GCU Forum - How do YOU use your cards?

Peggy_137160

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How do YOU use your cards?
Jun 1^st, 2011, 6:10pm

I regularly use my own cards in two instances (and both are to promote not only my store front, but also my pet photography services):

(1) when a client's pet passes away, I customize this card with their photos and send a sympathy card. I get the sweetest emails and phone calls when the grieving owner receives it (if it's is someone who I haven't had a sitting with, then I use one of my regular pet loss cards)

http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/shopping/zoom.asp?pid=725016&w=1&ref =details_large_view

(2) this is a new use for me - I'm still waiting to see what the response is: after a weekend of dog shows, I send a congratulations card to the owner of the Best In Show dog (and if it's one of the "big" handlers working the dog, I send one to them as well) - and I use THEIR dog's photo from the show!

How do YOU use your cards to promote your store? And have you seen any direct results from your efforts?

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Mike_154103

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Posts: 26

Re: How do YOU use your cards?
Reply #1 - Jun 1^st, 2011, 6:31pm

Quote from Peggy_137160 on Jun 1^st, 2011, 6:10pm:

I regularly use my own cards in two instances (and both are to promote not only my store front, but also my pet photography services):

(1) when a client's pet passes away, I customize this card with their photos and send a sympathy card. I get the sweetest emails and phone calls when the grieving owner receives it (if it's is someone who I haven't had a sitting with, then I use one of my regular pet loss cards)

Hi Peggy!
First of all, I want to thank you again for the beautiful picture of Missy that you gave me.

I sent you a thank you email and another email with a link to the card I created with it, but I never heard back from you. I hope you got those emails.

Anyhow, I use my own cards ALL the time when I have to send a card out to someone. So I've created (and ordered) several somewhat generic birthday, thinking of you, congratulations cards (for graduates, mostly), and a few others that I'm sure I'll use eventually.

The second way that I use them is to actually give them away. I just ask that the recipient (friends, family, etc) look thru 15 or 20 of my cards and give me some feedback. Then I let them choose the one of their choice, for their time.

Seeing which they choose also gives me immediate feedback of their preference - and it's rarely the one I like best. lol!

That's how I do it for now. I'm sure I'll try some other creative maneuvering with my cards in the future. Especially after reading what some of the other artists here do. Wink

Incidentally, this forum is like taking a class in card-making/promoting for me...and I just love it to pieces (well, this and GCUCommunity).

Thanks for posting such an interesting question, Peggy.

Cindy

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Mike_154103 GCU Newbies artist Posts: 26	Re: How do YOU use your cards? Reply #2 - Jun 1^st, 2011, 6:34pm Quote from Peggy_137160 on Jun 1^st, 2011, 6:10pm: I regularly use my own cards in two instances Oops! I was signed in with my second store ID that I co-run with my husband, Mike. We're trying cartoon cards (or cardtoons - lol). But it's me, Cindy, from ilovecuttables. lol.
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Doreen_137017

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Posts: 5274

Re: How do YOU use your cards?
Reply #3 - Jun 1^st, 2011, 6:46pm

Hi Peggy! What great ideas you have for using your cards! The sympathy card idea is so thoughtful and such a wonderful tribute to their pet; and your new idea is FANTASTIC! How can they resist not thinking of you next time they need their pet photographed or need a card?

Aside from the norm of using my cards to send when I need one (except to hubby in which case I buy another artist's treasure from GCU), I do this...

Each year I photograph the animals in our local shelter and put together a DVD with music which is played at our annual Whiskers & Wine Fund Raiser. Then I put some of the images on cards along with some of the quotes I used in the DVD and when these sell, the proceeds go to my humane society. I also have them on posters and such at Zazzle which do well to raise money. Of course on all these products is my name and my stores so I consider it giving back while advertising as do you

http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/-Shelter+Cat+from+the+Stray+MusesTM+Collecti on+Blank+Card-greeting+card-786919?pid=786919&gcu=43045123714

http://www.zazzle.com/pawsitivelypets/gifts?cg=196951087727523293?rf=23803783484 5583223*

