Nuts & Bolts: GCU’s GCA 35th Annual Louie Awards Submissions
Nuts & Bolts – GCU’s GCA 35th Annual Louie Awards Submissions
Announced last July, as part of the winnings and bragging rights of the GCU Founders’ Choice Awards, GCU has submitted select 2022 winning cards to the Greeting Card Association’s (GCA) annual greeting card competition called the LOUIE awards. It is a very prestigious event like the Academy Awards for the greeting card industry.
The following 2022 FCA winning cards have been entered by GCU on behalf of the artist:
by Doreen Erhardt of Salon of Art
by Nancy Mink of Nancy Mink Studios
by Teri Nelson Kuster of Che bella Nota
by Kathleen Johnson of Encourages for Christ
GCU has also selected these 3 older cards as entries this year:
by Colleen Kong-Savage of Konga Line
by Ilene Winn-Lederer of Imaginarius
by Pamela Jorgensen of PamJArts
A few notes for all artists who may want to follow along GCU’s entry journey in the 35th Annual Louie Awards:
- Follow @usagca on Instagram to get some glimpses into the behind-the-scenes!
- The finalists will be announced on Tuesday, February 27th – we’ll share the news here
3.. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, April 16th in San Francisco for the Louie Award Celebration held the night before NOTED.
See more here about our prior blog postings about the GCA, their annual industry trade show NOTED, and the LOUIE Awards.Take a peek at last year’s 34th Annual Louie finalists and winners by category.
Since becoming a member of the GCA and attending NOTED, there is one thing we’ve learned – “paper people” are great people. Although this is a competition everyone supports everyone with the mindset of there is a place for all art and the market is big enough for all of us. Participating alone is exciting, fun and is great exposure in the industry.
We’re excited to participate on behalf of our GCU community – wish us and all the best of luck
The difference is made in the details!
Mindy
GCU Community Manager
Share this:
Wanted New Cards: First Valentine’s Day as a Family/Parents
Wanted Cards – First Valentine’s Day as a Family / Parents
A special Valentine’s Day for first time parents with their new little Valentine. Please consider creating new cards that should go here:
Holidays >> Valentine’s Day >> 1st / First Valentine’s Day >> As a Family / Parents cid#23242
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!
Share this:
Nuts & Bolts: 2023 1099-NEC Form (MISC)
Nuts and Bolts: 2023 1099-NEC Form (MISC)
All corrections or questions should be sent to accounting@gcuniverse.com
The difference is made in the details!
Mindy
GCU Community Manager
Share this:
Wanted New Cards: Welcome Back from Paternity Leave.
Wanted Cards – Welcome Back from Paternity Leave
Let’s hear it for the dads and welcome them back to work after time off to take care of baby.
Please consider creating new cards for this category. They should go here:
Business > Employee Relations Cards > Welcome Back to Work / Office > After Baby / Paternity Leave cid#25046
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!
Share this:
Freebie Wednesday: Free Tiny Love Graphics.
This week’s freebie on the Hungry Jpeg site is Tiny Love Graphics. 35 Jpegs.
Available for free download for the next 7 days, so don’t miss out!
Comes with complete commercial license.
Share this:
Rainbow Connection: Peach Fuzz Palette
At the beginning of 2024 Doreen announced in her Dash of Inspiration post the new Design Challenge featuring Pantone Color of the Year 2024 Peach Fuzz in a leading role.
This Rainbow Connection will provide you with some extra info on how to use Peach Fuzz in your designs for this challenge.
Peach Fuzz color hex explained in great detail.
ArtCoast explores the Peach Fuzz Palettes (click here)
The results of Spoonflower‘s design competition (click here).
Fab Mood gives us 10 Peach Wedding Color Palettes to explore (click here).
Paper Heart Design goes to town with a whole bunch of Peach Fuzz Palettes (click here).
Pixlr Blog article exploring Pantone’s Peach Fuzz (click here).
Amadine gives us some snappy Peach Fuzz combos (click here).
Also (if you haven’t already), don’t forget to check out GCU’s special Peach Fuzz Pinterest Mood Board .
I’m sure this will help you on your merry way 🙂 Happy designing!
Share this:
Nuts & Bolts: New Year Resolutions
Nuts & Bolts – New Year Resolutions
Welcome to the start of a fresh, shining new year filled with hope and promise to do something better, try something new, right a wrong, learn some new tricks, etc. Hello, 2024!
A few suggestions here to add to your resolution list:
- Enter a GCU Design Challenge – there’s no time like the present, and January’s challenge is perhaps one of the easiest challenges with the Color of the Year. There is absolutely nothing intimidating about Peach Fuzz!
See January 2024’s Design Challenge.
See helpful Design Challenge Tips here from GCU artist Betsy Bush of DragonFire Graphics.
- Give your storefront or low sellers a makeover or do a little housecleaning.
Read GCU artist Trudy Wilkerson’s sage advice here: Be Encouraged, Not Discouraged.
As well as GCU artists Doreen Erhardt’s Storewide Facelift and Stephanie Laird’s Give Your Low to No Sellers a Facelife.
- If the word “challenge” makes you weak in the knees, consider creating new submissions for the Wanted Cards postings on the forum and here on the blog.
Just a few suggestions that are easier than a resolution like “no more snacking after dinner”.
The difference is made in the details!
Mindy
GCU Community Manager
Share this:
Wanted New Cards: Happy Birthday Hair Removal Technician
Wanted Cards – Happy Birthday Hair Removal Technician
There are many different techniques and skills for hair removal. Consider some specific technicians for birthday cards.
Please consider creating Birthday cards for these specific occupations. Cards should go here:
Birthdays >> Occupation Specific >> Hair Removal Technician / Professional
>> General cid#36514
>> Hair Threading Technician cid#37800
>> Laser Hair Removal Technician cid#36522
>> Waxing Specialist / Waxing Technician cid#36518
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!
Share this:
Freebie Wednesday: Free Spring Gnome Stickers
This week’s freebie on the Hungry Jpeg site is Spring Gnomes. 22 PNG stickers.
Available for free download for the next 7 days, so don’t miss out!
Comes with complete commercial license.
Share this:
Dash of Inspiration: January 2024 Design Challenge
Happy New Year, fellow artists! We are kicking off the year a new challenge, so let’s get to it …
……………………………………………………………
Theme: Pantone Color of the Year 2024 – Peach Fuzz
Requirements:
- Create a new design using the 2024 Pantone color: Peach Fuzz
- Any category which your card speaks to.
- No Stock card creations will be accepted.
- Blank verse will not be considered for entry in this challenge.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please do NOT use trademarked terms “Pantone” in your meta-data. You can however use individual terms like: color of the year, etc.
……………………………………………………………
Entry Deadline: Wednesday, January 31st
……………………………………………………………
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.
……………………………………………………………….
Category:
Any
…………………………………………………………….
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: January 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.
……………………………………………………………………
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.
……………………………………………………………………
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: 13.34k!
- 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 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!
-
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 2024!
………………………………………………………………………
Tips:
………………………………………………………………………
Be inspired to create and learn something new!
GCU Community 