Betsy Bush — GCU May Challenge Winner
GCU May 2016 Challenge Winning Card by Betsy Bush
Visit Betsy Bush’s store Dragonfire Graphics
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 browsed all of the available June International/National days and 2 jumped out at me, National Nature Photography Day and National Cancer Survivors Day. I wrote them both down and had them in front of me for a couple of weeks before I began designing. I did a Nature Photography Day design because I had tons of photographs I had taken over the years to use. That one was ultimately declined for a few photography issues and I am so glad as I initially wanted to address the Cancer Survivors Day because I feel that the people that have been through such a battle deserve to be recognized. I didn’t tackle that one first as I was in the process of planning my daughter’s wedding shower, it was getting very close and I just didn’t feel as if I could do the subject justice at the time. I dove in anyway.
I wanted to create a card that was suitable for men or women to receive, so I chose a pale grey as the background. I went through my graphic design resources to find imagery to convey what I thought would be inspirational and also modern. I love the trendy watercolor look and when I came across the feathers I knew they were going to be the main focus of the design.
When it came time for the words I was brought back to the time spent with a very close friend who sadly lost his battle with cancer. His strength during his illness, his sense of humor and kindness that never faded stuck with me. He was my inspiration.
You’ve won many GCU’s Design Challenges, what advice would you give to other artists who are hesitant to enter?
I would love to see every artist on GCU enter the challenges! It is such a wonderful way to learn new things due to the research you may have to do to address the subject of the challenge. I love seeing the other designers take on the subject of the month. And not to mention, of the 14 design challenges I have entered, I have had sales of 11 of those designs! Designs that would have never seen the light of day had the GCU Design Challenge not spurred me to create them!
What sparked your interest in art? Did you start as a young child?
This is an easy question to answer! When I was a little girl my mom went to a weekly craft night with friends and always took me along! I loved it so much. I know this is what made me want to create art. My favorite time of day in school was art class. I still remember the first drawing I ever did that wowed my family. I was 7 and did a drawing of Donald Duck from a Walt Disney magazine.
Do you have formal training or are you self-taught?
I never had formal training. I started to take a cartooning class in junior high school, but the teacher was not even remotely interested in the subject
matter, I don’t even remember him teaching anything that related to drawing! After 3 classes I gave it up. As for the digital art I discovered 6 years ago, I am entirely self-taught. I can’t say how many YouTube videos I have watched over the years trying to learn Gimp, Photoshop, and other programs.
Is your work done by hand and then scanned or do you work entirely on the computer?
I work entirely on the computer. In the beginning of this adventure I used all of my own digital art, photographs, and some doodles scanned.
Now, I love to scour the design sites for the wonderful offerings I can purchase or even get for free to create with. I always loved jigsaw puzzles and to me finding a way to use these resources to create something new is like putting a puzzle together!
Have you ever/do you currently have a job other than as an artist?
I have two other jobs besides my greeting card and design work. I have been a waitress since I graduated high school 37 years ago and I am also a lunch lady at our local intermediate school. I have been doing that for the past 18 years. My dream is to retire from waitressing and focus more on designing. Maybe one day!
What GCU artist(s) do you admire?
Of course I love Corrie Kuiper‘s fun take on the world with her fabulous illustrations. Doreen Erhardt‘s elegant and classy designs are always a favorite. Other artists I admire are Micklyn Le Feuvre for her amazing mandalas, Sharon Fernleaf for her adorable animals, and Sue Nollmeyer for her spectacular sentiments.
What would we be surprised to learn about you?
I don’t feel very surprising, but a few facts about me are, I have been married for 35 years, have 2 wonderful daughters (29 and 27), have lived in 5 states (NJ, NY, PA, CA, CO), have horribly frizzy hair, went to school with Jason Alexander (George Constanza on Seinfeld), (disclaimer: we were not closely acquainted), fell out of a moving pickup truck (at only 5 miles an hour fortunately) when I was 20, (never lean on your car door!), and when I was a chambermaid in Aspen, CO in 1986, I cleaned the rooms of Hunter S. Thompson and the whole entourage of the Prince of Saudi Arabia.
