Nuts & Bolts: Collections Categories
Choosing categories is perhaps one of the most challenging parts of the card submission process. We strongly advise that you choose your category before actually designing your card. Since you can have two categories per card (2 not required) the second category should not be a random afterthought.
The difference is made in the details!
Mindy
GCU Community Manager
Share this:
Wanted New Cards: Thank You Injection Nurse
Med Spas provide many cosmetic injectables requiring the skill of a nurse – not always but often an aesthetic and cosmetic services trained nurse.
Please consider creating Thank You cards for this new occupation that should go here:
Occasions >> Thank You >> Occupation Specific >> Medical Spa Nurse / Aesthetic / Cosmetic Injection Nurse cid#37670
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!
Share this:
Freebie Wednesday: Christmas Cookie Font
This week’s freebie is Christmas Cookie Font by Imagination Switch.
This font is suitable for a wide range of purposes, including print designs, web designs, promotional materials, and more. Its excellent legibility and visually appealing presentation make it an ideal choice for enhancing the visualization of your message.
Comes with complete commercial license.
Share this:
Nuts & Bolts: Custom Card Requests, Be Holiday Ready
Custom design requests provide a wonderful opportunity to delight a shopper! Some requests are a simple color or word change while others are more involved resulting in a new design altogether.
* There can be up to a 24 hour delay in your updated message displaying on the site.
The difference is made in the details!
Mindy
GCU Community Manager
Share this:
Wanted New Cards: Bridal / Baby Shower Seasonal Themes
It is popular to match a bridal or baby shower theme to the season of the event – winter, spring, summer, fall / autumn.
Consider seasonal designs for these categories:
Occasions >> Bridal Shower >> Season Specific
Consider also trending baby themes like a little pumpkin, baby in bloom, little ray of sunshine, baby it’s cold outside, etc. Here is a pinboard for inspiration.
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 Watercolor Christmas Chicken Clipart
This week’s freebie is watercolor chirstmas chicken clipart by cuoctober
Included in this set
– 10 PNG files with Transparent Background
– 10 JPG files with White Background
(3000×3000 px , (10″X10″), 300 DPI )
This Design is Compatible with sublimation, digital printing transfer. DTG, Screen Printing and event ink jet transfer.
It can be used for sublimation products, cards, frame artwork, scrapbooks, t-shirt, pillows, bags, mugs, sticker, etc
Comes with complete commercial license.
Share this:
Dash of Inspiration: October 2023 Design Challenge
Sorry for the delay – had an emergency with our dog yesterday and rushed her to the vet. She ripped a nail nearly off and it would not stop bleeding. So my day was interrupted, unexpectedly, delaying this challenge announcement. Okay, let’s have some fun with the holidays rapidly approaching.
……………………………………………………………
Theme: 2023 Holiday Color Trends
Requirements:
- Create a brand new design for for any winter holiday featuring a color palette from 2023 Holiday Trends. A link below will get you started.
- Write your own verse/message, be creative and write a message that clearly speaks to your imagery, occasion and recipient.
- No Stock card creations will be accepted.
- Blank verse will not be considered for entry in this challenge.
……………………………………………………………
Entry Deadline: Tuesday, October 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 winter holiday.
…………………………………………………………….
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: October 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 – 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 10,800 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 10,800 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!
………………………………………………………………………
Tips:
- Holiday Color Trends for 2023 courtesy of Decorate and More
- Nuts & Bolts – Color Variation Considerations
- Dash of Inspiration: Mastering the Art of Greeting Card Design
………………………………………………………………………
Doreen Erhardt© and SalonofArtGreetings
Be inspired to create and learn something new!
Share this:
Nuts & Bolts: Reminder September 2023 Stock Design Challenge
NOTE: Add a note to your Notes to Reviewer: Sept Design Challenge Submission
The difference is made in the details!
Mindy
GCU Community Manager
Share this:
Freebie Wednesday: Free Fall Flowers Clipart
This week’s freebie is Fall Flowers Clipart from Paper Artsthetics.
What you’ll get:
1 ZIP file
10 PNG files
3600 x 3600 px
High quality 300 Dpi
Comes with complete commercial license.
Share this:
Wanted New Cards: Brides in Black Gowns
This spring at New York Bridal Fashion Week, many collections featured options in black, leading experts to predict that they’ll be all the rage of the wedding fashion world by 2024.
Consider any of the subcategories under:
Occasions >> Congratulations >> Wedding / Marriage
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!
GCU Community 