Free Gnome Saint Patrick’s Day Watercolor Set!
This watercolor clipart sublimation collection can be used to create finish products! (Shirts, mugs, bags, pillow or wall art, etc). This pack comes in 24 different illustrations for you to choose and play with!
This lucky freebie is brought to you by Apixsala!
Only available on the Hungry Jpeg site for a week.
This product comes with a commercial license.
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Dash of Inspiration: March 2022 Design Challenge
Ready for another Design Challenge? Back by popular demand, we have another Fusion Design challenge. Let’s get to it!
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Theme: Fusion Design
Requirements:
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Create a brand new design by choosing at least three objects from the list of eight objects below and creating a greeting card design. You may use more than three, all of them, or add additional items, including people and animals – but a minimum of three from the list must be clearly visible and important elements in the overall card design and message.
sandal – needle & thread – shovel – newspaper – window – chocolate – picture frame – candle
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Write your own verse/message, be creative and write a message that clearly speaks to your imagery, occasion and recipient.
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Blank verse will not be considered for entry in this challenge.
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Entry Deadline: Thursday, March 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.
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Category:
Any
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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: March 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.
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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.
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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: 5.36K!
- 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 2022!
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 2,000 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 2022!
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Tips:
- Nuts and Bolts: How to Write Greeting Card Verse
- Nuts and Bolts: The Right Image
- Better Designs = More Approvals = More Sales
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Be inspired to create and learn something new!
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Nuts and Bolts: Reminder February 2022 Design Challenge
Stock Card Creations are automatically identified as Fast Track – please add in the Notes to Reviewer: February Design Challenge Submission
The difference is made in the details!
Mindy
GCU Community Manager
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Wanted New Cards: Travel Companion(s) Thank You
Wanted Cards – Travel Companion(s) Thank You
Near or far, it’s fun to travel with a companion or with another couple. Sharing the planning, cost, and experiences is very common and a great way to make new memories and social-filled getaways.
Please consider creating new cards to thank a travel companion or thank another couple that you travel with for an enjoyable trip.
The cards will go here:
Occasions >> Thank You >> Travel Buddy / Adventure Buddy
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”. (stock cards are automatically fast tracked).
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 Easter Watercolor Cliparts
FREE Easter Watercolor Cliparts – this pack of 22 cute easter designs is here to make your designs extra adorable! All items come in PNG formats!
This wonderful freebie is brought to you by ChonnieArtwork!
Only available on the Hungry Jpeg site for a week.
This product comes with a commercial license.
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Freebie Wednesday: Free Farmhouse sand and Doodle Font
FREE Farmhouse Sans and Doodle Font!
This freebie has farmhouse-inspired fonts which include sans serif & doodle dingbats! Use them as a duo to create your very own branding logo or card designs for a modern and rustic look!
This wonderful freebie is brought to you by Naughty Pen! Only available on the Hungry Jpeg site for a week.
This product comes with a commercial license.
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Nuts and Bolts: Dedicate Yourself to the Details
Thank you to Stephanie for her ongoing cultivation and her great communication with the review team.
The difference is made in the details!
Mindy
GCU Community Manager
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Wanted New Cards: Thank you Bartender / Mobile Bar and Photo Booth
Wanted Cards – Thank you Bartender / Mobile Bar and Photo Booth
All the details that come together to make a wedding special are often the hard working and creative vendors contracted for the special day.
Please consider creating designs for these new sub-category:
Occasions >> Thank You >> Wedding Attendants / Bridal Party >> Service Providers >> Photo Booth
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”. (stock cards are automatically fast tracked).
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 Australian Birds & Flowers
FREE Australian Birds & Flowers!
This strikingly colorful Australian Birds & Flowers clip art collection comes as high-resolution PNG and JPEG files (300 DPI.) This set includes 27 beautifully detailed elements, created digitally, all large-high-quality illustrations.
This great freebie is brought to you by JenDigitalArt! Only available on the Hungry Jpeg site for a week.
This product comes with a commercial license.
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Dash of Inspiration: 2021 Founders’ Choice Awards.
