Finally, Cards That Say Exactly What You Mean

You know that feeling when you’re standing in the card aisle, reading card after card, and nothing quite captures what’s in your heart?

We totally get it.

I was actually talking to my neighbor yesterday about this exact thing.

She’d spent a good part of her Saturday afternoon driving to three different stores, looking for the perfect retirement card for her sister who’s also a nurse.

She wanted something that celebrated both milestones, but everything she found was either too generic or only covered one or the other.

Sound familiar?

There you are, surrounded by rows of cards, thinking: “This is nice… but it’s not quite what I want to say.”

Maybe you’re looking for something truly special for your goddaughter’s baptism, a moment that deserves more than a generic “Congratulations” card.

Or perhaps you need a birthday card for someone born on the 4th of July (try finding that perfect combination in stores!).

Or maybe you just want to send a sweet “thinking of you” card to your grandson at summer camp, something that will remind him how much he’s loved.

The truth is, when you care deeply about someone, “close enough” never really feels good enough.

You want that card to say exactly what’s in your heart… because the people you love deserve that thoughtful touch.

Why Finding the Right Card Matters So Much

Here’s what we’ve learned after helping families connect for over two decades: the right card isn’t just about the occasion.

It’s about showing someone they’re seen, remembered, and loved in a way that’s uniquely them.

When your card arrives in their mailbox, it’s not just paper and ink. It’s proof that you thought of them.

It’s a tangible reminder that they matter.

And honestly? In our increasingly digital world, that physical gesture carries even more weight than it used to.

That’s exactly why we believe every relationship deserves the perfect card – not just whatever happens to be available at the store down the street.

What “Any Card Imaginable” Really Means

When we say “any card imaginable,” we’re not just talking about having lots of options (though we do have over 500,000 designs!).

We’re talking about understanding that your relationships are unique, your celebrations are special, and your moments deserve cards that honor that.

Our incredible community of independent artists has created designs for almost every situation you can think of:

  • Cards for modern family situations that traditional card companies never considered
  • Celebrations for cultural and religious traditions often overlooked by big retailers
  • Support for life’s challenging moments when the right words can mean everything
  • Recognition for the everyday heroes in your life who rarely get celebrated

And here’s what makes it even better: once you find that perfect design, you can make it truly yours.

Making It Personal

You’re not just sending a card… You’re creating something meaningful.

Something they might tuck away as a keepsake.

Here’s how you can make each card uniquely yours:

Add your own photos – Turn a beautiful design into a cherished memory by including pictures that tell your story together.

Write your own message – Skip the generic verse and say exactly what’s in your heart, in your own words.

Adjust colors and fonts – Make subtle changes that reflect their personality or match the occasion perfectly.

The result? A card that feels like it was made just for them… because it was.

The Relief of Shopping from Home

Remember that feeling of wandering store aisles, hoping to get lucky? You can leave that stress behind.

No more driving from store to store.

No more settling for “almost right.”

And no more worrying about whether you’ll find anything appropriate at all.

Instead, you can browse thoughtfully from your favorite chair, take your time reading through options, and choose something that truly speaks to your heart.

When you find it, you know it’ll be printed on beautiful, professional-grade card stock and arrive exactly when you need it.

Supporting Artists Who Care

When you choose one of our cards, you’re not just solving your own card-giving challenge.

You’re also supporting amazing independent artists who pour their hearts into every design they create.

These artists understand that greeting cards aren’t just products… they’re vehicles for human connection.

They create with intention, knowing their art will help families celebrate, comfort friends in difficult times, and keep relationships strong across distances.

Because the People You Love Deserve Exactly What You Feel

Let’s be honest: the people in your life are worth more than settling for “close enough.”

They deserve a card that says exactly what you feel, created just for them, sent with love from your heart to theirs.

Whether it’s your granddaughter’s sweet sixteen, your neighbor’s retirement, your friend’s cancer-free celebration, or just a random Tuesday when you want someone to know you’re thinking of them…

Every connection matters.

Every card you send is a small act of love that brightens someone’s day and strengthens the bonds that make life meaningful.

That’s what we’re really here for.

Not just to sell cards, but to help you nurture the relationships that matter most.

Ready to skip the card aisle frustration and find something that truly speaks from your heart?

Take a look at what our amazing artist community has created – we have a feeling you’ll find exactly what you’ve been looking for.

Shoaff-Ballanger Designs Design Challenge Winner, April 2025

What were your inspirations for your winning card? Please walk us through the process of how this card went from idea to greeting card.
When the notice of the Design Challenge was posted we immediately began to think about our own sisters and female camaraderie. The inside verse for the card was so important to us, and we wanted it to reflect the power of female relationships. We wanted the card’s cover design to reflect a simple but powerful message. The cover design was created first, and then we completed the message inside. 

