Last week I was excited to venture up to Fort Mason, San Francisco for the SF Now + Noted Greeting Card Expo. After receiving a lovely email from Mindy with an invite to meet up at this show, I was even more thrilled. As a GCU artist for over 14 years it was such a pleasure to finally get to meet Mindy. What a lovely human she is! We had the opportunity to discuss many topics pertaining to the evolution of the greeting card business and how it sometimes overlaps the equally changing yet fickle gift industry.
The SF Now+ Noted show was by other National Stationery show standards a relatively small representation, but still had an exciting range of cards, stationary, gift wrap, party and tableware and a small array of giftware.
There were in my estimate just under 200 vendors, each displaying their unique style and luscious creative range.
About two thirds of the show appeared to be focused on greeting card vendors, where I noted some lovely examples of old school letterpress options but with very fashionable modern takes on design. Personally, I love the look, feel and splurge of letterpress. I also noticed lots of whimsy and detail included in some of the card designs as well as more intricate offerings which involved lots of hand applied or added embellishments. Those included charms with notes of encouragement or witticisms. It was very encouraging to also note some vendors emphasizing ethnic diversity and environmental issues. Many of the color palettes appeared muted and earthy, like from nature, while the more saturated colors focused more on a younger, hip or even juvenile audience. Sentiments were all over the map from edgy, mildly brash humor to sweet, maudlin verse and or imagery. Included in the mix were a few of the big name card companies, but I focused more on the small, independently creative personalities. I did notice that most of the card designs from these independent vendors were ‘note card’ sized 4” x 5 1/2” in vertical and or horizontal formats. I’ll keep this option on my wish list for future possibilities with GCU. *hint hint*
As I perused the aisles I couldn’t help but notice how much dedication and passion each vendor appeared to have for their individual style of products. This also had me wondering how much of an investment, ie. time, material costs, traveling and actual physical effort each vendor had to work through in order to get to this point of sharing their art and connection with the world. Here is where I had an epiphany, and as Mindy so kindly pointed out. GCU offers a unique opportunity to enable any budding artist a chance to create a passive form of income. I must admit, I never thought of GCU in that vernacular. As I interacted with vendors, I also was gobsmacked to find out that very few of the card vendors had even known that GCU is an option for their creative endeavors.
We’re all striving to connect with people through our own unique personal exchange through our individual artistic expression. For me GCU has felt like a long time friend and cohort.
It turned out to be a fantastically beautiful day in the city, and my overall impression of the show was very positive, and Mindy’s warm and encouraging persona made for a fabulous and inspiring day to get back home and create more art.
The difference is made in the details!
Mindy
GCU Community Manager
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Wanted New Cards: New Job Special Education Teacher
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/
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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Nuts & Bolts: Artificial Intelligence Policy
- 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.
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.
The difference is made in the details!
Mindy
GCU Community Manager
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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/
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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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.
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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 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!
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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 2023!
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Tips:
- Visit all the available tips, tricks and guidelines offered on the Big Stock Creation blog page!
- Learn more about Sip & See Wanted Cards
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Be inspired to create and learn something new!
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Nuts & Bolts: Reminder April 2023 Design Challenge
Sunday, April 30th is the last day to submit your entries for April’s Design Challenge.
The difference is made in the details!
Mindy
GCU Community Manager
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Freebie Wednesday: 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.
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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:
February’s Winner, M.M. Anderson
Congratulations to both of these artists for their Design Challenge wins!
The difference is made in the details!
Mindy
GCU Community Manager
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Wanted New Cards: Get Well Eyelid Surgery
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/
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 Forest Bird Watercolors
Only available on the Hungry Jpeg site for another 6 days, so don’t miss out.
Comes with complete License.
GCU Community 