This is the Enhanced VIP 5 Cards in 5 Days Challenge HUB PAGE
In this "Create 5 Greeting Cards in 5 Days" challenge, I'll guide you through the entire process of creating unique and marketable greeting cards from scratch. Whether you're a seasoned artist or a budding designer, this challenge is your opportunity to explore your creativity, learn valuable skills, and perhaps even discover a new passion.
I use both Procreate and Affinity Designer in parts of these challenges (2024 Spring - Proceate, 2024 Fall-Affinity Designer). Use your preferred software. Assets are provided as Procreate brushes, Affinity Designer Asssets, PNG, JPEG and SVG in most cases.
Don't know Affinity Designer?? You can get it free right now.
Get Affinity Designer!
Day 1 - Introduction to Sketching and Planning
Get ready to kick off your creative journey with the first day of our 5 Cards in 5 Days Challenge! Today, you’ll dive into the world of thumbnail sketches. While you might think these sketches are just quick doodles, they are actually crucial for your design process! You’ll learn how to brainstorm your ideas and better understand the composition of your cards.
Sketching is not merely about drawing; it's about exploring possibilities, experimenting with ideas, and setting the stage for your final designs. It's where every great greeting card begins.
Planning, on the other hand, involves assessing and gathering any available art you might already have, which can be repurposed or incorporated into your card designs. This initial stage is crucial for transforming your creative visions into tangible art.
I’m here to energize you and encourage you as you jot down your thoughts and initial concepts in the workbook. By the end of today, you'll feel more confident in your ability to map out your ideas visually. Let's grab that pencil and start sketching—I'm excited to see your creativity flow!
The key is to experiment and plan your ideas on paper first:
Work with the hand-outs and workbook as you learn about creating effective thumbnails—small, rough sketches that capture your ideas quickly and efficiently.
Thumbnails allow you to explore various layouts and concepts without committing to detailed designs right away.
Today, we will take a journey not just to create but to connect and communicate through the art of greeting cards.
Sketching and planning are the bedrock of this creative process, allowing us to visualize our ideas and lay a solid foundation for the beautiful designs we will create.
🎁Check under Lesson 1 where you will find a surprise gift!
- Be sure to watch the video by Elena Wilkin.
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Check out my greeting Card Excellence Board on Pinterest!
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Download the thumbnail sketches supplement here.
Day 2 - Mining Your Art and Thinking About Typography
Explore how to repurpose your existing art or patterns into stunning greeting cards, incorporating text frames and typography to enhance your designs and convey heartfelt messages.
Typography adds flavor and zest to greeting card design. As a designer, you shape letters into enchanting masterpieces, unraveling its mysteries. With knowledge and skills, blend fonts and styles into each card, revealing beauty.
Also, refer to this Cheat Sheet about Typography. It will give you twelve rules specifically gathered for greeting card designers that experts consider to be the most crucial principles of the art of typography in that genre.
Why Text Matters
Typography plays a crucial role in greeting card design, conveying mood and emotion as powerfully as the artwork itself. To assist you, we've prepared this “Typographic Rules Cheat Sheet (download link above).
This resource will guide you through the basics of choosing fonts, arranging text, and creating harmony between your words and images.
This approach not only streamlines your design process but also ensures your cards carry a piece of your artistic journey.
Day 3 - Create Stunning Art and Lettering Tailored to Any Style
Dive into the process of creating custom art and exploring different lettering styles. In this session, I will showcase the completion of one of my thumbnail sketches, along with some quick hand-lettering.
During the one of the videos, I will demonstrate a handy technique for efficient hand-lettering that can enhance your skills.
This day's agenda revolves around adding a personal touch to your cards by incorporating distinctive artwork and expressive text.
Day 3 Bonus
Cheat Sheet on Color Choices
Whether you're aiming for a vibrant and playful look or a more elegant and sophisticated feel, this comprehensive guide provides practical tips and inspiring examples to help you create unforgettable greeting cards by carefully choosing from meticulously curated color palettes.
All color palettes for download.