Do either of you have a sister(s) and, if so, how did your relationships inspire this card design and verse?
Our sisters, as well as ourselves, experienced and lived through the 1970s with all of its social movements, women’s rights, music, and art. Even though we were different ages we experienced the era together and listened to each other’s LPs and 8-track tapes. The inside verse was kind of a review of our experiences with our sisters as we have lived our lives. We each have one sister still living and are ready to meet those obstacles together.

This design has a little hippie or 70s feel to it. Intentional or coincidental?
It was a very intentional decision to have a 70s feel for this card. We decided to go a little retro for this design with the colors and symbolism. 

You have entered many Design Challenges.  What advice would you give to other artists who are hesitant to enter?
Do not hesitate to enter the Design Challenges. It gives you such wonderful exposure on social media and the free card credits are great if you win the challenge. 

We try to use fonts creatively if the Design Challenge requires the use of BigStock images. 

Sometimes we find ourselves in a creative rut, and entering the Design Challenge gives us an incentive to try new ideas. Go for it!

You’ve been a member of GCU’s artist community since 2008.  How have you seen your own card designs evolve or change since the early days?
Our store review a couple of years ago, although painful, was so needed and has improved our designs with less distracting elements, improved use of text/font styles, improved marketability, and more current messages on the inside verses. 

There are many rewards for the Design Challenge Winner.  Which is your favorite and why?
We love being featured as the Design of the Day on the Greeting Card Universe home page, and we send links to family and friends. It makes our day and theirs as well. 

Relatively new to the Design Challenge is the sharing of post voting Judges’ Notes. Have you found these to be valuable and if so, in what way?
The post-voting Judges’ Notes are so helpful, and we appreciate and use the feedback. It really makes you think about what you have created and how it is perceived by others. Think of it as potential customers looking at your card and deciding whether to purchase it or not.

The early bird catches the worm. Do you have plans to design early for holidays or occasions (like Christmas in July) or are you inspired at the moment?
We are inspired by the moment since being retired from 30+ years of teaching for each of us. We are currently enjoying the spring weather and getting our planters and window boxes filled with flowers. We should be designing for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but are enjoying the 70-degree weather too much at the moment. 

Ok, now for the fast five, fun questions … 

How did your childhood prepare you for your job today?
Both of us had mothers who nurtured our artistic endeavors as young children to draw, create with clay, sew, take classes at the local art center, or just watch our own mothers dream and create things in their daily lives.

What’s the most unusual item in your desk / workspace?
We are both currently staring at a series of five wooden drawing mannequins with movable parts. Kicking, jumping, running, and more!

What is your greatest irrational fear?
We both detest snakes and creepy crawly things.

Pick up pennies or walk past them?
Leave them be.

What is the grossest food you ever had to eat to be polite?
Cooked okra, period!

Lisa Charlton, Design Challenge Winner, March 2023

Please list any awards or contests you’ve won outside of GCU.

I’ve had a few yays including Best in Show Booth and a Pet Industry Best New Product featuring my artworks on gift decor but my biggest win (and this will sound cheesy) is winning the hearts of pet lovers who view my paintings.

Please list the URLs of your 3 favorite cards in your storefront and why they are your favorites.

  1. Stay PAWSitive Canine Painting One of my most popular cards. Over 1500 sold. Created from a painting of one of our past dogs named Takoda, meaning, Friend. His name and heart lives on with every send of this card.

Bless This Nest Eastern Bluebird All Occasion One of the first cards I created for Greeting Card Universe. 

My 3rd favorite card is going to be the next card I create for my store! I hope it will be a favorite of card shoppers too. Thanks for looking. 

What was your inspiration for the make-over changes to your winning card? Please walk us through the process of how this card went from before to after.

This month’s design challenge had card artists examining their stores for a card with 0 sales and editing that card with new image and/or text but to keep the category and intended recipient the same. I had recently completed a painting of 20 dogs for the 20th anniversary of a Rescue I do annual art gift ornaments for. A painting of 20 dogs is so much more suited for a PAWty invitation card than my original card art of just one breed specific dog. Ta Da! Let’s PAWty!

Your cards feature a lot of animals. Tell us where your love of animals started and the big question, how many pets do you have?

We have two pet family members, Abby, our cat and Willie, our dog, but many chunks of our hearts have previously been taken by past animal fosters and family. The love of animals has no pinpoint. 

What sparked your interest in art? Did you start as a young child?

Yes, blessed to be influenced by art appreciators and encouragement as a young child.

Do you have formal training or are you self-taught?

 Namely, self-taught but with credit to an Italian realistic artist named Mario Aromi. He spoke few English words but through the language of art, he taught me to draw and paint realistically. Credit also to a now dear friend who taught folk art. After years of not painting, I attended her folk art class. Voila, she ignited my creative and I was soon booking art and craft shows to sell my work.

Is your work done by hand and then scanned or do you work entirely on the computer?

By hand, then scanned for reproduction on greeting cards and art gift decor. I am better with a brush stroke than a keystroke.

Have you ever/do you currently have a job other than as an artist?

