GCU Forum - Declined Card :(

GCU Newbies

Posts: 42

Declined Card :(
Jun 27^th, 2025, 4:11pm

Man, just had a card declined that really surprised me. It's an American flag (hand-drawn, straightforward, no frills, plastering the entire front of the card), with "1976 Bicentennial Birthday Baby" placed on the lines of the flag, submitted for the bicentennial baby category requested a few days ago. This was targeted for those buyers who want to keep it simple, not frilly.

Just really hate the "no marketability" response as that does not help me understand the reasons it was declined. And this is the 1st card in six months that I've had rejected, so I thought I was FINALLY making strides in the submission process. Talk about knocking the wind out of my sails...this was definitely a downer for me.

I know this is reviewer subjective and I have no right to complain, but I thought it was an acceptable design...it's a FLAG! Yes, it's simple, but it speaks directly to the category request. When I do a search on the site for bicentennial or 1976, there aren't a lot of cards that come up in the search...it would seem more cards are needed. And I certainly don't see many with flags as the featured design.

Anyway, just needed to vent. This crushed my desire to design anything else tonight, and maybe a few days to come. Sad

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Corrie_703552

GCU Newbies

Posts: 4

Re: Declined Card :(
Reply #1 - Jun 28^th, 2025, 12:48am

Hi there,

Don't worry about cards coming back to you, it happens to everyone from time to time. Maybe the just a flag idea was too simple for the category. Recycle your design and use the flag as a background and add something that speaks to the subject 'Bicentennial Birthday Baby', like a special cake, or something to do with 1976 (or both). You can still make it work and submit again. You can do it!

Corrie

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Gwen_704382

GCU Newbies

Posts: 42

Re: Declined Card :(
Reply #2 - Jun 29^th, 2025, 1:48pm

Quote from Corrie_703552 on Jun 28^th, 2025, 12:48am:

Hi there,

Don't worry about cards coming back to you, it happens to everyone from time to time. Maybe the just a flag idea was too simple for the category. Recycle your design and use the flag as a background and add something that speaks to the subject 'Bicentennial Birthday Baby', like a special cake, or something to do with 1976 (or both). You can still make it work and submit again. You can do it!

Corrie

Thanks, Corrie.

I am assuming that I must submit a brand new entry, as I see there is no way to revise the declined card and resubmit. I've worked on a variation today, with a cupcake and candle in the forefront. Maybe that will pass muster.

Gwen

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Gwen_704382 GCU Newbies Posts: 42	Re: Declined Card :( Reply #3 - Jun 30^th, 2025, 11:15am IT WAS DECLINED AGAIN, even after I added Corrie's suggestions. I just do NOT understand what is wrong with the design!!!!!
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Corrie_131338 Gold Member Posts: 1611	Re: Declined Card :( Reply #4 - Jun 30^th, 2025, 11:27pm If you really feel passionate about this particular design, maybe write a note to the reviewer (there should be a number in your email) and ask what you need to change to get it approved. Or just move on to the next design idea. Corrie
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Gwen_704382

GCU Newbies

Posts: 42

Re: Declined Card :(
Reply #5 - Jul 1^st, 2025, 5:34am

Quote from Corrie_131338 on Jun 30^th, 2025, 11:27pm:

If you really feel passionate about this particular design, maybe write a note to the reviewer (there should be a number in your email) and ask what you need to change to get it approved. Or just move on to the next design idea.

Corrie

Thanks, Corrie. I did respond immediately via email reply when I got the rejections, on both cards, with a mix of displeasure and asking WHY it was rejected...is it the flag, the text, just WHAT...so I could better understand and keep these declines from stacking up against me. I have heard nothing back. And yes, I'm passionate about the 2nd design, which actually turned out better than the first rejected card (IMO).

I took time to rethink the card, added your suggestions, and even included that info in the reviewer notes on the 2nd / revised card. I suppose I assumed that since you're a known name in the GCU world, it would help. It didn't. So, there is something about the design that is unsettling to at least one reviewer, maybe more.

The thing I have against the "no marketability" statement is that it doesn't help new designers (which I still consider myself) with how to adjust the design to make it acceptable. I'm sure there are too many submissions to be able to do that, but for those who are new (say, within a couple years old on GCU), I certainly think it would help the overall business to help the designers know what's wrong. Just my 2 cents.

Thanks for your encouragement. I'm taking a break for now, to regroup and get past this.

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Mindy_artist Gold Member artist Posts: 528	Re: Declined Card :( Reply #6 - Aug 4^th, 2025, 1:04pm Hi Gwen, upon request we are happy to share specifics on where/how the design does not meet GCU's Submission Guidelines. As you have mentioned, this is not something we can do on a regular basis in consideration of time.
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