World Hemophilia Day – April 17
People with hemophilia have a lower level of a clotting factor and they can bleed longer than normal, sometimes causing life threatening complications. World Hemophilia Day is intended to draw attention to hemophilia, which impacts approximately 1 in 10,000 people, and other bleeding disorders, such as Von Willebrand disease, rare clotting factor deficiencies, and inherited platelet disorders.
There are two types of hemophilia, each caused by a low level of a clotting factor. The more common is Hemophilia A and is caused by to low levels of clotting factor VIII (8). Hemophilia B is rare and is caused by too low levels of clotting factor IX (9).
Prolonged bleeding is the main symptom of both types of hemophilia. Bleeding, which is often internal but can be external, can range from mild to severe.
Severe cases of hemophilia can lead to an early death if left untreated. Fortunately, successful treatments are available, and when managed, people with hemophilia can live healthy lives. Treatments for hemophilia involve regular injections of the missing clotting factor.
Established in 1989, World Hemophilia Day is intended to draw awareness to this condition and increase the availability of treatment worldwide. April 17 was chosen in recognition of the birthday of WHD founder Frank Schnabel.
Light it Up Red
On April 17, major landmarks around the world will light up in red. These landmarks include
The Helmsley Building in New York City; Zakim Bridge, Prudential Tower and South Station in Boston; The Wrigley Building in Chicago; Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.; Los Angeles City Hall; Pacific Science Center in Seattle; and The Monarch in Austin, Texas. Individual households can participate by replacing their front porch light with a red light bulb.
Greeting Card Universe World Hemophilia Day
Greeting Card Universe Hemophilia Awareness Pinterest Board
National Siblings Day April 10
Siblings — you’ve gotta love’em, right? At least, that’s what your mom says. From late-night ghost stories to tattling to your mom when you got home late from a date, chances are you’ve had plenty of reasons over the years to have a love/hate relationship with your siblings. Who else has lived the same history, knows the same family stories, shares the same inside jokes… and can push our buttons every.single.time?
Seventy-nine percent of people in the US have siblings. Started in 1997 and observed on April 10 every year, National Siblings Day is a celebration of our brothers and sisters.
While it doesn’t describe everyone, many people are impacted by their birth order. Oldest children tend to be reliable, cautious, and structured; middle children are often people-pleasers, peacemakers, and somewhat rebellious; and youngest children can be fun-loving, outgoing, and self-centered. But no matter their characteristics, siblings are our first friends, our first debate opponents, our longest-lasting relationships, and our most complex. Because they know us so well, it’s easy to feel comfortable in the relationship. But that also means that they know the soft spots of our emotions — and there are times when they give those spots a bit of a nudge.
Despite all of this, though, siblings are there for us when we need them, they provide us with a sense of continuity, and we love them. We should let them know that we recognize their importance in our lives.
Did you know about these famous siblings?
Randy and Dennis Quaid, actors
Alec, Billy, Stephen, and Daniel Baldwin, actors
Chad and Rob Lowe, actors
Jake Paltrow (Director) and Gwyneth Paltrow (actor)
Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë, writers
Wilbur and Orville Wright, inventors
George and Ira Gershwin, composers
Venus and Serena Williams, tennis players
Steph and Seth Curry, basketball players
Dear Abby (Pauline Phillips) and Ask Ann Landers (Eppie Lederer), columnists
Prince William and Prince Harry, British royalty
Julia and Eric Roberts, actors
Greeting Card Universe National Siblings Day cards
Greeting Card Universe’s Siblings Day Pinterest Board
Ron Magnes, Best of 2015 Winner
Ron Magnes’ winning card in Best of 2015 contest
Your winning card is very funny. What was your inspiration? Please walk us through the process of how this card went from an idea to a greeting card.
What sparked your interest in art? Did you start as a young child?