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Doreen_137017

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Posts: 5274

Re: How do YOU use your cards?
Reply #4 - Jun 1^st, 2011, 6:51pm

Quote from Mike_154103 on Jun 1^st, 2011, 6:31pm:

Quote from Peggy_137160 on Jun 1^st, 2011, 6:10pm:

I regularly use my own cards in two instances (and both are to promote not only my store front, but also my pet photography services):

(1) when a client's pet passes away, I customize this card with their photos and send a sympathy card. I get the sweetest emails and phone calls when the grieving owner receives it (if it's is someone who I haven't had a sitting with, then I use one of my regular pet loss cards)

The second way that I use them is to actually give them away. I just ask that the recipient (friends, family, etc) look thru 15 or 20 of my cards and give me some feedback. Then I let them choose the one of their choice, for their time.

Seeing which they choose also gives me immediate feedback of their preference - and it's rarely the one I like best. lol!

Cindy

What a great idea Cindy! Brilliant thinking and marketing!!

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Rosalie_136698 Gold Member artist Posts: 981	Re: How do YOU use your cards? Reply #5 - Jun 1^st, 2011, 7:04pm Thanks for sharing Peggy, that sure is a great way to promote your business. Rosie Cards
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Rachel__144130

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Posts: 136

Re: How do YOU use your cards?
Reply #6 - Jun 1^st, 2011, 8:20pm

Hey Peggy, wow - I love your card for Sadie. It's a beautiful card and your design really brings across how much Sadie was loved and will be missed. It made me think of my dog Holly who passed away some years ago (doesn't matter how long they have been gone for, when you love them that much I think they stay with you forever).

So firstly, I just wanted to compliment you on your card

Secondly, I think your idea is perfect. I think people who have just lost their pets would be so moved to receive a card made by you specially for them paying tribute to their pet. The idea to send winning dog owners a congratulations card is great too. As Doreen said, you would have to be the first person they would contact in the future after receiving your card.

Good thinking!!!

For me, I try and recycle any drawings I can since they usually take some time to do. I use illustrations I have done for a Sydney magazine (of which I own all copyrights to of course), and think of categories and messages that I could use to convert the design in to a fun little greeting card.

Great post Peggy,

Rach

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Betsy_145102

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Posts: 1378

Re: How do YOU use your cards?
Reply #7 - Jun 2^nd, 2011, 3:03am

What unique and clever uses everyone has. I of course send my cards to friends and family. I also just made the first of many thanks from the restaurant where I work. I came up with the idea and my boss really liked it. I also donated some I had in my car to a local bank fundraiser I was working. I have business cards I hand out whenever I can. I will try to put the link to my restaurant thank you here.

http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/community/store.asp?private=true&store_i d=4687

hope this works

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Cindy_152495 Gold Member artist Posts: 557	Re: How do YOU use your cards? Reply #8 - Jun 2^nd, 2011, 5:49am [quote author=Doreen_137017 link=1306977038/0#4 date=1306979464]Quote from Mike_154103 on Jun 1^st, 2011, 6:31pm: What a great idea Cindy! Brilliant thinking and marketing!! Thanks Doreen! And Congratulations for your Monkeys/Lightning Round win! Cindy
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Robert_136464

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Posts: 152

Re: How do YOU use your cards?
Reply #9 - Jun 2^nd, 2011, 5:59pm

Well - this was a recent endeavor to get rid of a lot of cards I have lying around! Not sure about the rest of you but many times I buy cards just to see what they will look like and they tend to pile up...

Recently I've been putting a few up on Ebay and have 100% of the proceeds benefit one charity or another. I recently sold one set at a very cheap price...I've had these cards for over a year...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150610132628&ssPageNa me=STRK:MESOX:IT

So I sent them off today with a note of thanks and a copy of my business card. Hopefully it will lead to more sales...or at least a new fan on FB!