1. Best New Artist: Inga Razuvaeva of in Pictures
Honorable Mentions Best New Artist:
Farida Greenfield of Farida Gallery
and Deborah Roy of Red Birds Cardstone
Honorable Mentions Best Overall New Card:
Doreen Erhardt of SalonOfArt Greetings – PID 1676492
and Sharon Dominick of Sharon Dominick Photography – PID 1670560
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3. Hottest Seller – CHRISTMAS:
Doreen Erhardt of SalonOfArt Greetings – PID 1699566
Honorable Mentions CHRISTMAS Hottest Seller:
Mindy Pierce – PID 1698480
and Lisa M. Griffin of La Belle Paperie – PID 1699138
3a. Hottest Seller – CHINESE NEW YEAR:
Teri Nelson Kuster of Che Bella Nota – PID 1692864
Honorable Mentions CHINESE NEW YEAR Hottest Seller:
Colleen Kong of Savage of Kona Line – PID 1715144
and Doreen Erhardt of SalonOfArt Greetings – PID 1708834
3b. Hottest Seller – BIRTHDAY:
Laurie Schneider – PID 1681064
Honorable Mentions BIRTHDAY Hottest Seller:
Natalie Kinnear of Natalie Kinnear Cards – PID 1685672
and Dale Simpson of Dale Simpson Design – PID 1681338
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4. Best Custom Front (Text):
Annie Lang of Annie Thing’s Possible – PID 1671536
Honorable Mention Best Custom Front (Text):
Christie Black of Creations from the Heart – PID 1687092
and Ron Magnes of Creative Greetings – PID 1665980
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5. Best Custom Front (Image):
Mindy Pierce – PID 1702396
Honorable Mention Best Custom Front (Image):
Angela Sullivan of Custom Greeting Cards – PID 1672714
Honorable Mention Best Custom Front (Image):
Nancy Mink of Nancy Mink Studios – PID 1692000
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6. Best Business Logo/Name:
Cathie Richardson of Country Garden Cards PID 1704948
Honorable Mention Best Business Logo/Name:
Pamela Jorgensen of PamJArts – PID 1668752
and Mindy Pierce PID 1685690
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7. Funniest Card: Mike Baldwin of Cornered Greetings – PID 1707432
Honorable Mentions Funniest Card:
Ron Magnes of Creative Greetings – PID 1684730
and Doug Hill of Laughing Hippo Studio – PID 1671164
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8. Most Creative Stock Card Creation (BigStock):
Doreen Erhardt of Exclusive Creations – PID 1699694
Honorable Mention Most Creative Stock Card Creation (BigStock):
Ginger Irwin of Cards by Ginger – PID 1682336
and Joy Ellaga of Creating with Joy – PID 1678162
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9. Rising Star:
Inga Razuvaeva of In Pictures – PID 1677436
Honorable Mention Rising Star:
M.M. Anderson Art – PID 1667838
and Judith Gorgone of Judith Gorgone Designs – PID 1675568
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10. Custom Request – Nailed it:
Ron Magnes of Creative Greetings – PID 1681200
Honorable Mentions Custom Request – Nailed it:
Julia Bryant of JJBDesigns – PID 1677528
and Cisillia Tay – PID 1666932
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11. Best Uncommon Card:
Kate Taylor – PID 1665168
Honorable Mention best Uncommon Card:
Cinda Wood of Cinda Wood Designs – PID 1675338
and Gail Pepin – PID 1671112
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12. Best Design Challenge Submission:
Michelle Lanoue of Illustrations by Michelle – PID 1698674
Honorable Mention Best Design Challenge Submission:
Stephanie Laird – PID 1701088
and Stephanie Laird – PID 1678094
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13. Simply Clever:
Kathleen Johnson of Encouragers for Christ – PID 1680622
Honorable Mention Simply Clever:
Greetings from Anne – PID 1689430
and Mike Shiell of Wandering Melon – PID 1693310
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14. Reviewers’ Choice:
Fiona, Reviewer #825 – Pamela Jorgensen of PamJArts – PID 1718930
Ella, Reviewer #758 – Bruce Bollinger of Lucid Moment – PID 1677416
Mackenzie, Reviewer #528 –Stephie McCarthy – PID 1677344
Desiree, Reviewer #121 – Colleen Kong-Savage of Kong Line – PID 1703016
Phoebe, Reviewer #443 – M. M. Anderson Art – PID 1669166
John, Reviewer #233 – Mike Coyle – PID 1711872
Catherine, Reviewer #871 – Betsy Bush of Dragonfire Graphics – PID 1690162
Victor, Reviewer #992 – Kathleen Johnson of Encouragers for Christ – PID 1703620
Rebecca, Reviewer #619 – Dale Simpson of Dale Simpson Design – PID 1708186
Anne, Reviewer #127 – Annalisa Jones of Annalisa Caroline Greetings – PID 1704620
Jessica Renee, Reviewer #937 – Joyce Geleynse of Joyful Art – PID 1705204
Shelley, Reviewer #937 – Ramelle Richardson of Eloquence by Ramelle – PID 1703646
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A year in review is usually very telling and 2021 is no different. What also is not different is our artists’ commitment to creativity and serving out of the box occasions. Your creative works continue to delight shoppers’ and truly chronicle the landscape of their lives. Thank you for your resiliency, for your unflappable creativity and fortitude during another wonky year. We at GCU are immeasurably proud of and grateful for your contributions in keeping Greeting Card Universe the go to site for Any Card Imaginable.
Mindy
GCU Community Manager
GCU Community 