Intelligence Policy
 
Artificial Intelligence is taking the world by storm! We would be remiss in not identifying how it fits into GCU.
 
Here is an excerpt from this interesting article:
  • AI is impacting the art industry in many ways — namely by making creation accessible to anyone, influencing the art market and collaborating with humans to improve the quality of output. Source: istockphoto.com In a world where technology is rapidly advancing, AI is now transforming the way art is created.
 
Here is GCU’s current policy on submissions created using AI.  Assisted and collaboration are the key takeaways. 
 
Submissions must meet:
1. list the AI site / program being used in the Note to Reviewers field
2. paid subscription to the site / program being used (MJ, Sparks, Creative Fabrica, Night Cafe, etc.)
3. if free to use program the artist’s post processing value add must be more substantial 
4. license / TOU must give you the commercial usage CU rights
5. must provide a direct link to the AI image prior to artist enhancements in the Note to Reviewer
6. images will be required to be AI assisted artwork and have artist pre / post processing, value ad, “no as is” which should be detailed for reviewers in the Note to Reviewers field.

As this area of creative works evolves, GCU reserves the right to change our policy on submissions based on AI creative.
 
Stay tuned on GCU artist Stephanie Laird posting on how she’s using AI in her creative works and greeting card images.
 

 

The difference is made in the details!


Mindy

 

GCU Community Manager

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Wanted New Cards: Congratulations New Pet Chickens

May 4, 2023

Wanted Cards – Congratulations New Pet Chickens
 
As they usually come by the dozen, congratulate someone on their new chicks (as they get older, chickens).
 
Please consider creating new cards for this category.  They should go here:

Occasions >> Congratulations >> New Pet >> Chicks / Chickens  cid#37486

Take a look at your Easter designs and see if there are any designs you can repurpose for this occasion or create one from scratch (get it? chicken scratch?).  If you do be sure to add in the Notes to Reviewer in your new submissions “based on previous card pid#ABCXYZ”

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:

https://gcucommunity.com/2022/06/10/nuts-and-bolts-new-artist-enhancements/  

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!

 

 

 

Dash of Inspiration: May 2023 STOCK Design Challenge

May 1, 2023

DashInspirationBanner_2015

Let’s roll …

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Theme: Sip & See Party

Requirements:

  • Sip & See Party Invitation with appropriate imagery and message.
  • ONLY Big Stock cards will be accepted in this challenge.
  • The judges will be looking for professional quality text layout, typography placement and font combinations in addition to a unique and captivating message that tells the story of the stock image you choose. Your added value needs to wow the judges!

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Entry Deadline: Wednesday, May 31st

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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.

NOTE: Submissions will appear immediately in your Private gallery as they await review.  If approved, the reviewer will move them to the public gallery – they will then become ‘live’ in the marketplace within 24-hours or so just like regular submissions. Be patient and wait.

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Category:

Invitations > Baby Shower Invitations > Sip & See Party

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Rules:

  • Submission must meet GCU’s Submission Guidelines and be Approved through the usual Review Cycle. Big Stock creations are automatically identified as Fast Track – please add in the Notes to Reviewer: May 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.
  • Big Stock Card Creations ONLY will be accepted.
  • Your designs should differ from those already offered in the categories above to offer shoppers a variety of choices, not more of the same.
  • No BLANK cards will be accepted.

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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. Your overall ‘added value’ determines this.

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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 nearly 58,000 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: 12.9K!
  • 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 2,000 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 2023!

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 10.8k 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 2023!

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Tips:

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Be inspired to create and learn something new!

 

Nuts & Bolts: Reminder April 2023 Design Challenge

April 28, 2023

 
 
Nuts & Bolts – Reminder April 2023 Design Challenge 
 

Sunday, April 30th is the last day to submit your entries for April’s Design Challenge.
 
 
Theme: FUSION DESIGN

 

 

The difference is made in the details!


Mindy

 

GCU Community Manager

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Freebie Wednesday: Free Floral Meadow Seamless Patterns

April 26, 2023

Freebie of the week are these 15 Floral Meadow Seamless Patterns by Radiant Tango

 

800_3524308_ug0evr6gjmqq4zydi4ie7ezfm1kj2m9b8zdpizp3_free-floral-meadow-seamless-patterns

 

Only available on the Hungry Jpeg site for another 6 days, so don’t miss out.

Comes with complete License.

Nuts & Bolts: Artist Interviews

April 14, 2023

 
 
Nuts & Bolts – Artist Interviews
 

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 are the artist interviews for:

November’s Winner, Stephanie Laird

image

February’s Winner, M.M. Anderson

image (1)

 

Congratulations to both of these artists for their Design Challenge wins!

Plenty of time to enter April’s Fusion Themed Design Challenge. Submit your entries by Sunday, April 30th. 



The difference is made in the details!


Mindy

 

GCU Community Manager

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Wanted New Cards: Get Well Eyelid Surgery

April 13, 2023

Wanted Cards – Get Well Eyelid Surgery
 
A very common and simple surgery is a blepharoplasty or eyelid lift. For both men and women, this can be purely cosmetic or functional if vision is impaired from drooping skin.
 
Please consider creating more cards for this sub-category:

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:

https://gcucommunity.com/2022/06/10/nuts-and-bolts-new-artist-enhancements/  

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!

 

 

 

Freebie Wednesday: Free Forest Bird Watercolors

April 12, 2023

Freebie of the week are these Forest Bird Watercolors by Radiant Tango

 

800_3524296_2yr1lyjwwv7uadla6h2raglbk1levv973we7g2bn_free-forest-birds-watercolors

 

Only available on the Hungry Jpeg site for another 6 days, so don’t miss out.

Comes with complete License.

Nuts & Bolts: Card Series Review Process Reminder

April 7, 2023

 
 
 
Nuts & Bolts – Card Series Review Process Reminder
 

As a reminder, when you are submitting a new design that you intend to as a series (a near identical image with minor changes only like age or relationship), please be sure to follow the Concept Series Review Process.
 
Here is a helpful blog post on the Concept Series Review Process.
 
If you didn’t intend or think of creating a series at the time you submitted the first card, then follow this process with your next card (ONE) submission and mention in the Notes to Reviewer the pid# of the first card in the series.
A little note like this: “Sorry I didn’t think of using this design for a series but now I’d like it to be considered for a relationship series. The first card submitted is pid#123456”
 
In a nutshell:
When creating a new design that will be a like image series, please use the Concept Series pre-approval process and wait for the first design to be approved before CREATING the balance of the collection. This ensures there are no errors that will result in multiple returns for edits. Cards submitted for series review also undergo additional considerations for marketability, competitiveness and appropriateness to the proposed categories.


Please submit ONE series concept card into FAST TRACK with a request to review for a series in the Notes to Reviewers. Please include your intended use, for example; a relationship series, an age series, intended to use for various occasions, etc, as this will assist us in evaluating the series.
In cases where one small detail will change, eg, age or relationship cards, please submit an age or relationship version for your series request so we can evaluate text placement, etc.
 

Here is an example of a series; near identical image with variations for relationship and grade level.  Cards by GCU artist Teri Francis of Squirrel Hugger.

image1
image2
image3


The difference is made in the details!


Mindy

 

GCU Community Manager

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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