The middle of the year means many things but one important thing for creators is to start holiday designs now; nice and early to be ready for holiday sales.
 
 July 2025 Design Challenge          
……………………………………………………………            
       
Theme: Christmas in July
……………………………………………………………            
       
Requirements:  
- Choose ONE color palette (2025 trends see blog link) and create a new Christmas design using the color palette of your choice.
- No Stock Card Creations will be accepted.
- Blank verse will not be considered for entry in this challenge.
- Only ONE card per artist per challenge.
- Submissions must be NEW, no existing designs.
- Your designs should differ from those already offered in the category of your choice to offer shoppers a variety of choices, not more of the same.
 
CATEGORY:  
Any Christmas category
 
……………………………………………………………            
       
Entry Deadline:  Thursday, July 31st
 
Please see more details on July's Design Challenge here on the Community blog:        
https://gcucommunity.com/2025/07/03/dash-of-inspiration-july-design-challenge-2/

Well that sure got us in the holiday spirit! Thank you, artists, for going there during the dead heat of summer.
 
The top 2 cards are:  
 
First Place  
Christie Black of Creations from the Heart
https://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/holiday-cards/christmas-cards/peace/merry-c hristmas-good-quill-toward-1936728
 
Second Place
Betsy Bush of Dragonfire Graphics
https://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/holidays/christmas/occupation-specific/prop erty-manager/property-manager-cozy-christmas-greetings-1936210
 
All submissions offering nontraditional color palettes that are sure to appeal to shoppers this year.
 
NEW to the Design Challenge, look for Judges' Notes as constructive feedback on your challenge submission. These will be sent to you via a review email "comment" for all challenge submission pid#s.
 
Considering entering August's Stock Card Only Design Challenge and get your BOO on:
https://gcucommunity.com/2025/08/04/dash-of-inspiration-august-2025-stock-design
-challenge/
 
please note: posted from my artist forum id vs my GCU Community Manager admin id due to technical access issues