I was a full-time ‘starving’ but happy to be an artist for many years. I currently flog merchandise in a thrift store 4 days a week and dabble with art for online sales. Hoping to be more of a dabbler in days to come.

What GCU artist(s) do you admire?

Hard to narrow down, from 3000+! Two artists instantly come to mind, Corrie Kuiper and Doreen Erhardt, not just for their inspirational card creations but for the hours of time they dedicate to serving the GCU community with tips, help and challenges.

You have been with Greeting Card Universe since 2007. What advice do you have for an artist considering joining GCU’s community?

Join in Design Challenges, educate yourself with Greeting Card Universe’s wiki resources before you upload your first card. Learn from the fantastic reviewers. Don’t be discouraged. GCU’s reviewers set a high bar with good reason. Clear the bar. You’ll smile when you do.

What would we be surprised to learn about you?

Hmmm, nothing up my sleeve that would surprise. I live, I love, I learn, I laugh … thanks for spending time with me on Mindy’s blog. Cheers, Lisa Charlton, Cards from the heART.

Alda Monteschio Design Challenge Winner, August 2023

Alda Monteschio Design Challenge Winner, August 2023


Please list any awards or contests you’ve won outside of GCU.
I work for a Christian Gift company and was asked to write a Mother’s Day poem to accompany a piece of jewelry in the product line. It was the first poem I wrote for them and the product ended up winning an industry award at one of the trade shows. This poem was the first of many of what has become a whole product line for the company. I also designed a Mother’s Day card for a Hallmark contest and won. The card was sold for a season by Hallmark.


Please list the URLs of your 3 favorite cards in your storefront and why they are your favorites.
Here are 3 of my favorite cards:

Forever Loved Thinking of You Blank card
Besides the poem, I love the look of the flowers against the watercolor background.

Hip Hip Hooray Hip Replacement Success card
I was inspired to design this card for my friend’s husband who recently had a hip replacement. He said it was “a keeper” so that makes it even more special to me.


As You Begin Your New Life Wedding Congratulations card
This is another card that was inspired by and designed for a couple I know who managed to find one another again later in life. I love the soft feel of the artwork, too.


Please list any of your professional social media sites.
I have an Instagram account that I sometimes post my cards and other creations on. You can also find me on Pinterest with some pins for Heart Tugs Greeting Cards.


What were your inspirations for your winning card? Please walk us through the process of how this card went from idea to greeting card.
I am a first-generation Italian American and called my grandparents on both sides Nonna and Nonno. Both my grandmothers lived for 100-plus years and neither spoke English! When I saw the subject of the design challenge there was no question that I would use either Nonna or Nonno in my design. Because of my heritage, the thoughts that ran through my mind were DNA … Italian … which led me to find artwork that I could use to convey these messages. Of course, with Italy shaped like a boot and my love for rhyme, it didn’t take much more to make it all come together once I found the fingerprint. I was pleased with the way it turned out, but never expected it to win. Very grateful for the honor.


What sparked your interest in art? Did you start as a young child?

I was never really artistic as a child, but I did write some poetry. I always wanted to take art in school, however,my parents encouraged me to take college courses instead so I never got the opportunity. I did try things like calligraphy as an adult and did a pencil sketch once, but later in life as my job commissioned me to write poetry, I took some graphic design classes. Coupling the writing with the graphic design eventually led to greeting card design.

Do you have formal training or are you self-taught?
The writing is self-taught, but I did take courses in Adobe Illustrator and PhotoShop.


Is your work done by hand and then scanned or do you work entirely on the computer?
I do all or most of my work in Adobe Illustrator. I use Photoshop on occasion.

Have you ever/do you currently have a job other than as an artist?
I work for a gift company in product development. I help design jewelry and its packaging which usually contains a gift card with poetry or other sentiments.

What GCU artist(s) do you admire?
I don’t even know where to begin as there is so much talent on GCU! I feel a kindred spirit with Sue Nollmeyer at Sunshine Studio and love the scope and variety that Sandra Rose Designs offers. And of course, Corrie Kuipers cards are wonderful! It’s always fun to see how creative each artist can be.

Tell us how your Italian heritage inspires your work.
As I said earlier, I am first generation Italian-American. My Dad was born there and after years of him encouraging me to take a trip, I went to visit. Of course, Italy is known for its amazing art, so my love and appreciation for beautiful art and design probably stems from that.


What would we be surprised to learn about you?
I am actually very SHY! I think this is the main reason I wrote poetry as a child. It was a form of self-expression.


Design Challenge Winner, November 2022, New Year – Stephanie Laird

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You have a lot of wine-related designs. Tell us about your love of wine.
Yes, I do have a LOT of wine designs! It’s because of where I live. For the past 30+ years, I have lived in wine country CA.   It is beautiful and covered in vineyards, tasting rooms, and wineries.  It seems everything revolves around wine!  I wasn’t much of a “wine-er” to begin with, but when in Rome … Plus, there are always photo-ops driving through the beautiful vine-covered hills. One of my horse cards on Greeting Card Universe is also a wine label for a wonderful Grenache, Petite Syrah blend called Untamed at Shadow Run Vineyards.
Which of your card designs do you predict will be your best seller this year (2022 holidays) and why?

