Nuts & Bolts: Re-run Designer’s Schedule
Please reflect back on Designer’s Schedule
The difference is made in the details!
Mindy
GCU Community Manager
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Freebie Wednesday: Free Pink Coquette
This week’s freebie on the Hungry Jpeg site is Pink Coquette, 20 Jpegs
Available for free download for 4 more days, so don’t miss out!
Comes with complete commercial license.
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Wanted New Cards: New Photo Studio Congrats
Wanted Cards – New Photo Studio Congrats
For a small business owner, opening their own official location and moving out of that home space is a big accomplishment. Consider creating cards to Congratulate a photographer who has opened their own photo studio.
These cards should go here:
Occasions >> Congratulations >> New Business / Grand Opening / Business Venture cid#37892
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!
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Dash of Inspiration: February 2024 STOCK Design Challenge
Let’s roll …
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Theme: Mother’s Day Cards For First Time Grandma
Requirements:
- Create a new stock card for the New Grandma on Mother’s Day – any variation of Grandma is accepted; Abuela, Mamaw, Nana, etc.
- 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: Thursday, February 29th
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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:
Holidays > Mother’s Day Cards > For Grandmother > New / 1st / First Time Grandma / Grandmother
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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: February 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.
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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 2024!
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!
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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 2024!
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Tips:
- Visit all the available tips, tricks and guidelines offered on the Big Stock Creation blog page!
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Be inspired to create and learn something new!
By Doreen Erhardt at Exclusive Creations
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Wanted New Cards: Father’s Day like a Grandpa / Grandfather to me
Wanted Cards – Father’s Day like a Grandpa / Grandfather to me
In the absence of a grandfather, someone may have someone important in their life as a surrogate or older role model grandfather. On Father’s Day consider creating new cards for “like a grandpa or grandfather to me”.
They should go here:
Holidays >> Father’s Day >>Like a Grandpa / Grandfather to me cid#31680
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!
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Freebie Wednesday: Free Watercolor Botanical.
This week’s freebie on the Hungry Jpeg site is Watercolor Botanical, 21 Jpegs.
Available for free download only today, so don’t miss out!
Comes with complete commercial license.
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Nuts & Bolts: Reminder January 2024 Design Challenge
Nuts & Bolts – Reminder January 2024 Design Challenge
Wednesday, January 31st is the last day to submit your entries for January’s Design Challenge – the first challenge of the new year!
See January’s 2024 Design Challenge here.
Theme: Pantone Color of the Year 2024 – Peach Fuzz
Take a peek at GCU’s Pinterest Peach Fuzz Mood Board as well as color combinations for fresh designs.
NOTE: Please do NOT use trademarked terms “Pantone” in your meta-data. You can however use individual terms like: color of the year, etc.
The difference is made in the details!
Mindy
GCU Community Manager
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Wanted New Cards: Sweet 60 Birthday
Wanted Cards – Sweet 60 Birthday
A fun twist on the expected Sweet 16 or sweet sixteen birthday is a humorous Sweet 60 or sweet sixty birthday. Traditionally seen as a coming of age milestone mostly for girls consisting of over the top festivities. Have a little fun with birthday cards and invitations for someone turning 60.
They should go here:
Birthdays >> Age Specific >> 60th Birthday cid#230
Invitations >> Birthday Party >> Age Specific >> 60th Birthday cid#795
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!
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Freebie Wednesday: Free Valentine’s Day Gnomes.
This week’s freebie on the Hungry Jpeg site is Valentine’s Day Gnomes, 36 Jpegs.
Available for free download only today, so don’t miss out!
Comes with complete commercial license.
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Dash of Inspiration: 2023 Founders’ Choice Awards.
