The Greeting Card Association recognizes finalists in Noted @ *Noted competition

The Greeting Card Association (GCA) has named the finalists in the third annual Noted @ *Noted Products Awards Competition. The competition is held in conjunction with the industry’s annual greeting card focused tradeshow, *Noted: The Greeting Card Expo, which will be held April 28-29, co-located with SF NOW at Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture in San Francisco. The competition was open to any greeting card maker who is exhibiting at *Noted or wholesales on GCA Marketplace. To keep everything fresh, all entries needed to be introduced on or after Jan. 1, 2022. This year’s competition received 145 entries.

Judges

A small but incredibly esteemed group of judges reviewed the entries:

• Audrey Woollen, founder and creative director of Urbanic Paper Boutique
• Chandra Greer, owner of GREER Chicago
• Chelsea Shukov, co-founder of Sugar Paper
• Daniel Collier, danielrichards
• Sarah Schwartz, editor of Stationery Trends and The Paper Nerd

“This year’s group of 30 finalists is so special to me,” enthused Schwartz. “As the world grapples with pandemic and war, we need to connect with each other more than ever. I was so impressed to see makers really pushing themselves and rising to the occasion — as a result, I really had a difficult time judging. Best of all, we will have the opportunity to announce and celebrate the winners in real life very soon, making *Noted even more of a can’t-miss event!”

Finalists

Makers and retailers competed in 10 categories and the finalists can be viewed below:

Best Color Combo Card

• Calypso Cards
• Girl w/Knife
• Seedlings

Best New Product Line

• Honeyberry Studios
• Paper Epiphanies
• Seedlings

Funniest Card

• 2021 Co.
• Redback Cards
• A Smyth Co

Best Tear-Jerker Card

• Paper Baristas
• Seedlings
• Darling Lemon

Best Use of Profanity Card

• Twentysome Design
• Redback Cards
• Ümlaut Brooklyn

Most Beautiful Card

• 2021 Co.
• Seedlings
• Lake Erie Design Co.

Best Card for Nutty Times

• 2021 Co.
• NIQUEA.D
• Girl w/Knife

Snarkiest Card

• Girl w/Knife
• 417 Press
• Heavenly Press

Best No Occasion/Just Because Card

• Mirthos Paper
• Keller Design Co.
• Girl w/Knife

Best Card from a Rookie/Newbie

• Twentysome Design
• Lykkefund Paper
• Age-Friendly Vibes

Congratulations to all the finalists! To see all 30 finalists, as well as the maker’s notes about their approach to each submission, visit ThePaperNerd.com. The first round was reviewed virtually; to select winners, judges will review the physical cards in person. Winners will be announced throughout April 28 and 29 at *Noted. Those who wish to exhibit, sponsor, or attend *Noted can do so by visiting the GCA website at www.greetingcard.org. Registration is free for retailers and buyers who will have the opportunity to shop over 150 exhibiting companies.