Now that is such a great question and I wish I had a good answer! Sometimes what I think is brilliant, really isn’t, and cards that I think are just okay sometimes really sell! So, I guess wine cards sell pretty good because you can attach humor with them.  But it probably is a little bit of a niche market because not everyone drinks, or drinks wine. Horses always seem popular, just because they are such beautiful creatures!  But this year, I think the dolphins and Santa will be the best because I believe everyone thinks dolphins are kind of special. P

We also see many horses, dogs, and cats in your designs.  Are any of the featured animals your own pets?
Yes, they all are, and they are all tired of the camera! My horses, I torture early in the morning, to get the sunrise behind them. To get them to pose, I have to place their hay in certain spots on a hill to get the silhouette. It is usually dark and very cold when we start this process but sometimes yields some nice photos. Not always though, as horses aren’t always known for cooperating.  My beautiful dogs, some that have passed on, have all been my loving subjects. And it is really neat to have my ones that have passed, live on in the pictures on the cards. Cats, too, although I have only one cat right now. He was saved from a wildfire in 2020. My friend was working the fire and brought him by.  His name is Smokey, because of the fire, and he is, well, kind of feral and a jerk but he did pose for a Halloween card! Kind of fitting for his wicked little personality!

Ok, now for the fast five, fun questions …  
What is your hidden talent?
Okay, I know this may sound weird, but I can find any public bathroom, anywhere.  I just can. 
If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be?
Invisibility, which, unfortunately, speaks to my level of sociability. 
What’s the strangest family tradition in your family?
I am not sure if it is strange, but we would hand down ID’s. I had 3 sisters, and as soon as one of us hit 21 they would get a new id and give the old id to the younger one, and so on, so we could get into drinking establishments. We looked similar enough to pull it off. This was back when it wasn’t as strict as today.  Probably not too wholesome and it may explain my abundance of wine cards

What’s your most embarrassing moment from your teen years?
Getting my tongue stuck in a bottle.  Don’t ask. 
What was your first paid job?  What did you love or hate about it?
Cleaning horse corrals. I started when I was 7. Traded for horse board.  There wasn’t a lot to like about it, but it did let me have a horse!

M.M. Anderson, Design Challenge Winner, February 2023

Mothers Day Grandmother Azalea Pink and Magenta Flowers Custom card

Please list the URLs of your 3 favorite cards in your storefront and why they are your favorites.

This ostrich art birthday card is a favorite because the bird portrait is quite whimsical and I feel the design came together well with my text. I also appreciate that it can be customized for any recipient.

This daisy encouragement card appeals to me because it has such a cheerful look and message but it may also be customized to suit the needs of the buyer.

This blank note card with winter berries is a favorite because it features seasonal artwork that I particularly love and also for the design’s versatility. The inside may be customized for Christmas or for any wintertime event.

Please list any of your professional social media sites.

mmandersonart on Instagram

MMAnderson Art on Pinterest

MMAndersonArt on Facebook

MMAnderson Art on Twitter

MMAnderson on Mastodon

What was your inspiration for your winning card? Please walk us through the process of how these cards went from ideas to greeting cards.

I generally create the artwork first. I was inspired to do the azaleas in soft pastel after photographing the early blossoms in my own garden this spring. I always find the vivid magenta color of these shrubs striking when they appear after the drab winter season. These spring flowers with their delicate appearance and pretty pink hues, I felt, would lend themselves well to a Mother’s Day design.

What sparked your interest in art? Did you start as a young child?

As a child, I did enjoy drawing but I did not become serious about art until I attended college and found myself trying to decide on a path that would make the most of my talents. My work has always been inspired by a love of nature and a desire to capture something of the way in which I see the world.

Do you have formal training or are you self-taught?

I have a BA in art from the University of Lynchburg in Virginia.

Is your work done by hand and then scanned or do you work entirely on the computer?

I do most of my artwork by hand in soft pastel and then scan it for use at my various websites. Occasionally, I also do some graphic artwork on the computer but my heart is really with the traditional media. After I have the image saved on my computer I then tweak it in Lightroom to get the colors, contrast, etc. as close as possible to the original and clean up any scanner lint. I design my greeting cards in Adobe Illustrator utilizing my artwork image and choosing fonts and colors that I feel will work well with it. Finally, I export the card designs as jpeg files for upload.

Have you ever/do you currently have a job other than as an artist?

Originally, I had intended to teach art, but that never became a reality. Before I decided to try a full-time art career around a decade ago, I used to do data entry in an accounting office.

What GCU artist(s) do you admire?

I admire all of the GCU artists because I know how much dedication it takes to create beautiful, unique designs that will meet the review standards.

