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Wanted New Cards: 1st / First Kwanzaa

December 9, 2021

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Wanted Cards – 1st First Kwanzaa 

This year Kwanzaa will be celebrated December 26th – January 1st.  There are many 1st Kwanzaa subcategories in need of cards.

These cards should go here accordingly:

Holidays >> Kwanzaa >> 1st / First Kwanzaa

>> General 1st Kwanzaa

>> As a Couple / Engaged

>> As a Couple / Newlyweds

>> As a Family / Parents

>> Baby’s 1st / First Kwanzaa (and relationship specific subcategories)

>> In Your New Home

>> Other

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If you already have a popular Kwanzaa design, consider making 1st Kwanzaa specific variations for a like image series. Be sure to note in the Notes to Reviewer something like “this card is based on approved card pid#XXXXXX and I’d like to submit a 1st Kwanzaa series”.  

 

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 Nordic Christmas Seamless Patterns

December 8, 2021
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Nordic Christmas Seamless Patterns!

These cozy winter themed seamless patterns are perfect for your wonderful winter/christmas themed designs! Style your heart out with these awesome patterns! Only available on the Hungry Jpeg site for a week!

This beauty of a freebie is brought to you by HappyWatercolorShop!

 

800_3523867_jyg0vhi3djsvceowx5h3j717sr9h90ls7dw5g64v_free-nordic-christmas-seamless-patterns

800_3523867_f11et4tlxstynvf8oonpm4vpnmi7hko8vm87bjc4_free-nordic-christmas-seamless-patterns

800_3523867_g84tmaksw50kiyfq2aohua707h8czxwqx0aquv9m_free-nordic-christmas-seamless-patterns

800_3523867_d934qycuax3s7fkvxp61ieiemq37f9gngyp4lv1o_free-nordic-christmas-seamless-patterns

 

This product comes with a commercial license.

Wanted New Cards: 1st Christmas Great Great Grandchild

December 3, 2021

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Wanted Cards – 1st Christmas Great Great Grandchild

 

A first Christmas is magical in the eyes of a child and also for those in observation of the child’s first of many precious holidays.

GCU is in need of 1st Christmas cards for great great grandson and great great granddaughter.

 

These cards should go here accordingly:

Holidays >> Christmas >> 1st / First Christmas >> Baby’s 1st / First Christmas >> Relationship Specific >> Great Great Grandson

Holidays >> Christmas >> 1st / First Christmas >> Baby’s 1st / First Christmas >> Relationship Specific >> Great Great Grandson

 

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Consider designs that reflect different hair color and skin tones and be sure to fortify your metadata accordingly:https://gcucommunity.com/2020/06/05/nuts-and-bolts-different-variations/

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!

Nuts and Bolts: December Design Challenge – 2021 Founders’ Choice Awards

December 2, 2021

Nuts & Bolts – December Design Challenge – 2021 Founders’ Choice Awards

As we begin to wrap up another year (another doozie of a year), GCU looks forward to an anticipated closure  – December’s Design Challenge.

Yes, it’s December!  How did that happen?! And that means it’s the Best of 2021 – Founders’ Choice Awards!

This end of year challenge will consider ALL cards created in 2021 – not just from prior design challenge submissions. There will be ooodles of cards recognized! This means all artists and all 2021 card submissions are candidates.  Stay tuned in January for the “best of” 2021 winners.

Winners will receive the same recognition rewards as in prior design challenges, PLUS winners will receive prestigious and coveted Best of 2021 digital awards for their online promotion and bragging rights.

See prior Founders’ Choice Awards Winners.

The end of a year can be bitter-sweet. Take some time to reflect on all of your hard and creative work over the past year.  It’s a perfect time to get a little nostalgic, be proud of your continued dedication and perseverance, and pat yourself on the back.

As always, we look forward to doing the same!

Read more…

Freebie Wednesday: Merry Jolly Font

December 1, 2021
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Merry Jolly is a cool and retro styled decorative font. Use this font to add that special touch to any design idea you can think of!

This font is PUA encoded which means you can access all of the glyphs and swashes with ease! Available for free on the Creative Fabrica site for another 5 days, so don’t miss out!

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Merry-Jolly-Fonts-17055481-4-580x387

This product comes with a commercial license.

Rainbow Connection: Color Through the Decades II

November 30, 2021

1960s – Peace, love and the Beatles rock the world. Colors in this era are bright, modern and psychedelic with paisley patterns, mod graphics and clashing color. Black and white also makes a statement during this decade with super groovy op art and geometric patterns.

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FireShot Capture 7317 - Color Through the Decades_ 1960s - Sherwin-Williams_ - www.sherwin-williams.com

1970s – Earth tones dominate in this era as the “earth movement” begins in earnest in 1970 with the first Earth Day. Beige, rust, avocado, harvest gold, mustard yellow, earthy brown play together in patterns and solids. Appliances take on these colors as well.

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FireShot Capture 7318 - Color Through the Decades_ 1970s - Sherwin-Williams_ - www.sherwin-williams.com

1980s – The “mauving of America” is in full swing this decade with coordinates in baby blue and gray. The Miami Vice effect begins in the mid 80’s where pastels begin to dominate. The “country” trend also takes hold but the others dominate the color scene.

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FireShot Capture 7319 - Color Through the Decades_ 1980s - Sherwin-Williams_ - www.sherwin-williams.com

1990s – McMansions and Tuscan style influences begin on the west coast and make their way to the southwest, south and midwest. Beige dominates, rustic golds, terra cotta, putty, sage, earthy reds are plentiful.

