Holiday Card Design Guidelines

1. The design should be a holiday card, not a Christmas card. Do not submit repeat patterns.
2. Do not use trademarked characters or religious icons such as angels, nativity scenes, Santa, etc.
3. Designs that feature people muat be inclusive of a variety of cultures and nationalities.
4. All Good Cause Greetings holiday cards support well-respected charitable organizations. Artwork that reflects the nature of the supported charity is particularly desirable. For example, artwork featuring books is used to support ProLiteracy, designs with international themes have supported the Global Health Council and most of our cards supporting children's charities feature kids in the artwork.

Artwork Specs

All cards measure 5" x 7" and may be horizontal or vertical. When creating artwork, add 1/4" of bleed on all four sides. (5.5" x7.5" finished size). This 'extra background' will be trimmed off after printing. As such, it should not contain any elements that are integral to the design of the card.

Submitted work may be larger, but not smaller, as long as the proportions remain 5" x 7" PLUS the 1/4" bleed. (10.5" x 14.5"; 15.5" x 21.5", etc.)

Use BRIGHT COLORS. Acceptable mediums include acrylics, oils, watercolor, collage, markers, crayons, etc. DO NOT use pencil, pen and ink or colored pencils.

Submit low resolution (72 dpi) or watermarked artwork for consideration. If your artwork is selected, we will contact you for files meeting the following specs:

Any color artwork should be professionally scanned at actual size at a minimum resolution of 300 dpi and saved as a TIFF file. Any artwork produced as original raster-based (Photoshop) digital files whould be at least 300 dpi at actual (5.5" x 7.5") size and saved as a PSD or TIFF file. Any artwork produced as original vector-based (Illustrator) digital files should be saved as EPS files. Any fonts used in the artwork should be converted to outlines.

Cards will be printed with a 4-color digital process. Avoid metallic inks or paints or any tectural effects that will not reproduce well photographically.

Digital submissions are preferred. You may also submit by mail on a CD or other digital storage, Make sure your name and contact information is printed on the front of the low resolution artwork submitted for consideration. Do not send original artwork. It will not be returned.

Good Cause Greetings will select th nonprofit organization the card will support and will write a verse for the inside of the card. All artists will be credited on the back of the card as follows: "Original artwork © Artist's Name". Artists whose work is selected will receive 20 samples of finsihed cards for their personal use.

Child Art

Good Cause Greetings produces holiday cards to raise funds for a number of children's hospitals. Designs on these cards are created by kids who want to help sick or injured children through their artwork. Artwork specs are the same as described above. Children who submit artwork that is chosen for a children's hospital card program will receive $100 per image selected.

Payment

Payment is $300 per image selected for the Good Cause Greetings holiday card line. Artwork created by kids used in one of our children's hospital card programs will be paid for at the rate of $100 per image.

The Fine Print

Good Cause Greetings is purchasing all-time greeting card rights for publication in the US. The artist retains the original artwork and all other rights. The image may be sold or licensed worldwide for any purpose OTHER THAN GREETING CARDS.

Artwork is due by May 30th to cathy@goodcausegreetings.com or Good Cause Greetings, 30 West Colonial Road, Wilbraham, MA 01095.

Questions

Questions to: Cathy Robbins at Cathy@goodcausegreetings.com or 413-543-1515 (office), 413-221-2653 (cell)