Looking at your storefront, which is your favorite subject matter: flora or fauna?

It would be difficult for me to choose between flora and fauna as a favorite subject. I love working with both. I feel that alternating between the two keeps the work interesting for me. White flowers are a favorite subject of mine as well as birds of various kinds.

What would we be surprised to learn about you?

Folks might be surprised to learn that, even though I currently live in a small town not far inland from the coast in South Carolina, I was born and raised in Central Virginia within sight of the Blue Ridge Mountains and I miss them. I’ve never come to appreciate the flat coastal plains, wetlands and beaches, as beautiful as they may be and where I have lived for nearly three decades, as much as the hills and valleys of the Blue Ridge.

Trudy Wilkerson, Trudy’s Impressions, Design Challenge Winner, September 2022

Christmas Tree Typography Presents Star Streams around Decorated Tree card

Please list the URLs of your 3 favorite cards in your storefront and why they are your favorites.
Sunflowers have always been a favorite flower of mine due to the message they seem to suggest, which in my opinion, is happiness, brightness, and hope.  Although, I have designed many sunflower cards, this particular one I really love because of its down-home country feeling it seems to scream.
Country Sunflowers, Birthday, mom, Brown Texture, Tied Knot card 


I love designing with bold colors, thus I have created what I titled, KALEIDOSCOPE COLLECTION, whereas I have designed images in bright colors in abstract forms.  One of my first cards in this unique collection. My favorite is: Hi, Hello, Colorful and Happy Frog in Kaleidoscope Collection card 


My third choice would probably have to be a religious Christmas greeting honoring Christ’s birth. 
Christmas – Religious – Baby Jesus/Manger – Greatest Gift card 

Please list any of your professional social media sites.  
Basically, I don’t indulge too much in social media, however, I do enjoy visiting Facebook to see what my peers are up to and keep in touch with family and friends.


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 GCU announces the new monthly challenge, it often gets my designer juices flowing and I am eager to challenge myself to come up with something new and fun for it.  The thought process for this typography holiday card was simply to focus on my favorite upcoming holiday, Christmas, and then I began thinking of all the words that immediately popped up in my mind that best described that holiday.  Then I incorporated all those words into the form of a Christmas tree, and then it all fell into place quite easily.


What sparked your interest in art? Did you start as a young child?  
I have always loved art since childhood.  After my mother passed back in 2000, I thought to myself, life is short, so I focused on learning photography, and that became a real passion of mine.  From there I was introduced to stock sites and of course GCU.  At first, I just started with photographs of flowers over and over again, but soon discovered there were millions out there of gorgeous flowers. That’s when it dawned on me to start learning via digital designs and quickly discovered how much I absolutely loved it.  Over the years, I self-taught myself how to design digitally through the use of tutorials and more on the internet and slowly started adding programs that I could use along with photoshop, and the rest is history.


Do you have formal training or are you self-taught? 
I started with photography taking a year course through the New York Institute of Photography and then later I self-taught myself techniques in designing through many, many online tutorials.

Is your work done by hand and then scanned or do you work entirely on the computer? 
First, I so admire those who are natural artists and draw by hand, simply amaze me with their talents.  However, I 100% design everything on my computer through either or both Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop.   I usually go back and forth between both programs. 

Have you ever/do you currently have a job other than as an artist?  
Yes, I previously was a Realtor for 27 years.  I loved helping people find their dream homes.  Once I started dabbling in photography and then on to designing, I found that it relaxed me and gave me great peace of mind by shutting out the stresses of the world.


What GCU artist(s) do you admire?
There are so many inspiring artists out there, too many to mention that I like.  However, like many of us, Corrie Kuipers and Doreen in our Community Blog, have both inspired and educated us with their ideas and suggestions to improve ourselves.  I appreciate their hard work and steadfastness.


What would we be surprised to learn about you?
On a very personal note, I’d like to share something about myself that I discovered I had within me, but never knew just how strong I really was. Two years ago, I discovered I had cancer, and sadly a very aggressive
cancer which I was told, that even after chemo, women don’t survive more than two years.  At first, fear gripped me to the core.  I wanted to see my grandchildren have children and families.  Then with God’s almighty grace and with the support of my family and friends, I took on the belief that I would be one of the 9% that could survive this.  Thereafter, everything I looked at in life became less important but at the same time, I wanted to strive to be a better person, more caring, more loving, and appreciate every moment that God allows me to have here on this beautiful earth.  These past few weeks, I did have a scare it may have come back, however, after undergoing cat scans, and many other tests, my doctor advised me that at
this point I am in remission and cancer free.  Now that dreaded two-year mark is only two months away.
The reason I am sharing this personal information is to encourage anyone that is struggling with something in their life, to not
give up, and to fight tooth and nail for what they need to conquer, and with God’s grace, you can pull through it.

