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Nuts and Bolts: 2020 1099-NEC Form (MISC)

December 26, 2020
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Nuts & Bolts – 2020 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 2020.  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.
 
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Wanted New Cards: Touring Motorcycle

December 24, 2020

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Wanted Cards – Touring Motorcycle
 
We recently received this observation and request from a shopper:
 
“As a frequent buyer from your company I have to say you have great cards and I’m often asked about where I got a card and always sing your praise. I have purchased some motorcycle theme cards including several this year, but all your cards show a Harley, cruiser or hog style bike. You’re missing out on the touring motorcycle demographic. Please look into this style of bike on cards. Thank you”
 
Please consider designing cards with this style of motorcycle keeping in mind that all images and meta-data must be generic or abstract in nature.
Note, vehicle manufacturers have protectable trade dress rights in the distinctive shapes of their vehicles. The unique exterior design and shape of the vehicle is their `mark’ or `trade dress’ which distinguish the vehicle’s exterior shape not simply as distinctively attractive designs, but as the Manufacturer’s creations. This “trade dress” right bars the use of any silhouette, picture, caricature, or reproduction of the shape or appearance of the Manufacturer’s vehicle.  
 
If you are already offering motorcycle cards, consider offering the same card with a different bike silhouette.
 
 

Note, keywords are key!  To help shoppers find exactly what they want be sure to use terms that describe exactly what your card is ie: “touring motorcycle” “hog chopper bike” etc.
 
There are many different types of motorcycles that all have distinct usages, features, silhouettes and fans:
Standard, Cruiser, Sport, Touring, Dual-Sport, Off-Road, Scooters / Mopeds, Trikes …
 
We’d like you to create at least one card for these categories using the Stock Cards function 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”.

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Freebie Wednesday: Bestlife Font.

December 23, 2020

Bestlife! is a single line style font, perfect for all your design needs! Comes in OTF, TTF, and WOFF formats!

This modern freebie is brought to you by Ibey Design! Only available on the Hungry Jpeg site for a week!

This product comes with a commercial license.

Nuts and Bolts: Year End Holidays Office Closure

December 18, 2020

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Nuts & Bolts – Year End Holidays Office Closure

 
For your planning purposes, in observation of the Christmas and New Year holidays, GCU offices will be closed on the following days:

Friday 12/25 – closed
Friday 1/1 – closed

This includes our dedicated Card Review team members who will not be reviewing cards on either of those days / times.

ALSO our Card Review team members and GCU personnel will be taking some additional days off between the day before Christmas and January 2nd so staffing will be present but very light.
Thank you for your understanding & patience while we all enjoy the holidays!   

From all of us at GCU, Happy Holidays and best wishes for a breath-of-fresh-air new year!  

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Wanted New Cards: CNY 2021 Year of the Ox.

December 17, 2020

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Wanted Cards – CNY 2021 Year of the Ox
 
We’ve come full circle as it’s been 12 years since we saw the year of the ox which was GCU’s first strong selling specialty category for Chinese New Year. At the time thinking of the next Year of the Ox in 2021 seemed like an eternity away.  Well, the Ox is back! 
 

CNY is February 12, 2021 … get your designs in NOW for review in order for shoppers to find them.  CNY cards are already selling.  Submissions in January may be too late to capture shoppers’ eyes.  The early bird gets the worm, or gets the OX this year!

Holidays >> Chinese New Year >> 2021 / Year of the Ox

There are MANY specific subcategories in need of  CNY Year of the Ox cards.

 
 
 
If you plan on leveraging a design to make a series, please be sure to follow the Series / Concept Review process and submit your first design with a note and await approval before creating the balance of the series.
 
Here are important tips and guidelines on CNY cards and categories worth reading if considering updating a Chinese New Year card from a prior year or different zodiac.

Please consider this new subcategory for your card’s second category under Collections >> Chinese Zodiac >> Ox 

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Freebie Wednesday: Watercolor Christmas Advent Cliparts.

December 16, 2020

 

 

Get this collection of 50 high quality Christmas themed cliparts for the holiday seasons now! All files in PNG format for you to use freely!

This pretty freebie is brought to you by Olga Koelsch! Only available on the Hungry Jpeg site for a week!

This product comes with a commercial license.

Rainbow Connection: Pantone 2021 Colors of the Year.

December 15, 2020

Trend forecasters have unveiled the color of 2021, and the message is one of optimism. For the 22nd consecutive year of its closely watched marketing stunt, Pantone, a company known best for its color chips, has selected two hues to represent the “meaning of the moment”: Ultimate Gray and Illuminating. Announced amid news that a Covid-19 vaccine was finalized, the colors conjure impressions of a departing deep fog or a shock of sunlight on a cloudy afternoon.

“This is a color combination that gives us resilience and hope” said Leatrice Eiseman, the executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, said in a statement. The institute researches visual trends and consults companies on how to best optimize their findings.

This is only the second time in its history that two colors have been chosen by Pantone. In 2015, Rose Quartz and Serenity (a pastel pink and tranquil blue) were chosen for 2016. The two colors were represented as a gradient in a nod to the growing recognition of gender fluidity.

The colors of 2021 are intended as a distinct, but complimentary pair. Ultimate Gray, a neutral shade, is the first gray to be recognized with the honor. The Pantone press release described it as akin to earth elements which are “everlasting and provide a firm foundation.” Illuminating, only the second yellow hue chosen in 22 years, was described as “imbued with solar power.”

Don’t forget to check out our growing Pantone Color of the Year 2021 mood board on Pinterest

Nuts and Bolts: Artist Interview Tammy Moody

December 11, 2020

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Nuts & Bolts – Artist Interview Tammy Moody
 
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.

Be sure to stay tuned for GCU’s 2020 Founders’ Choice Awards coming in January.

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Wanted New Cards: 1st Interfaith Holiday

December 10, 2020

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Wanted Cards – 1st Interfaith Holiday
 
GCU offers many Christmas and Hanukkah cards for special firsts – as newlyweds, in your new home, as parents, baby’s first, etc.
 
We would like to offer cards that are general “holiday” or interfaith specific.  These cards will go here which will serve as a catchall for all variations of firsts:
 
 
and
 
 
 
 
We’d like you to create at least one card for these categories using the Stock Cards function 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”.

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Freebie Wednesday: 26 Free Tape

December 9, 2020
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Grunge or torn tape PNG shapes for your new projects or graphics! You’ll get 14 blue tape shapes (for light backgrounds) and 12 white tape shapes. (for dark backgrounds). Download here – share with your friends and enjoy 🙂
  • 2 layered PSD templates with all shapes in layers
  • 2 transparent PNG images 8000 x 5500 pix 300 dpi

This product comes with a commercial license.