Do you have formal training or are you self-taught?
Are you as humorous in real life, such as parties or family get-togethers, or does your humor only come out in your cards?
The Joy of Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day, that day of love and care, is celebrated February 14. According to the Greeting Card Association, Americans send out 145 million Valentine’s Day cards each year. This doesn’t include the classroom Valentines exchanged in schools.
Originally celebrated as a liturgical celebration of one of the Christian saints named Valentinus, by the 18th-Century, Valentine’s Day had evolved into a day for expressions of love. The oldest paper Valentine’s Day card is from the 1400s and is in the British Museum. Commercially printed Valentine’s Day cards became available in the 1800s. Second only to Christmas cards in the US, Valentine’s Day cards have grown in popularity ever since.
Along with general Valentine’s Day cards and cards for family members, Greeting Card Universe has many options.
Anti-Valentine’s Day Cards For those disinclined to celebrate Valentine’s Day, Greeting Card Universe has an assortment of cards. Don’t be bitter on Vinegar Day! Make it a special day for pampering. There are some ideas to get you started in Getting Through Valentine’s Day Being Single.
Birthday on Valentine’s Day Surely someone born on Valentine’s Day is a love child!
Gay/Lesbian Valentine’s Day cards Greeting Card Universe currently has 532 cards that speak to the gay or lesbian relationships.
Valentine’s Day Photo Cards Photo cards at Greeting Card Universe are very popular. Take advantage of Valentine’s Day to show family and friends your love.
Wedding on Valentine’s Day On average, 2.2 million people get married on Valentine’s Day. What a special day to start your life together! And there’s little chance that your anniversary will be forgotten!
Secret Pal/Admirer on Valentine’s Day A secret admirer can be anyone: a classmate, a colleague, a neighbor … or someone closer to home: Valentine’s Day Secret Admirer Essay
Happy New Year’s Day!
Likely the most celebrated holiday in the world, New Year’s Day (January 1), New Year’s Day is typically celebrated with parades, American college football games, European football games, and family time.
Food plays an important part in New Year’s Day, with some food taking on a special meaning.
Black-eyed peas are a symbol of money — coins, specifically.
Greens are also said to be a symbol of money, because of their green color.
Pomegranates and grapes stand for prosperity, and figs for fertility.
Pigs, being rotund, are considered lucky.
Noodles are a symbol of long life, and grains symbolize wealth.
Cakes, shaped like a ring, symbolize coming full circle.
General New Year’s Day Greeting Cards
A new year brings a fresh start, a new beginning, and never more so than when a life milestone coincides with the new year.
Baby’s First New Year’s Day – A baby’s first New Year Eve is probably as low-key as the celebration gets! And Mom and Dad are likely playing it cool, too, with a small family dinner and an early bedtime — baby, after all, has no understanding of the need to sleep in. But New Year’s Day can be special for baby and parents, providing a chance to catch up with family and friends you didn’t see during Christmas.
First New Year’s Day as a Couple – A new year is a chance to start new traditions. Have friends over for a nice brunch, or have a quiet day at home.
First New Year’s Day in New Home – Congratulate a loved one on their new home as they start a new year.
Wedding on New Year’s Day – A special day on a special day!
Join us at Greeting Card Universe’s First New Year Pinterest Board
And our New Year Greetings Pinterest Board
Here’s to a wonderful 2016 for you and your loved ones, recognizing that no matter what firsts were celebrated in 2015 we should all look forward to the promise of a new year starting with January 1, 2016.
‘Tis Always the Season for Greeting Cards
I’d like to share a personal response to this recent article, “It’s Time to Stop Sending Greeting Cards”. The title alone to me is like the sound of nails on a chalkboard.
Yes, it is that time again. We are in the thick of the holiday season frenzy and in addition to gift shopping, it’s Christmas card time. Each year more people are asking themselves if they will even send a holiday card.
There are many reasons why this is a growing trend. All reasons certainly having merit. Instead of discounting the reasons not to send Christmas or Season’s Greeting cards or any greeting card for that matter, I will share why you should send them.