1. Best New Artist: TMS International
Honorable Mentions Best New Artist:
Joni Prittie of Garden of Cards
Honorable Mentions Hottest Seller – Christmas:
TMS International – PID#1805248
and Natalie Kinnear of Natalie Kinnear Cards – PID#1805830
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3. Hottest Seller – Chinese New Year
Ramelle Richardson of Eloquence by Ramelle – PID#1810038
Honorable Mentions Hottest Seller – Chinese New Year:
Doreen Erhardt of Salon of Art Greetings – PID#1803728
and Tanya Hall of Moonlake Greetings – PID#1763662
4. Hottest Seller – Birthday
TMS International – PID#1788146
Honorable Mentions Hottest Seller – Birthday:
Kathleen Johnson of Encouragers for Christ – PID#1762326
and Teri Francis of Squirrel Hugger Greeting Cards – PID#1788320
5. Hottest Seller – Thanksgiving *NEW*
Teri Nelson Kuster of Che Bella Nota – PID#1797782
Honorable Mentions Hottest Seller – Thanksgiving:
Michelle Goggins of MG Doodle Studio – PID#1802702
and Doreen Erhardt of Salon of Art – PID#1785298
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6. Best New Series *NEW*
Teri Francis of Squirrel Hugger Greeting Cards – PID#1765188
Honorable Mentions – Best New Series:
Doreen Erhardt of Salon of Art – PID#1796424
and Sharon Dominick of Sharon Dominick Photography – PID#1761578
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7. Best Custom Front (Text):
Cathie Richardson of Country Garden Cards – PID# 1776704
Honorable Mentions Best Custom Front (Text):
Christie Black of Creations from the Heart – PID#1801170
and Teri Nelson Kuster of Che Bella Nota – PID#1774008
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8. Best Custom Front (Image)
Sharon Dominick of Sharon Dominick Photography – PID#1806164
Honorable Mentions Best Custom Front (Image):
Mindy Pierce – PID#1772496
And Doreen Erhardt of Salon of Art Greetings – PID#1797370
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9. Best Business Logo and/or Name
Doreen Erhardt of Salon of Art – PID#1775480
Honorable Mentions Best Business Logo and/or Name:
Christie Black of Creations from the Heart – PID#1761178
and Ramelle Richardson of Eloquence by Ramelle – PID#1811224
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10. Funniest Card
Mike Baldwin of Cornered Greetings – PID#1797826
Honorable Mentions Funniest Card:
Brenda Hayes for Crazy Daisy / SunDay Greetings – PID#1760540
and Greetings from Anne – PID#1757744
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11. Most Creative Stock Card Creation (BigStock)
Greetings from Anne – PID# 1757174
Honorable Mentions Most Creative Stock Card Creation:
Doreen Erhardt of Exclusive Creations – PID#1792586
and Kate Taylor – PID# 1755002
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12. Rising Star
Sandra Rose of Sandra Rose Designs – PID#1762826
Honorable Mentions Rising Star:
Jason Nocera of Knock Knock Joke Cards – PID#1758404
and Diane Diederich of Diane Diederich Photography – PID#1756546
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13. Custom Request – Nailed it
Kate Taylor – PID#1801166
Honorable Mentions Custom Request – Nailed It:
Cisillia Tay – PID#1757058
and Gail Pepin – PID#1788806
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14. Best Uncommon Card
Betsy Bush of Dragonfire Graphics – PID#1765088
Honorable Mentions Best Uncommon Card:
Randi Helm Perez of Something to Say – PID #1765580
and Shoaff-Ballanger Studios – PID #1784544
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15. Best Design Challenge Submission
Ramelle Richardson of Eloquence by Ramelle – PID #1810038
Honorable Mentions Best Design Challenge Submission:
Ramelle Richardson of Eloquence by Ramelle – PID #1804612
and Laurie Schneider – PID #1810508
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16. Simply Clever
Doug Hill of Laughing Hippo Studio – PID #1760908
Honorable Mentions Simply Clever:
Mike Baldwin of Cornered Greetings – PID #1755282
And Mindy Pierce – PID #1754604
1. Reviewers’ Choice
Fiona, Reviewer #825 – Cisillia Tay – PID #1811376
Mackenzie, Reviewer #528 – Lisa Griffin of La Belle Paperie – PID #1763830
Desiree, Reviewer #121 – Deborah Roy of Red Bird Card Store – PID #1805644
Phoebe, Reviewer #443 – Michelle Lanoue of Illustrations by Michelle – PID #1813732
John, Reviewer #233 – Bob Kramer – PID #1806098
Catherine, Reviewer #871 – Zaira Ignacio of Letters and Arts of Zaira – PID #1795964
Victor, Reviewer #992 – Sarah Summers of Sarah Summers Illustration – PID #1765196
Rebecca, Reviewer #619 – Robin Chaffin of Simply Put by Robin – PID #1761102
Anne, Reviewer #127 – Lindy Gaskill of Art by Lindy – PID #1814656
Jessica Renee, Reviewer #937 – Makiko Kimura – PID #1766722
Shelley, Reviewer #155 – Joni Prittie of Garden of Cards – PID #1793534
Daisey, Reviewer #892 – Bad Poetry Cards – PID #1795570
Ella, Reviewer #758 – Colleen Kong-Savage of Konga Line – PID #1810886
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Always a sentimental and impressive year in review! We are grateful for this gift of reflection. Your creative works continue to knock the socks off of shoppers’ and honestly chronicle the small moments of their lives and the big world around us. Thank you for your commitment to GCU, your community spirit, and for your apparently endless creativity. We at GCU are immeasurably grateful and proud for your contributions in keeping Greeting Card Universe the destination for Any Card Imaginable.
Mindy – GCU Community Manager
GCU Community 