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Nuts and Bolts: Ethnicity Variations

January 21, 2022

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Nuts & Bolts – Ethnicity Variations
 
Since people come in all ages, sizes, genders, and colors.  Consider relatively easy variations on a card design that serve different cultural / ethnic markets
that make a big impact. 
 
GCU Artist Jamie Grob of Montana Design Studio offers these variations on the same design to meet the needs of a special valentine.
 
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NOTE: be sure to fortify your meta-data for these variations so shoppers can find exactly what they are searching for.
 
Also, if your variations are based on an existing design be sure to add a Note to Reviewer with your new submission
like “based on PID#XXXXX with ethnicity variation”.
 
See post on leveraging designs for Different Variations.
 
 

The difference is made in the details!

Mindy


GCU Community Manager


Wanted New Cards: Spring Break COVID

January 20, 2022

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Wanted Cards – Spring Break COVID

 

As students head back to the classrooms after winter break, spring break will not be too far from students’ thoughts.  Enter spring fever and plans for spring break.  Spring break will probably still be different from “normal”.

Please consider creating cards for spring breakers under coping with coronavirus conditions: 

Occasions >> School Days >> Spring Break >> Coronavirus / COVID 19

All COVID-19 specific cards should also go in the catchall category:
 
Since Stock Card Creation cards are automatically assigned a category, their categories should be as follows:

 

We’d like you to create at least one card for these categories using the Stock Cards function (Bigstock) or your own graphic designs. 

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!

 

 

 

 

Freebie Wednesday: Free Watercolor Greenery Collection

January 19, 2022
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Watercolor Greenery Collection is the Freebie of the Week at The Hungry Jpeg.

Here’s what you’ll get in this awesome freebie:

  • 50 Watercolor Greenery Leaves (PNG Format)
  • 6 Wreath and Arrangements (PNG Format)
  • 1 Greenery Wedding Invitation (EPS & JPG Format)
  • 1 Card Template (JPG Format)

brought to you by Shark & Croc co.!

Available for free for the next 6 days on the Hungry Jpeg site. Don’t miss out!

 

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This product comes with a commercial license.

Nuts and Bolts: New Year New Changes

January 14, 2022

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Nuts & Bolts – New Year New Changes
 
 
Fresh into 2022 there will be some new things and changes on the near horizon I’d like to share with you.
 
1. Price Increase – this is long overdue (GCU has not raised prices since 2013) coupled with the skyrocketing price of paper. It goes into effect on 1/17/22.  With your artist discount code, this does not impact artists’ buying price. However this WILL bump up artist commissions by a few cents per card. The artist commission rates (%) will remain the same.
 
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2. Artist Tool Improvements – we have a few tweaks to the artist pages that we hope will make your life easier.  Primarily ease of use and navigation. We will announce these here when they become available.
 
3. In-store Pickup – GCU’s new in-store pickup partner and offering was to be announced at the end of 2021. It’s complicated but know the diligent work continues on both sides to get this service in place in early 2022.  See prior posts here.  Stay tuned for the official announcement date.

 

 

The difference is made in the details!

Mindy


GCU Community Manager


Wanted New Cards: Persian New Year Missing You

January 13, 2022

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Wanted Cards – Persian New Year Missing You

 

The first day of Spring brings the Persian New Year.  Please consider design cards for those that will not be together to join the holiday. 

The cards should go here:

Holidays > Persian New Year Cards > Missing You at Persian New Year

We’d like you to create at least one card for these categories using the Stock Cards function (Bigstock) or your own graphic designs. 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!

 

 

 

 

Freebie Wednesday: Free New York Hand-lettered Signature Script Font

January 12, 2022
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New York Hand-lettered Signature Script Font!

New York is a hand-lettered signature script font perfect for your modern designs!  This font comes with tons of ligatures so you can alter it to your liking! Font comes in OTF format.

This awesome freebie is brought to you by Blush Font Co.!

Available for free for the next 6 days on the Hungry Jpeg site. Don’t miss out!

800_3523883_y7t6u6jdirfdp2fpr9vhmx5ur5oq1ar4mmq4cca9_free-new-york-hand-lettered-signature-script-font

800_3523883_rsyhio0uboqt92cu7cxpdqlltt66ajwuwvf2oy3z_free-new-york-hand-lettered-signature-script-font

800_3523883_40rqpdaz60p0yevxd1j3epl003v0i6je1kxv4i65_free-new-york-hand-lettered-signature-script-font

800_3523883_xqtcmjd8jv0pxvckghihruotraun5nt7cn97vnxz_free-new-york-hand-lettered-signature-script-font

This product comes with a commercial license.

Nuts and Bolts: 2021 1099-NEC Form (MISC)

January 6, 2022

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Nuts & Bolts – 2021 1099-NEC Form (MISC)
 
Form 1099-NEC will be mailed out the first week of January to all U.S. based artists who were paid more than $600.00 in 2021.  When you receive your Form 1099-NEC, please review the information and let us know ASAP if there are any errors as the forms must be filed with the IRS on January 31st and it is difficult to correct mistakes after that date. 
 
All corrections should be sent to accounting@gcuniverse.com    

NOTE: 1099-NEC (Non-employee Compensation) will now be used instead of the 1099-MISC form see here for details on the change of form.
 
 

The difference is made in the details!

Mindy


GCU Community Manager


Freebie Wednesday: Free Emanie Font

January 5, 2022
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Emanie is a chic display font, that emanates confidence and versatility. Its stylish alternates and ligatures make this font the perfect match for any project. Available for free on the Creative Fabrica site.

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Emanie-Fonts-17733794-6-580x387

This product comes with a commercial license.

Dash of Inspiration: January 2022 Design Challenge

January 4, 2022
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It’s a new year and it’s full of design challenges! We lead off the year with the Pantone Color of the Year for 2022! I was not able to create an example card this round due to being without power for five days in heavy snowfall. So I’m a bit behind … LOL!

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Theme: Pantone Color of the Year 2022 – Very Peri

Requirements:

  • Create a new design using the 2022 Pantone color: Very Peri (6868AC)
  • 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” or “Very Peri”” in your meta-data.  You can however use individual terms like: periwinkle, purple, color of the year, etc. 

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Entry Deadline: Monday, January 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: 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.

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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.
  • 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!
  • 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:

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Be inspired to create and learn something new!

Screenshot 2022-01-04 at 15-17-20 Pantone Color of the Year 2022 Introduction

Nuts and Bolts: 2021 Top Nine Instagram

December 31, 2021

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Nuts & Bolts – 2021 Top Nine Instagram

 

Social Media is a great way to share your creative works and things that inspire, entertain, and maybe even annoy you.  It’s also a great repository or chronicle of your past years.  Again, let’s have some fun and share your best 9 posts of 2021, hopefully they are greeting cards or your creative works!

 

Here are a few ways you can generate your Top Nine.

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Be sure to use the hashtags: #2021bestnine #bestnine2021 #top9  #topnine #best9 #bestnine #bestnineof2021 #topnine2021 #artvartist #artvartist2021

And most importantly, be sure to tag us @greetingcarduniverse  

Looking forward to seeing your best nine on Instagram!

 

 
 

The difference is made in the details!

Mindy


GCU Community Manager