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FireShot Capture 7320 - Color Through the Decades_ 1990s - Sherwin-Williams_ - www.sherwin-williams.com

2000s – Tuscan carries over and Latte becomes one of our most popular colors. Dark wood tones and deep coffee accents paired with blue make a brief but noticeable impact. The spa trends makes its way into our bedrooms and baths to remind us of coastal vacations with pale blue, aqua and white hues.

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FireShot Capture 7321 - Color Through the Decades_ 2000s - Sherwin-Williams_ - www.sherwin-williams.com

2010s – The graying of America begins in full force. Stainless steel appliances are the norm and we now opt for gray on our walls rather than beige. Whites, black and off-black become popular wall colors as and blush tones are starting to make their way into interiors.

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FireShot Capture 7322 - Color Through the Decades_ 2010s - Sherwin-Williams_ - www.sherwin-williams.com

Nuts and Bolts: Update Chinese New Year YEAR of the OX

November 25, 2021
Nuts & Bolts – Update Chinese New Year YEAR of the OX
 
We say farewell to many things with a new year and for Chinese New Year we say farewell to 2021’s Year of the Ox for 12 more years until 2033.
Please update your 2021 Year of the Ox cards to 2033.  After 12/20/21, GCU will take any outdated cards offline.

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Be sure to review the Chinese New Year specific rules on Change or New Submission.
Not only should images be updated but also card titles, keywords and artist notes.  This even applies to custom front designs to make them more marketable and avoid shopper errors.

Read more…

Freebie Wednesday: Free Christmas Elves

November 24, 2021
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These 28 cute little Christmas Elves are perfect for your Christmas designs and all your festive works! All illustrations come in PNG, SVG, PDF, and EPS format!

This cute freebie is brought to you by Side Project! Only available for at the Hungry Jpeg for a week!

800_3523861_p6hp7bg1ipb7br7g3tojhht0728dft23330d8qdk_free-christmas-elves

800_3523861_m78sj3tugpm8kgrlfida7tipkdu6lk4ppvjwbh3x_free-christmas-elves

800_3523861_bewyzmlf58rkploaol4za8g9t20hy698mdv707zs_free-christmas-elves

800_3523861_u5l5do349ptxprklu2wiptqubh6dfy6m3a4jncsh_free-christmas-elves

 

This product comes with a commercial license.

Rainbow Connection: Color Through the Decades I

November 23, 2021

1880s – 1910s – As a counter trend to the excesses of the Victorian era the Arts & Crafts movement embodied honesty in craftsmanship, celebrating the joys of nature and hearth and home with colors that range from simple off whites to rich earth tones.

FireShot Capture 7307 - Color Through the Decades_ 1880s - 1910s - Sherwin-Williams_ - www.sherwin-williams.com

FireShot Capture 7309 - Color Through the Decades_ 1880s - 1910s - Sherwin-Williams_ - www.sherwin-williams.com

1920s – The Jazz Age – wall colors were generally light neutrals and greys with accessories and accents in vibrant colors like Chinese Red and Blue Peacock.

FireShot Capture 7305 - Color Through the Decades_ 1920s - Sherwin-Williams_ - www.sherwin-williams.com

FireShot Capture 7306 - Color Through the Decades_ 1920s - Sherwin-Williams_ - www.sherwin-williams.com

1930s and 1940s – The Bauhaus inspired modern movement and streamlined design were making an impact. Interior colors of the time were soft and dusty with creamy yellows, blued grays, soft pinks and accents in deep forest green and burgundy.

FireShot Capture 7301 - Color Through the Decades_ 1930s - 1940s - Sherwin-Williams_ - www.sherwin-williams.com

FireShot Capture 7302 - Color Through the Decades_ 1930s - 1940s - Sherwin-Williams_ - www.sherwin-williams.com

1950s – The exuberant post war boom was a mix of styles with mid-century modern and Scandinavian influences making the most impact. Pastels are the norm with pink and turquoise appliances adorning the kitchen and laundry room. Lilac and Chartreuse are very popular.

FireShot Capture 7303 - Color Through the Decades_ 1950s - Sherwin-Williams_ - www.sherwin-williams.com

FireShot Capture 7304 - Color Through the Decades_ 1950s - Sherwin-Williams_ - www.sherwin-williams.com

Nuts and Bolts: Orientation Considerations Reverse Image

November 19, 2021
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Nuts & Bolts – Orientation Considerations Reverse Image
 
 
Some designs simply lend themselves to one particular orientation as well as possibly working better flipped or reversed.  When creating a design, take a moment to consider if it would also work (or possibly work even better) in the alternate orientation.
 
Here is an example of a photograph by GCU artist Stephanie Laird, while meticulously updating existing cards, Stephanie modified this lovely image, finding it worked better flipped and shared these edits for re-review with the review team:
 
Good morning. I replaced the image on this card with an updated version, it is flipped, and the moon has more detail. PID 1313834 I changed the font on the cover and the inside verse and keywords.
 
Original:
 
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Updated:
 
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Read some tips from Stephanie on her storewide facelift efforts as well as from GCU artist Doreen Erhardt.
 
NOTE: Here are some guidelines on what to do when Editing an Existing Card.
 
See this related post on Leveraging Designs and Orientation Considerations and another Flipped Image example.
 
 
Read more…