Shoaff Ballanger Studios, Design Challenge Winner, February 2021
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. We knew we wanted a funny Easter greeting card about bunnies and chocolate. We searched through the stock images and found this one. It was perfect! We then had to decide how to incorporate the text on the cover and felt the best way was to fit it inside the handle of the basket with an emphasis on “feel”. It was just the right place because both the young lady and the earless chocolate bunny could be saying “I feel a Click to Read more… |
Design Challenge Winner, September 2020, Holiday Spirit – Tammy Moody
Cat in Santa Hat COVID-19 Social Distance Humor Christmas 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. I just wanted to create a Christmas card that spoke to 2020. I basically imagined Santa going from house to house this year- and it occurred to me that there is no way he could ever practice safe social distancing going into hot spots! Lol Then, I thought Nope- he can skip me this year- I’ll buy my own gift. Then I thought I needed to use a sarcastic or wisecracking animal and Click to Read more… |
Design Challenge Winner, August 2020, Holiday Season – Mindy Pierce,
Design Challenge Winner, August 2020, Holiday Season – Mindy Pierce Happy Holidays Christmas Tree Snowman Squirrel Bunny Red Green 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. Several years ago we lived in a house that had trees really close to it. There were tons of squirrels and they would jump back and forth from the trees to the roof like little spastic acrobats. It was our first house so everything seemed magical and I was mesmerized by the show they were putting on. It wasn’t long until one of them chewed a hole Click to Read more… |
Design Challenge Winner, July 2020, Hair or Hare – Melinda Pritzel of Yowzers
Funny Tabby Cat With Tie Glasses Hairbrain Scheme Retirement card Please list any awards or contests you’ve won outside of GCU. I’ve won several slogan contests, a Springbok Puzzle Image contest (Marble Madness is the name of the puzzle I contributed the photograph for) and I’ve written for Hallmark (A little gift book called Thanks Mom) and Chicken Soup for the Soul, Angels All Around. Please list the URLs of your 3 favorite cards in your storefront and why they are your favorites. I think we become attached to each card we create as designers. There are a few that I’m particularly fond of. Funny Cat Eating a Giant Piece Click to Read more… |
Design Challenge Winner, June 2020 – Laurie Schneider
Congratulations on first place winner status for June’s design challenge for GCU artist Laurie Schneider. June Design Challenge – Formula Please list any awards or contests you’ve won outside of GCU. Editors’ Pick on Zazzle for my raccoon calendar and I won Hallmark’s card contests, four times. The best part of winning Hallmark was a lady from Canada purchased the one with Bullwinkle on it and tracked me down through the Wildlife Association. She sent me a letter and we have been corresponding ever since. Like me, she is a Wildlife Rehabilitator and has a passion for raccoons Please list the URLs of your 3 favorite cards in your storefront and Click to Read more… |
Design Challenge Winner, May 2020, Happiness is … – PamJArts
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 wish I had some words of wisdom here but this one was pure luck! I was thinking of creating a new Coronavirus card and up popped this image in the stock card search results. Once I saw the expression on the dog, I knew I wanted to make a card from it. That dog is priceless, he looks like he is evaluating every word the kitten is sharing, maybe a little judgment going on there but obviously coming up with a wise solution as Click to Read more… |
Design Challenge Winner, February & March 2020 – Linda Gladman
Congratulations on first place winner status for both February and March design challenges for GCU artist Linda Gladman of Bright Star Cards February Design Challenge – Wild About You March Design Challenge – Shower, Showers, Showering Please list any awards or contests you’ve won outside of GCU. I’ve won a few gardening and photography challenge awards including a few on Facebook. Please list the URLs of your 3 favorite cards in your storefront and why they are your favorites. This card was my very first ever design! I had a creative vision out of my love for nature and animals of the design and from there I was challenged to bring Click to Read more… |
Design Challenge Winner, January 2020, Classic Blue – Liz Van Steenburgh
Classic Blue Birthday Ribbon with Flowers 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 put just the color on the card template at first and stared at it for a while. At first it invoked a feeling for a nautical scene, but in the end, I decided I loved the contrasting light blue found in the ribbon graphic. I also like the way the pink flowers popped against the classic blue. Pantone’s Color of the Year, Classic Blue, stirred a bit of controversy along the lines of Click to Read more… |
Michelle Lanou Design Challenge Winner, November 2019
In Remembrance of Dad this Christmas 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. You asked about my inspiration for the November challenge fusion card design. Well, this card was inspired by a personal event. My dad passed away unexpectedly this October and with the holidays approaching I thought about Christmas without my father. The design challenge asked us to incorporate different elements and glasses and a book were a couple of the items that were mentioned and stood out to me. I had come across these things in my dad’s personal Click to Read more… |
Betsy Bush — Design Challenge Winner — Sept 2019
Betsy Bush, Design Challenge Winner, September 2019 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 had the email from GCU Forum Wanted Cards in my mailbox regarding wanting Adopt a Shelter Pet Day designs, and as I was scouring my design resources for anything about hands I came across the little family holding hands with a dog and I thought I would address the challenge as well as the Wanted Cards request. Fortunately in the same bundle of graphics there was a cat I could incorporate into the design. Did this Click to Read more… |
