Occasionally Thoughtful

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.