You can look at my current auctions:
http://shop.ebay.com/reeltoons/m.html?_trksid=p4340.l2562

Each item benefits a charity so take a peek...let me know what you think

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Cindy_152495

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Posts: 557

Re: How do YOU use your cards?
Reply #10 - Jun 2^nd, 2011, 8:16pm

Quote from Robert_136464 on Jun 2^nd, 2011, 5:59pm:

Well - this was a recent endeavor to get rid of a lot of cards I have lying around! Not sure about the rest of you but many times I buy cards just to see what they will look like and they tend to pile up...

I have to buy mine too because my printer is pretty pathetic and doesn't do a good enough job for me to know how they'll turn out. When I submit a card for review, I often create an identical card in my private gallery just so I can order it right away and see it before it gets put out there in the public gallery. Most of the time the cards from GCU look great. But there have been a couple that looked grainy in some areas (or with tiny discolored pixels where there shouldn't be any). It's usually where I've added a shadow to text, I think. I just don't see the graininess on my monitor, so it's a surprise to me when they turn out that way from GCU.

Have you (or anyone else reading this thread) had a problem with occasional graininess--that you weren't expecting--in the GCU card? And if so, is there a solution?

Thanks,
Cindy

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Cindy_152495

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Posts: 557

Re: How do YOU use your cards?
Reply #11 - Jun 2^nd, 2011, 8:20pm

Quote from Robert_136464 on Jun 2^nd, 2011, 5:59pm:

Each item benefits a charity so take a peek...let me know what you think

P.S. I LOVE your cards, Robert! Your artwork is beautiful. I especially like the cartoon-type cards (because I'm trying to get into making cartoons, myself), but the photo-cards are beautiful, too!

Cindy

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Valerie_148812 Full Member artist Posts: 108	Re: How do YOU use your cards? Reply #12 - Jun 4^th, 2011, 1:45pm Wow! A lot of good ideas here. So far, I've been mailing out cards for things like birthdays, graduations, etc.
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Rosalie_136698 Gold Member artist Posts: 981	Re: How do YOU use your cards? Reply #13 - Jun 4^th, 2011, 5:56pm Cindy, In order to prevent grain in my images, I automatically remove any noise in an image with a photo program, whether I see any or not, mayby that would help you??? Rosie Cards
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Doreen_137017

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Posts: 5274

Re: How do YOU use your cards?
Reply #14 - Jun 4^th, 2011, 7:29pm

Quote from Cindy_152495 on Jun 2^nd, 2011, 8:16pm:

Quote from Robert_136464 on Jun 2^nd, 2011, 5:59pm:

Well - this was a recent endeavor to get rid of a lot of cards I have lying around! Not sure about the rest of you but many times I buy cards just to see what they will look like and they tend to pile up...

I have to buy mine too because my printer is pretty pathetic and doesn't do a good enough job for me to know how they'll turn out. When I submit a card for review, I often create an identical card in my private gallery just so I can order it right away and see it before it gets put out there in the public gallery. Most of the time the cards from GCU look great. But there have been a couple that looked grainy in some areas (or with tiny discolored pixels where there shouldn't be any). It's usually where I've added a shadow to text, I think. I just don't see the graininess on my monitor, so it's a surprise to me when they turn out that way from GCU.

Have you (or anyone else reading this thread) had a problem with occasional graininess--that you weren't expecting--in the GCU card? And if so, is there a solution?

Thanks,
Cindy

Hi Cindy,

I have not experienced that at GCU, but here's my thoughts which might help you troubleshoot what's happening.

- Be sure you have calibrated your monitor. If your grey-scale is off, it could present itself as a grainy appearance in shadow areas.

- Do you find these oddities occur only on your photographic images? If so, what ISO are you shooting at? Many digital cameras are made to 'act as film' when it comes to graininess (a trick I could have done without Grin

) , but some take it too far and you'll find that fine grain shows in most images if you view it full size. So an option is to shoot at a lower ISO (100 or lower)

I shoot in Camera Raw, so I do as a rule of thumb what Rosie suggested. Part of my processing is to remove Color Noise. This is apparent in most hand-held digital images, less in tripod images and of course if depends on the lighting. So you might try that if you software allows it.

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