Electronic communications and social media have made keeping in touch so easy it takes much of the thought and effort out of keeping in touch. It’s virtually effortless! That’s great for business and everyday matters. Woo hoo, we’re so productive, I love it! However we are bombarded on the daily with emails, text messages, posts, DMs, PMs, pokes and nudges and are becoming desensitized to personal communications. The “personal” is gone.
It’s a trend, an evolution of communications which will all look very different from how we’ve communicated before. Everyone will find a combination of communication media, personal and business, that “works” for them.
Take a cue from major retailers, many of whom are re-incorporating the mailing of traditional printed catalogs in an effort to be seen and heard above the electronic “noise”. (Remember that massive Restoration Hardware catalog? No way to ignore that!)
And talking about trends, what could be trendier than Taylor Swift? Taylor values the importance of giving birthday cards so much that she keeps some in her purse, just in case. Go Taylor!
So the bar has been raised. The saying “it’s the thought that counts” doesn’t really hold true anymore. Now more important than just the “thought” is the action – it’s the thought AND the action that count. Anyone can think about it, but to act on the thought – exert some real effort and DO something, something personal – that’s what really counts. Sometimes the more effort someone puts into something the more appreciated it is. Like it or not that’s the way it is. Maybe there’s a mathematical equation for this. Appreciation Factor = (Thought x Effort) + Personal Touch. Yes, there is, I just made it up!
1. Remember the event or occasion – there’s the thought
2. Buy or make a personal card – there’s the action and the more personal the better
3. And wait for it … mail it – perhaps the toughest part, takes a lot of effort especially if you are not organized (get that address, not their email address, not their user id, their MAILING address, you can do it!)
Birthday, Christmas or any little occasion – the effort and the paper are not lost, not wasted, even if the card does go in the recycling bin or trash (gasp!) after being enjoyed. It’s a pretty wonderful feeling to receive something in your mailbox, especially a special greeting card – it’s a timeless delight!
Elizabeth Perkins of Omaha agrees! A dedicated card lover, she puts thought, effort and a personal touch into her daily routine to let others know that she is thinking of them.
Card sales on our site www.GreetingCardUniverse.com are strongly on the upswing. Ordering online removes much of the effort by helping you a) search for the perfect card b) personalize it and c) conveniently mail it. People are finding the pleasure in making it personal – really personal. So much so that a unique and personalized card can serve as a gift in itself, and maybe even make it to the mantle for a spell.
Popular cards this week:
Thinking of You on your First Christmas Alone
Get Well Bone Marrow Transplant
Merry Christmas School Bus Driver
Happy 1st Birthday Great Nephew
Happy Holidays Daughter & Wife
Lil hippo says it so well:
I don’t think it will ever be time to stop the tradition of sending paper greeting cards, certainly not for me. As one of life’s little pleasures, it’s just too special and so worth the extra effort. Do the math 😉
Facebook Now Allowing Some Users to Send “Happy Birthday” Video Messages
Facebook is asking some of its users to create a new kind of birthday greeting, one with more of a personal touch. Rather than the generic repetition of brief text messages from hundreds of Facebook friends, this new option lets users create a video up to 20 seconds in length. This is only available for some iOS users at the moment, although other operating systems like Android are likely to follow (as reported by TheNextWeb).
Birthday videos may be the start of a new focus for the social site, a move toward more personal input. Creating videos takes a bit of added effort on the user’s part, and the clips hopefully would convey greater meaning than a text message, not to mention the chance for genuine sentiment.
For those able to test the feature, the page for birthday listings now has an icon of an old-fashioned movie camera, complete with double film reels on top — an interesting choice for a digital function yet easily recognizable. Just click the icon to record your message. You can also review the video before posting it to the recipient’s page.
