GCU Community

Wanted Cards – CDI Week / Clinical Documentation Improvement

If you’ve never heard of CDI Week before, you’re not alone. CDI stands for Clinical Documentation Improvement (or Integrity), and it’s a specialized field within healthcare that focuses on ensuring patient medical records are complete, accurate, and tell the whole story. The professionals in this field—Clinical Documentation Specialists (CDS)—are the unsung heroes behind the charts, bridging the gap between clinicians, coders, and the healthcare system.

Each September, CDI Week shines a light on these dedicated professionals. In 2025, it will be observed September 15–19. This annual celebration recognizes the importance of clear documentation for quality patient care, accurate coding, and proper reimbursement. Think of it as a “thank you” week for the people who keep the paperwork precise and the records reliable.

Why Greeting Cards?

Like nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare pros, Clinical Documentation Specialists deserve recognition too. A thoughtful card can celebrate their hard work during CDI Week, or congratulate them on achieving their CCDS (Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist) certification. These moments are big career milestones and rarely get spotlighted in the greeting card world—meaning a great opportunity for GCU artists to step in and fill the gap.

Where Your Cards Should Go:

• Holidays >> Occupational Appreciation Observances >> Clinical Documentation Improvement / CDI Week / September (cid#39355)
• Occasions >> Congratulations >> Becoming a Licensed / Certified >> Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist / CCDS (cid#39356)

Card Text Ideas

For CDI Week Appreciation Cards
Front:

• “Clear notes. Clean charts. Countless thanks!”
• “Happy CDI Week to the pros who keep it all documented!”
• “Behind every accurate record is a brilliant CDS.”
• “CDI Week: Celebrating those who make every word count.”

Inside:

• “Your dedication ensures patients’ stories are told correctly. Thank you for all you do!”
• “Because of you, the details matter, and patients receive the care they deserve.”
• “Happy CDI Week to a true documentation hero!”
• “You may work behind the charts, but your impact is front and center.”

For CCDS Certification Congratulations
Front:

• “Certified and Documented—Congratulations!”
• “Congrats on becoming a CCDS! You’ve written your success story.”
• “Your expertise is official—CCDS and proud!”
• “Celebrate the codes, the charts, and this career milestone!”

Inside:

• “Congratulations on your CCDS certification—your hard work paid off!”
• “You’ve achieved a credential that proves your dedication. Well done!”
• “Becoming a CCDS is no small feat. Proud of you and your success!”
• “Your career path just got even clearer—congratulations, Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist!”

Design Ideas for Artists

• Medical chart, clipboard, or stethoscope paired with celebratory elements like balloons, confetti, or flowers.
• Fun “documentation humor” (sticky notes, pens, highlighters, checkmarks, tick-boxes).
• Professional and uplifting designs that blend healthcare imagery with warm congratulations.
• Playful word art using acronyms (CDI, CDS, CCDS) integrated into the design.

Tip: Think of CDI Week as similar to Teacher Appreciation Week, but in the healthcare world—cards that are uplifting, fun, or heartfelt will resonate.

Happy Designing!

Corrie

Wanted Cards – Congratulations on Your New Plant

Some people collect cats, others collect pillows… and then there are plant lovers. Not to be confused with gardeners (who are out in the dirt, pruning, planting, and weeding), plant lovers are the folks who gush over the newest monstera or can’t resist “just one more” pothos for their living room jungle.

Where gardeners may pride themselves on a flourishing vegetable patch or a bed of roses, plant lovers thrive indoors surrounded by leafy companions, succulents, and trailing vines. They’re the ones who give names to their plants, rotate them for the best light, and proudly show off each new addition as though it’s a new family member.

This love for plants has exploded into a cultural phenomenon—think “plant parent,” “crazy plant lady,” or “indoor jungle curator.” With plants becoming popular gifts (housewarmings, birthdays, self-care splurges), it only makes sense that Greeting Card Universe artists jump on this growing trend. After all, if someone adopts a new puppy or cat, we have a card for that—so why not for a new fern, cactus, or fiddle leaf fig?

That’s why GCU is calling for new cards in this fresh category:

Occasions >> Congratulations >> New Plant (cid#39350)

Whether it’s someone’s very first houseplant or their fiftieth, receiving a card to celebrate their leafy new arrival would be a fun and thoughtful touch.

Card Text Ideas

Front: “Welcome to the jungle… (your living room, that is!)”
Inside: “Congrats on your new plant baby!”

Front: “Leaf it to you to find the cutest new housemate.”
Inside: “Congratulations on your newest green addition!”

Front: “Every home needs a little more chlorophyll.”
Inside: “Congrats on bringing fresh life into your space!”

Front: “Another plant? Of course you needed it!”
Inside: “You can never have too many leaves to love. Congrats!”

Front: “This calls for a plant parent announcement!”
Inside: “Congratulations on your new leafy little one.”

Front: “Rooting for you!”
Inside: “Your new plant couldn’t have found a better home. Congrats!”

