Tammy Moody, Design Challenge Winner, June 2018   What was your inspiration for your winning card? Please walk us through the process of how this card went from an idea to a greeting card. When I was growing up, the phrase, ” I’m singing your praises” was often heard whenever people wanted to thank you for something you did. When I saw this month’s design challenge theme, that phrase instantly popped into my mind. I had never done one of the stock card challenges, so I thought I would give it a try. I looked for animals playing instruments and found this wonderful bull strumming his little guitar and I Click to Read more…

Liz Van Steenburgh of Starstock Greetings, Design Challenge Winner, May 2018  What was your inspiration for your winning card? Please walk us through the process of how this card went from an idea to a greeting card. When this challenge was announced, I knew I’d want to create something that I actually had some experience in myself.  “Back in the day”, they actually had sewing classes throughout high school and it was something I always enjoyed.  I also love graphics, especially vintage graphics, so I went through my extensive graphic arsenal and came up with the dress form as the base for the design.  When I found the needle and Click to Read more…

Julia Bryant of JJBDesigns, Design Challenge Winner,  April 2018 What was your inspiration for your winning card? Please walk us through the process of how this card went from an idea to a greeting card.  I wanted the card to be funny. I searched for ‘funny parrot’ in the Big Stock images and this one caught my attention because I thought it would be cute to have him ‘squawking’ about a birthday. It really did just come together. We’ve talked before about how choosing the perfect stock image is challenging due to so many choices.  What about this image did it for you? I thought he was hilarious and there Click to Read more…

Mindy Pierce — Design Challenge Winner,  March 2018   Please list the URLs of your 3 favorite cards in your storefront and why they are your favorites.   This was one of my very first attempts at doing my own hand lettering and writing so you might say it has sentimental value because it was a turning point in how I approach card ideas. So many of my cards are crammed full of imagery so I am fond of this one because of it’s simplicity. It feels good to get out of your comfort zone occasionally. I think that greeting cards help people express themselves and connect with those they care about. I Click to Read more…

Design Challenge Winner, January 2018, Ultra Violet – Tammy Moody  What was your inspiration for your winning card? Please walk us through the process of how this card went from an idea to a greeting card.  I hate to admit it, but the inspiration for this design began when I was flipping through TV channels and heard a girl say, “He was totally checking me out”.  At the time, I was sitting there petting my cat, Meeko. Anyhow, I kept flipping through the channels and what that girl said stuck in my head for some reason Then, I looked down at my cat and he was staring at me, so I Click to Read more…

Congratulations to Lisa Crisafi of Nest to Nest Greetings, Design Challenge Winner, November 2017 Please add any awards or contests you’ve won outside of GCU. My love for creating greeting cards began when I started entering Hallmark Card contests. Contest entries consisted of uploading a photo and submitting a verse fitting the contest category. More often than not, the contests required a sense of humor and a love for puns. I quickly learned what the contest team was looking for and went on to win 12 of those card contests and a video commercial contest.  It was great fun and I met an amazing group of artists and writers from Click to Read more…

Congratulations to Julia Bryant, Design Challenge Winner, October 2017 What was your inspiration for your winning card? Please walk us through the process of how this card went from an idea to a greeting card.  When I was thinking of what to do for this challenge, I wanted it to be humorous and capture a cat’s attitude. I enjoy cat memes and other stories about cats and their attitudes. I wanted the cat to express his displeasure with its owner for making him wait. I think the frown on the cat says it all. Your winning card perfectly captures a cat’s sassy attitude.  What cat experience did you draw from? Click to Read more…

Congratulations to our May Design Challenge winner, Pamela Jorgensen from PamJArts. Her winning card appears above. Please list any awards or contests you’ve won outside of GCU. I did win best victoria sandwich cake at a village flower show in England when I was 12 years old. That was a worthy accomplishment in my small village, unrelated to my artistic leanings but totally worth a mention. I previously belonged to a local art society and earned some minor awards for oil paintings and pencil drawings but generally I have not participated in contests. Please list the URLs of your 3 favorite cards in your storefront and why they are your favorites. Cold Get Well Click to Read more…