Ramelle Richardson, Eloquence by Ramelle, Design Challenge Winner, August 2022

Christmas Dolphins Leaping for Joy card

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.
It was a nice surprise to have my entry selected for First Place in the Design Challenge. Thank you! My idea for the card came to me when the Big Stock image of leaping dolphins brought back memories of a beautiful sight I had seen while on a Polynesian cruise.

We were leaving Rangiroa by way of Tiputa Pass, a gap in the atoll which is famous for its raging outgoing current. As the islanders on shore waved goodbye and blew on huge shell trumpets, over a dozen dolphins raced toward our ship, then turned around to ride the surf created by the bow wave. I hung halfway over the railing to catch a glimpse of the dolphins and was astounded by their acrobatics. They were leaping into the air, spinning and playing in the surf with obvious joy. When I saw the stock image of the dolphins, I knew I had to use it for a Christmas card and add text that would allude to the joy one might feel at Christmas time.


What sparked your interest in art? Did you start as a young child?
My interest in art was first sparked as a child of three or four as I sat in front of the TV, watching Popeye cartoons on a local Los Angeles channel hosted by artist Tom Hatten. Tom would draw an abstract figure called a squiggle; on the sketch pads of his young studio guests who would then incorporate that squiggle into a drawing. I did my best to copy the original shape onto my own art paper and then would turn it this way and that, looking for some recognizable form within the abstract lines while asking myself, “What do I see here . . . a dragon . . . a face?”


I not only learned how to accurately copy lines and forms, but this helped me develop creativity and an awareness of negative space. I also acquired an incurable case of Pareidolia from which I hope to never recover.


In Kindergarten, I would spend every recess at a big wooden easel, painting. I loved painting so much that for Christmas, when I was five, my dad and brother built me my own easel. I was given all the necessary supplies to make large watercolor paintings which—believe it or not—are still in existence, thanks to my mom who saved each and every one, thinking I’d be the next Picasso. Ha! I have no idea what to do with those childish paintings, but after hanging onto them for the past 64 years, I’m reluctant to part with them now.


Please list any awards or contests you’ve won outside of GCU.
As an adult, I have not entered any art contests or competitions. I really can’t say why . . .
I just haven’t given much thought to it. But as a kid obsessed with art, I was determined to enter and win every coloring contest I could get my hands on. I began with two entries I submitted for a national competition, sponsored by Post Cereals and Mattel Toys. For the contest, five different cartoon characters were printed on cereal boxes with no context of the setting or what the character was doing. The challenge was to draw the details surrounding the cartoon character and tell a story with imaginative artwork. Using a Crowquill pen, India ink, and watercolor pencils, I created two entries, each of which had the potential to win a nice selection of toys.

I will never forget the day my mom picked me up from school, brandishing not one—but two registered letters. One letter said that I had won First Place for one of my entries; the other letter announced that of all five categories, my other submission was awarded Grand Prize as the best entry over all. As the National winner, I was given a bicycle and nearly every toy Mattel made. After that confidence-building experience, I kept my eyes open for art contests, both national and local. What followed was a string of first-place wins and by the time I ended my career as the coloring-contest kid, I had won another bike (a gorgeous blue Stingray) and a boat-load of other fun prizes.


As I entered high school, I participated in various art exhibitions, poster contests and competitions, winning several cash prizes. Upon graduation in 1971, I was selected as the recipient of the Bank of America Award in Art.

Do you have formal training or are you self-taught?
Though mostly self-taught, I attended a community college with an extensive art department where I took a smorgasbord of classes: art history, oil painting, life-drawing, sculpture, jewelry design, commercial art, watercolor, even glassblowing. Concurrent with my art instruction, I took an equal amount of theater classes. When I transferred to the University of California Irvine in order to complete my degree, I changed my major from Studio Art to Theater Arts. In 1976 I graduated from UCI with a Bachelor’s degree in Acting.


Have you ever/do you currently have a job other than as an artist?
As soon as I got my acting degree, I joined Lamb’s Players, a Christian drama ministry, and traveled with their Street Theater troupe for the next two years, performing comedy and drama at Renaissance festivals, churches, colleges and other venues throughout the US and into parts of Canada.


After my adventures with Lamb’s Players, I did some freelance graphic-arts work, designing logos and ads for magazines. That was before computers and digital art when all my graphic artwork was freehand and the text had to be done with press-on lettering. I was often commissioned to do pastel portraits as well. For a while I worked at a sign company, creating vinyl signs, but the work was tedious and mind-numbing. The business was in a large unheated building that was so cold that even in SouthernCalifornia it numbed the fingers as well; so I sought a job as a waitress and thoroughly
enjoyed the interaction with the public.


During this time I utilized my theater arts degree by directing church musicals and acting in community theater. (Fun Fact: I played the “Day By Day” girl in a local production of Godspell and had the dubious honor of playing the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz.)


