I want to publicly thank Joan (AKA: Joan_135833), a GCU artist and professional violist, for helping me with some ideas for a line of music related cards.  I had a great old photo of a man and a boy jamming on a sax and an accordion, that I wanted to use in a way that would be vintage, look professional, and be attractive to the music crowd.
 
Joan gave me about a dozen ideas, and the associated categories, and I was able to make up about 20 new cards in the last few days based on these ideas.  Here is one that just got approved:
http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/community/viewdetails.asp?pid=441352& page=1&aid=133317
 
It was fun working on these, and I came up with a new "old photo" holder look in the process.  Cool, eh!
 
Thank you Joan!  You are awesome!  Here's her store link:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/missprinteditions
 
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This Forum section can be used for purposes like this – to ask for help in areas where you might be a little “green,” and to give thanks!

Wow Tom, just when I thought your cards could not get any better, they do.  
Adorable pic, awesome boarder. its now one of my favorites.  
I love when a good plan comes together, and GCU has the most helpful members.
 
Joan, I love your cards, and your store feels so homey.
Hugs, Janet Lee

Just wanted to say to Tom Rent that I really like your 'new/old' look with the old photo album quality about it.  
The irregular 'deckle edge' gives your vintage photos a perfect feel and great graphic style. It works very well!!
Sincerely,
Betty

Thanks everyone.  Too kind!  
 
Joan also found a goof in my keywords, where I had spelled "accordion" wrong.  I had 19 cards to fix, so I used a little trick to bring these cards up.  Rather than page dive to find where these cards were in Manage Cards, and do that for each card, (which is a pain in the butt!), I simply did a keyword search in Manage Cards for the misspelled word.  It worked slick.  All the cards came up, and now all 19 are fixed and ready for an avalanche of bulk orders!  Frankly, I'd be happy if even ONE of these ever sells.
 
Say, if you have an image that you'd like framed like this, one of your work (drawing, painting, photo), I'd be willing to do it on a "one per person" basis.  You email me your image at 300dpi and I will put it in this portrait frame without the text added (you can do that part).  My only request is that you put up only one card in your store with this frame, not a whole series, and no rights are given to modify the frame other than to add text.  This is only for "fun," and to see what happens.  I will not use your image for any of my cards.   Please provide an image that is roughly the same proportions as the sample image, which is width 75% of the height, and at least 1200 pixels wide.  I will email you back a 1500p x 2100p jpeg for you to complete.
 
This offer is for one week only (now through June 19th).  Contact me through my store.  It will be fun to see what results, eh!

Hi Tom and Joan,
It took some days till the card got approved, but, as the saying goes - good things need time   -
 
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/community/viewdetails.asp?pid=442689&pag e=1&aid=133221
 
It's not the roses, found a better  image, vintage drawing of the "Drachenfels", a castle on the Rhine -  
Thanks again for the use of the frame !!
Have a very creative weekend!
cheers, barbara

Joan, Bedankt, dank je wel, Danke,      een prettige dag nog
barbara

Congrats on the sale!
I like the new backgrounds they are very authentic looking and I like the way you had this photo smaller and to the side, it works well. Of course your humor is unmatched!
 
By the way I think these new ones of yours Tom are hilarious and not a dear departed relative anywhere to be seen.
http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/community/viewdetails.asp?pid=445460& page=10
 
Pamela

Tom-- love the antique frame you did!  How unique.  I'm new to this thread, so where did I miss how you did that?  Love the effect it produces for your antique pics.  Something you won't find in a retail card shop.