This attempt to bring more feeling to Facebook birthday greetings could be a welcome change. It shows more input on the sender’s part and can certainly convey more than something like, “Happy Birthday, hope you have a great day!!” However, it won’t necessarily cut down on the considerable stream of greetings that users with high numbers of friends are likely to receive. Worse, those videos risk getting lost in that endless stream, wasting the effort put into them. Someone could also end up with a plethora of videos as meaningless as generic texts, video versions of “You’re the best, have a great day!” that require more time to review.
Traditional birthday cards (the paper kind sent through traditional mail) may seem old-fashioned to some, but they’re unmatched for conveying feeling. In a digital age where everything moves faster and faster, including the generic birthday greeting, sending a traditional card says so much more.
Life for many has become a harried, multitasked blur. Hurry along to the next thing or you might miss out. The problem is that such a pace doesn’t allow time to savor anything, to reflect or to truly enjoy. Imagine the surprise and appreciation when your most “connected” friend or family member receives a card in the mail. Whether funny or sentimental, a traditional card shows that you took the time to go to the store (online or brick & mortar), to pick out the perfect greeting and to write a message; even if it’s a brief message, it still involves more than a digital click. Taking the time to convey your feelings with a traditional card could make all the difference in someone’s day.
Design Challenge Winner September 2015
Every month, Greeting Card Universe hosts a Design Challenge for our artist community. Cards can be designed for any category so long as they incorporate a specified theme. Winners are selected by a panel of judges. The theme for September was: Costumes!
The winners for September 2015 are:
First Place: Barbara Schreiber
Second Place: Julia Bryant
These cards along with previous winners can be found on our Design Challenge Pinterest board.
Congratulations to the two winners and thank you to everyone that participated in this contest!
How to Get a Birthday or Anniversary Card from Queen Elizabeth!
How would you like to receive a birthday card from the Queen of England? Did you know that each year, Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth sends some 50,000 greeting cards celebrating citizens’ special birthdays and anniversaries. This royal tradition began in 1917, and Queen Elizabeth has sent cards since her coronation in 1953. In 2015, she became the longest-ruling monarch and achieved the milestone of sending the millionth greeting card to her country people (according to this announcement)!
If you’d like to join the ranks of the lucky million, you must be a current citizen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or one of England’s 26 realms and overseas territories. If you live anywhere from the Sandwich Islands to Tuvalu, the queen will send you a card, but it might take longer to arrive.
Congratulatory messages are only sent to citizens who are celebrating milestone anniversaries and birthdays. If you’ve been married for 60 years or more, you could qualify. Cards are sent by special delivery to those celebrating diamond and platinum anniversaries after 60, 65 or 70 years of marriage. Folks who have enjoyed more than 70 years of marital bliss receive cards annually. In 2006, one couple received a card for their 83rd anniversary.
If you have a special birthday coming up, you can request a card too. The Royal Household graciously sends cards to centenarians on their 100th and 105th birthdays and each year thereafter. With people living longer, your chances of receiving a royal birthday card are only improving. So many Brits are opening cards these days that the queen hired extra staff. Last year was the best yet with some 53,000 birthday and anniversary cards sent through the Royal Mail. In fact, the queen is mailing twice as many cards as she did 10 years ago.
Centenarians in the UK are automatically added to the list by the state pension office. Others may complete an application and submit it online or by mail. If you aren’t added automatically, you’ll need to send a copy of your birth certificate or marriage license.
Great care is taken when sending congratulatory cards. Twins have received royal birthday cards, and the queen has made sure that each one received a unique message. Likewise, recipients who have been on the list for several years receive a different greeting each time.
The cards display the royal coat of arms, the recipient’s name, a personalized birthday message and the queen’s signature printed on fine white stationery. A picture of her majesty adorns the front. One 109-year-old woman complained that four of her five cards had the same photograph. She was later visited by Prince William.
There’s no question that this is a very special tradition. Centenarians in Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Sweden and the United States receive recognition from presidents and prime ministers. Some countries even provide money or silver trophies, but none of these traditions are carried out with Queen Elizabeth’s class or style.