Front: “From seedling to superstar.”
Inside: “Here’s to your new green family member—congratulations!”

Front: “Crazy plant person? Nah… you’re just passionate.”
Inside: “Congrats on your latest leafy love!”

Design Tips for Artists

• Illustrations of popular houseplants: monstera, fiddle leaf fig, snake plant, pothos, succulents, cacti.
• Playful typography: use leaf-shaped lettering, hanging vine accents, or pot-shaped text blocks.
• Humorous takes: exaggerate the “crazy plant lover” lifestyle, like an apartment overflowing with greenery or a person juggling dozens of potted plants.
• Cute metaphors: baby announcements, adoption themes, or pet-style humor reimagined for plants.

Here are 10 solid keyword ideas you can use for the new “Congratulations on Your New Plant” category:
plant adoption
plant parent
crazy plant lady
new plant baby
indoor jungle
houseplant lover
green thumb
plant collection
leafy love
potted plant gift

This is a lighthearted, trendy category with tons of pun potential—perfect for fresh designs that will make any plant lover smile.

Happy Designing!

Corrie

Leif Erikson Day: A Brief Journey Through the Legend

• What’s Being Celebrated?
  Leif Erikson Day, observed every October 9, honors the Norse explorer believed to be the first European to reach North America—nearly 500 years before Columbus.
• Why October 9?
  The date isn’t tied to Erikson’s actual voyage—the exact day remains unknown. Instead, October 9 was chosen because it commemorates the arrival of the ship Restauration from Norway to New York Harbor in 1825, the beginning of organized Norwegian immigration to the U.S.
• Cultural Roots & Recognition:
  The observance has deep ties to Scandinavian communities in the U.S., especially in the Midwest. It gained state-level recognition starting in the 1930s, and by 1964 it became a nationally observed day, with annual presidential proclamations.
• A Note on Its Historical Context:
  While the day celebrates Norse exploration and Scandinavian-American heritage, some scholars note its popularity in earlier decades was intertwined with nativist sentiments, positioning Norse discovery as a counter-narrative to Columbus and reflecting cultural tensions of the time.

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Fun, Informative, and Designing for the GCU Card Collection

Here’s how we can craft cards for Holidays >> Leif Erikson Day / October 9 (cid#39348) with the GCU print-on-demand system in mind, just pure storytelling charm:

1. “Voyage to Vinland”

• Front Design: A stylized longship cutting across waves with vine tendrils emerging from the sea—tying in the name “Vinland.”
• Inside Message:
  “Celebrating the brave explorer who navigated to lands unknown—Happy Leif Erikson Day!”
  Maybe add a fun historical tidbit, e.g., “Leif Erikson may have reached North America around the year 1000—centuries before Columbus!”

2. “Nordic Roots & New World”

• Front Design: A shield motif emblazoned with runes over a background pattern of Norwegian immigration ships.
• Inside Message:
  “Honoring explorers and immigrants alike—Leif Erikson Day celebrates discovery and Scandinavian-American heritage.”
  Optional small text: “October 9 marks the arrival of organised Norwegian immigration (the Restauration, 1825).”

3. “Saga Style”

• Front Design: A narrative comic-like panel showing Leif’s voyage arriving on rugged shores, inspired by Viking sagas.
• Inside Message:
  “From ancient sagas to modern celebration—Happy Leif Erikson Day! Here’s to bold journeys and boundless curiosity.”

4. “Viking Spirit”

• Front Design: A minimalist Viking helmet or rune-stamped compass with clean, modern lines.
• Inside Message:
  “Chart your own course—celebrate the explorer within. Happy Leif Erikson Day!”
  A nod to exploration as a metaphor for new personal adventures.

5. “Cultural Celebration”

• Front Design: Folk-art style with traditional Nordic patterns, maybe stylized grapes/vines to reference Vinland.
• Inside Message:
  “Celebrating the Norse explorer who journeyed west, and the cultural heritage that followed. Happy Leif Erikson Day!”

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Why These Work for GCU Artists

• Informative & Fun: Each card weaves in quick, intriguing history tidbits that are conversational and engaging, without overwhelming.
• Design-friendly for GCU Specs: Clean illustrations, no special finishes—just bold, graphic elements and clever layouts that translate beautifully on standard cardstock.
• Storytelling Meets Celebration: These cards reflect both the spirit of exploration and heritage pride—perfect for the Scandinavian-descended or history-curious receiver.

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Summary Table

Card Idea	Design Focus	Special Highlight
Voyage to Vinland	Longship + vines	First European in North America (~1000 CE)
Nordic Roots	Shield & immigration ship imagery	Commemorates Restauration arrival (1825)
Saga Style	Comic-panel saga illustration	Saga-inspired storytelling approach
Viking Spirit	Iconic helmet or rune compass	Motivational twist—exploration as metaphor
Cultural Celebration	Folk-art patterns with Vinland nods	Blends explorer tribute with heritage motifs

Happy Designing!

Corrie