👇Enjoy playing with the assets from the Botanical Bliss Brush Set free for VIP's.👇
Day 4 - File Setup Made Simple:
Ensuring Perfect Prints Every Time
Welcome to Day 4 of the 5 Cards in 5 Days Challenge! Today, we take an exciting step—preparing your card design for professional printing. Seeing your design physically come to life is an exhilarating moment and will help you understand how colors, dimensions, and textures translate from the screen to reality. This process also equips you with valuable skills for your future projects.
Today’s Goal
By the end of today, you'll learn how to format your card file for printing, upload it to a professional printing service, and even order your first proof copy. Whether you see one or wait until you have multiple designs, holding a printed card in your hands will help you refine your craft and elevate your work.
Why Ordering Prints is a Must
- It helps you refine your design skills by showing how everything translates physically.
- Builds confidence in your ability to create professional, tangible products.
- Reveals improvements for future projects.
Enhanced VIP Experience
Want advanced resources? Upgrade any time to get the Enhanced VIP experience :
- High-resolution templates, pro design tips, and free assets for Procreate/Affinity Designer including PNG files, JPEGs and SVGs.
- Lifetime access to all session recordings for reference (including past challenges).
- Live sessions to connect, get feedback, and explore advanced options like QR codes and bulk printing tips.
Stretch Your Creativity
Your printed card is just the beginning! Consider creating themed sets, experimenting with typography, or developing a portfolio to share with clients or on social media. Each printed card is a milestone in your creative growth.
Celebrate Your Progress!
Day 5: Selling Your Cards on the Cardisle Website
Welcome to the final day of the 5 Cards in 5 Days Challenge! Today, you’ll take the exciting step of listing your cards for sale on Cardisle, turning your creativity into potential income. This is a fantastic opportunity to experience the steps involved in selling on creative platforms while laying the foundation for long-term growth.
Here’s what you’ll do today:
- Set Listing Goals: Decide on an achievable schedule—whether it’s one card a day or 5–10 per week. Building your portfolio steadily increases visibility over time and enhances sales.
- Get Organized: Use a spreadsheet to track your designs, titles, and messages. A little preparation goes a long way as you upload more cards in the future.
- Join Cardisle: Sign up as an artist, complete your profile with an engaging bio or logo, and prepare to showcase your work (I am not affiliating; this is simply where I have personally had a lot of success).
- List Your Cards: Create clear, descriptive titles, select appropriate categories, and add up to 10 useful tags to make your design easier to find.
- Polish and Publish: Format thoughtful inside messages, carefully review your listings, and upload your first card with confidence.
- Keep the Momentum: Stay consistent—try uploading more cards today and challenge yourself to keep growing your portfolio. Share your cards on social media or with friends and family to spread the word!
Every card you list is a step toward your creative success. Take pride in what you’ve accomplished this week, and use this momentum to keep going. This is just the beginning of your journey! 🌟
The Curriculum
- Day 1 - START HERE - 5 in 5 Challenge Spring 2025 (6:36)
- Day 1 Main Video - 5 in 5 Challenge Spring 2025 (6:36)
- Day 1 Elena Wilkin on Planning and Thumbnails (3:26)
- Day 1 - Installing Assets (4:48)
- Day 1 - March 3, 2025 - Zoom with Challenge participants (66:39)
- Video Day 2 - 5 in 5 Challenge Spring 2025 (13:29)
- Day 2 - March 4, 2025 - Interview with Success Story - KeriAnne Hohener (49:14)
- Video Day 3 - 5 in 5 Challenge Spring 2025 (16:23)
- Day 3 - LIVE Lettering with Lindy with Challenge Participants (59:56)
- Video Day 4 - 5 in 5 Challenge Spring 2025 (9:09)
- Day 4 - Email Marketing with Kaylie - Challenge Participants (59:53)
- Video Day 5 - 5 in 5 Challenge Spring 2025 (13:46)
- M1 L2 Installing Affinity Designer and Tools (9:21)
- Day 5 - Special Guest - Elena Wilkin on Designing Photo Cards (52:04)
Need more assets?
Participants in the challenge can enjoy 50 % off these premium assets. Don't wait too long ! Sale ends Saturday and only 100 coupons will be issued!
PromoCode: 5-CARD-SPRING-2025