My best friend Oscar and I married in 1980 and we had two kids. (We’re now the grandparents of six grandkids.) After quitting my waitress job, I wrote and performed a one-woman dramatic presentation called Through a Mother’s Eyes in which I played the role of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Using my knowledge of Biblical history and scripture, along with my drama skills (and some maternal humor,) I told the story of Jesus’ childhood and ministry from the perspective of a very human Jewish mother. For the next 19 years, I performed Through a Mother’s Eyes at churches, retreats, women’s prisons and other service organizations.


Please list the URLs of your 3 favorite cards in your storefront and why they are your favorites.
This was my favorite card for the Chinese New Year of the Rooster in 2017 because of its uniqueness. My design is a nod to the famous French poster “Le Chat Noir” (The Black Cat) by Theophile Steinlen. I found a drawing of a rooster’s head that Steinlen had used on a lesser-known cabaret poster and I completed the bottom half of the rooster with my own artwork


My Christmas card featuring inquisitive donkeys and ponies gathered around the Bethlehem manger was inspired by a photo I took of a friend’s baby who was wrapped in a crocheted blanket with only his toes and hands visible. I thought it was a cute photo and wracked my brain to figure out how to use the baby in a Christmas card. This is what I came up with.


This whimsical birthday card was one of the first designs I made with an iPad. Prior to 2022, all of my digital art was drawn with a mouse—a painstaking method and very time-consuming. For this design, I created each of the little critters and the flowers as vectors and also incorporated a photo of “Mr. Snoofles” our neighborhood squirrel who went to his reward years ago (but has found immortality in several of my cards that feature him.


Is your work done by hand and then scanned or do you work entirely on the
computer?

I use both methods. I often blend my own digital artwork with my original photos as well as free-commercial-use pictures available online. Lately, I have been scanning or photographing my decades-old paintings and drawings from my college days, and I have been giving them new life with added layers of new artwork and text.


What GCU artist(s) do you admire?
There are so many wonderful artists who contribute to GCU. I admire them all, but I particularly enjoy the art of Betsy Bush (Dragonfire Graphics), Michelle Lanoue, and Cathie Richardson (Country Garden Cards). I especially love Asian art and so the beautifully detailed Chinese and Vietnamese New Year cards by Cisillia Tay are some of my favorites. Cisilla’s work never fails to fill me with wonder, admiration, and a teeny bit of envy.


Doreen Erhardt’s artwork is fantastic, too. Doreen was a great help to me when I first joined GCU in 2011. I had just learned how to use a computer and I needed tons of help to create a card worthy of GCU approval. I appreciated that Doreen always took the time to answer my questions and offer valuable advice.


What would we be surprised to learn about you?
I spend a ridiculous amount of time caring for PidgieWidget, an ornery, bad-tempered rock pigeon that I rescued as a chick over a year ago. “Widgie” has crippled feet and cannot be released into the wild so she lives in an open cage in my living room, scattering feathers everywhere. She is occasionally loveable, and enjoys traveling in the car, hunkered down on my shoulder and watching the scenery as it passes by. My pigeon is featured on only one of my cards so far, but I have plans to use Widgie’s image for some future designs if I can get her to cooperate.


Robin Chaffin of Simpy Put by Robin, Design Challenge Winner, April 2022

 Get Well Soon Baseball Batter Sports card

 

 

Robin Chaffin of Simpy Put by Robin, Design Challenge Winner, April 2022

Get Well Soon Baseball Batter Sports card

 

Please list the URLs of your 3 favorite cards in your storefront and why they are your favorites.

 

Thinking of You Watercolor Sketchy Doodle Yellow Sunflower Flower card

Watercolor Flower I like this one because it represents the current style I’m learning, “sketchy doodle” watercolor.

 Anniversary to Husband Personalize with Name - Why Do I Love You card

 

Why Do I Love You  I chose this one because I believe it has my best front/inside verse. At least the cards using this verse in both my Rycky Creations and Simply Put by Robin stores are popular, so the verse must resonate with buyers.

 

 Hope Encouragement for Cancer Patient card

HOPE I chose this one because John is on the front (see HOPE story below)

Please list any of your professional social media sites.

Simply Robin Creations on Facebook

Simply Robin Creations on Instagram

Simply Robin on Pinterest

Simply Robin Creations website
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.

Since it was a “sports themed” contest using stock cards, I knew I could easily find a suitable card front from Big Stock photos and figure out something to submit. I have a basketball sports themed card in my Rycky Creations store, so my thoughts were to use that as a jumping off point, but to choose a different sport. So I chose baseball since we’re currently in baseball season (Go Braves). I loved that particular Big Stock photo and the rest just fell in place!

 

What sparked your interest in art? Did you start as a young child?

If you’re old enough, you might remember those ads back in the 60’s and 70’s, “Can You Draw This? As a child, I use to see those and drew the examples fairly easily. But I had no confidence I could draw anything without copying someone else’s art, so I dismissed any small bit of talent I had thinking, “anyone can do that.” Later, in my 40’s, I decided to try taking an art class and discovered that I actually had a little bit of talent. Once I started painting, my friends encouraged me to “do something” with my artwork and I found Greeting Card Universe online and the rest is history. Although I did go through a (fairly long) phase of using 3rd party artwork to create cards, I’m again trying to create my own and enjoying the process once again.

