Yes - sorry but i have had the same problem.  I did an illustrated card in photo shop - I had two versions each had one difference in the type on the front.  One was accepts and the other returned for edits since i had the categories wrong.  when i fixed the category problem and resubmitted it came back with needing other changes in the art that i never was asked to do on the first one that is for sale in my store as we speak.
 
I hate to say it GCU - but in trying to better this site and the quality for all, you have made it nearly impossible for the artist and very frustrating.  In some cases it feels as if you are cutting your nose off to spite your face.  Unfortunately I am starting to move my cards to other sites that don't make it that difficult for the artist and still have high standards and a quality product.....     It's sad because i really liked it here for several years.  I have never seen more complaints from artists about the "process" here before.  It used to be accolades now it's frustrated complaints.

No, I'm sorry, I'm talking about a card that has made hundreds of dollars for this site. I cannot take this issue with an open mind ... this is simply foolish. Sorry, that is how I feel.

Quote from Angela_134247 on Nov 4^th, 2011, 2:01pm:

 
Angela,
 
Yes, personally I'm not really fond of this one, but that's just me and why we have so many artists on the site.  However, I'd have to agree with you in that if it is selling, then a lot of people have found this card touches their need.  It's not up to the reviewer to make a personal choice on an image whether they like it or not, rather base it on overall composition and of course printability.  
 
I'd have to agree with the reviewer though that it is a little dark and personally, I'd either straighten the line of the lawn to the wedding party or angle it more.  My first impulse was to straighten it like I do when I walk into a house with crooked pictures hanging on the wall.  Also for a wedding, I think light colors, more whites, happy, vibrant tones work better.  However, I'm not the artist or photographer on this one and it is your concept, Whatever I would do different isn't you and in this case works for the story you are trying to tell.
 
The only thing, you might do for a more favorable review process is to have put a note to the reviewer explaining that this is an established design you are using and one which has sold not only once, but several times for various occasions.  Sometimes an image needs some words to explain what it is, especially for someone not trained to understand the use of contrast, lighting and texture in B&W photography.  
 
Wish you the best with this card as it's a proven seller and should be allowed in my opinion.  Perhaps just resubmit it and reply to the email message your reviewer sent you in regard to the changes they felt you needed to make.  They are more than understanding people and have more to gain approving a card than declining one.
 
Best always, Randy
 
 

@Angela, I agree with you on their very weird standards, I too have cards been weeded out for some to me very weird reasons, even cards that sell, and it seems like they are not finished yet :S
 
I can't see any other reason for the reviewers to reject good selling cards than that they "might" themselves be sellers at GCU and definately not objective enough and just wish to get rid of their competitors.
 
And why am I so suspicious of them being competitors, is because they are totally anonymous when they send their rejection/declines/on hold mails ... there is no chance for us to see who has reviewed the cards and are doing the weeding nor to refer back to this and this person for the rude comments they add to the standard comment.
 
And yes, it is so simple to say, you can just remove your shop totally if you don't like it here, how rude is that, we are not allowed to admit certain cards any longer, we are not allowed to say our true opinion and what we really think about all this ... it's either you close your shop yourself or they do it for you, and this post might also get lost somehow suddenly because my opinion shouldn't go out to anyone in here :S
 
I have a hard time agreeing with award winning cards and good selling cards being weeded out, what's then left for selling in here ?
 
I too had found it cozy and enjoyable being here, but these last years seems not so joyable just because some certain artists has squeezed their was all in and have so much more saying to it all, I have been here since the beginning, so I have seen lots of changing in here, for good and definately not good, and those have there been plenty of since a certain time.
 
Art is NOT one way, it's being killed in here just because a smart-a** had a great idea to earn more money and give less for the struggling artist ... hopefully they remember that one day it all stops and it all will fall into a downwards spinning wheel.
 
The weird spinning process here looks like how it was just up till and to the end where the whole world economic crashed and still am, I am sorry but I don't think this is a secure future ... no house of cards is secure
 
To justify a few things though, the weeding of my cards has not been all that bad though, there are some of those which got declined I could agree with, they were NOT selling and their points were not offending but right ... BUT, when this is said, I CAN NOT AGREE to my best selling cards being weeded out and being offended by rude remarks :S
 
And, as a final note, I find it very weird, that cards for the seasons is being pulled out right when the season is here, like Halloween for now, suddenly my Halloween cards went on hold 1-2 weeks before and still am on hold and some declined ??? ... what about Christmas, are they waiting till it starts and then take them all of then too ??? .... :S
 
Huge Huggs
/Inge
 

I hope everyone realizes what I am trying to say. I understand the need for higher standards. I have agreed with many of the card declines I have recieved. But to me, a greeting card is not a stock photo. It's an element that combines a picture and text, (or one of these) to convey a certain emotion. In some cases, a not so perfect photo will do that. And it doesn't make sense to decline a design that has already proven itself many times over. Sometimes there is a complete difference between art and commercial appeal. A breakfast cereal commercial will probably not win any Sundance awards. But it conveys the message and gets the job done.

Quote from Angela_134247 on Nov 6^th, 2011, 5:23am:

 
Well stated Angela; let me play 'devil's advocate' though . . . You state "Sometimes there is a complete difference between art and commercial appeal."  
 
And you are correct, there often is in fact.  Speaking as someone who has owned a gallery, curated art shows and in general lived in the Art World for many years PRIOR to moving my work online and into the Commercial World - Greeting Card Universe IS NOT an art site, they are a greeting card publisher which makes them lean heavily on the side of commercial appeal to stand beside their competition.  A gallery and sites such as Redbubble and FineArt America lean heavily into the non-commercial art world which is why ALL art is accepted on those sites.  
 
I remind myself of this often as I create greeting cards and this has paid off well for me.  It's just my take on the situation, but I feel it's important to remember when we design greeting cards that we are creating imagery for a product to sell in a commercial market rather than creating a piece of art for the art world.

Quote from Doreen_137017 on Nov 6^th, 2011, 7:50am:

 
so really and please don't take this as me being snotty - it's really coming down to ONLY making "safe, cookie cutter" designs.  I guess I am still just too stupid to wrap my brain around this definition of "marketable" if something quirky and different art or not art is being cast off especially if the card is selling well.  I keep asking on such threads because I learn by example - if someone is running into a problem with a card, I like to know what the deal is so I can add something to my skill set.