 

Is your work done by hand and then scanned or do you work entirely on the computer?

Early on, all my work was done by hand and scanned. Now, I mostly create on an iPad using Procreate and I’m loving it!

 

Have you ever/do you currently have a job other than as an artist?

Yes, I’ve always had another job, usually in an office environment. Currently, I work as an Office Administrator for a small construction company.

 

What GCU artist(s) do you admire?

Of course, like most people, Doreen Erhardt and Corrie Kuipers have been an inspiration to me from the very beginning. Some others that I admire: Sue Nollmeyer, Stephie McCarthy, Michelle Lanoue, Teri Nelson Kuster, Gerda Steiner … I could go on and on, and I know I’m going to miss someone! There are a lot of very talented artists at GCU!

 

Can you tell share a bit about your HOPE line of cards for the Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation (SBTF)?

Thanks for asking!  The HOPE cards in my Rycky Creations store are near and dear to my heart. A dear friend’s son (John) was diagnosed with a brain tumor and the first card of the HOPE series was created in his honor in 2008. He courageously battled cancer for several years before losing his battle in March of 2012. When I created the first HOPE card, I decided that any commissions earned on that card would be donated to finding a cure for brain cancer. The Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation is a wonderful organization that supports patients with brain tumors. It was through John and his connection with SBTF that I decided to make them the recipient of the donation. Since that first card, several other HOPE cards have been created in honor or memory of others, including my dad, mom and good friend Kim, who all had their own cancer battles. I have committed to donate 100% of all commissions on all of these cards to SBTF. A few years ago, SBTF reached out to me to design cards specifically for their organization. They now sell these cards (along with my HOPE series) in a private store, here at GCU: Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation.

 

Ok, now for the fast five, fun questions …

What’s your dream occupation– the one job you’d love to have if you weren’t doing what you’re doing now? 

It would probably be something in the travel industry; I enjoy visiting new places!

Which is your favorite, puppies or kittens? 

Definitely kittens (there’s a cat in my lap as I type this), but puppies are adorable too

What is the grossest food you ever had to eat to be polite? 

When I first started dating my (now) husband, his parents invited me over for dinner. The meal was great, EXCEPT for the English peas. I hated English peas! But in wanting to make a good first impression, I ate them (yuck), but ended up swallowing each bite whole. I was a (skinny) very picky eater back then … not so much now!

If you could choose your own name, what would it be?  My first name is Cathy, so if I had it to do over again, I’d be called Cat

If your clothes had to be one color forever, what color would you pick? 

My favorite color is blue, but if you looked in my closet, you would think I’d pick gray

 

Design Challenge Winner, August 2021, Educator Retirement – 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 knew I wanted to do something inspirational for this card. I think educators really do lift us up and help inspire us to be the best versions of ourselves, so I wanted to reflect that in the card. When I started searching for images and found this one, I knew exactly what I was going to do with it.

 

Stock Card Creations can be tricky and there are so many images to choose from.  What advice do you have for other artists on how to settle on one image?

 

Basically, I usually have a pretty good idea in mind for a card when I am searching for an image. Then it is just a matter of typing in the right keywords.

Some things I usually have in mind when searching are:

What kind of card am I creating?

  • Category

  • Birthday?

  • Holiday?

  • Business?

  • Get Well?

  • Bereavement?

 

Who is the card intended for?

  • Is it for adults, kids?

  • Do I want something that speaks to many age groups or one specific age group?

 

Is this a card for personal use or business?

 

What is the overall tone of the card going to be?

  • Is it funny or serious?

  • Is it heartfelt or sarcastic?

 

Is this something new or different for the category it is intended for? You want to create something that adds to the selection, not repeats what is already there.

 

Holiday card sales are picking up.  Which of your card designs do you predict will be your best seller this year and why?

I think this Dairy Farm Cow Card will do well. People own dairy farms and like farmhouse theme cards, so I think this one will go over well.

 

What is your favorite holiday or occasion to design cards for and why?

I like to make Christmas cards because that is one of my favorite times of the year.

 

You have created some COVID-19 themed cards.  Which is your favorite and why?

One of my favorite Covid-19 related cards is a humorous Cat in Santa Hat Christmas card that I designed just because it brought a little humor to the pandemic.

Ok, now for the fast five, fun questions … 

 

Whom would you call for bail money?

My sister Lola.

What was the worst job you ever had and why?

I worked on an assembly line and built small motors. I hated it because it was so monotonous.

Who was your childhood actor/actress crush?

David Cassidy

What’s the grossest food you ever had to eat to be polite?

Menudo

Pick up pennies or walk past them?

I pick them up if they are heads up – if not I flip them over for someone else to find.