Greeting Card Writer Jobs: Greeting Card Writing from Home

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Learn how to find greeting card writer jobs and start greeting card writing from home. This post is perfect for freelance writers, artists, designers, and those looking to work from home.

Are you a freelance writer, artist, or designer looking for a new and unique opportunity? Greeting card writing may be your thing. In this post I cover some of the best greeting card writer jobs, how to land a greeting card writer job, and how to start writing greeting cards from home. I also cover greeting card companies that are looking for original art work and photography.

What is Greeting Card Writing?

Greeting card writing is writing phrases, verses, poems, and puns for the greeting card industry. Each and every greeting card you purchase has a writer behind its words. There are thousands of greeting cards out there, which means thousands of writers and potential writing jobs.

If you are an artist, designer, or photographer; the greeting card industry might be perfect for you as well. Greeting card companies are always looking for new art, designs, and photographs for their cards.

How is Greeting Card Writing Different?

Writing for the greeting card industry is a bit different than your normal freelance writing job. Greeting cards have limited space, and oftentimes there is an image or illustration in addition to the text.

If you want to write greeting cards, and land a greeting card writer job, you need to be a good writer. However, you also need to be able to write short, succinct, snippets of text. Therefore, you must be able to say a lot with very few words.

If you are an artist, designer, or photographer; you have a little bit more flexibility. You may be able to sell the rights to some of your existing art work and designs. It simply depends on your style, and if there is a market for the type of work you create.

The Greeting Card Business and Industry

The greeting card market, in the United States, is estimated at $7.3 Billion. (This data is from the year 2021.) Think of all of the card messages, and card ideas, that are out there. People send birthday cards, holiday cards, get well cards, sympathy cards, graduation cards, and more. This makes for a huge, and lucrative, industry.

Not all greeting card companies have a large staff of writers or artists on hand. Therefore, they rely on freelancers to help write their greeting card copy.

Greeting Card Writing Compensation

According to the Greeting Card Association, greeting card writers can expect to make between $25 and $150 for each submission that is accepted. Humor writing tends to command a higher price than verse. Therefore, if you have a good sense of humor; you might be able to make more money as a greeting card writer.

Artists, designers, and photographers can expect to make a flat-fee between $275 and $500 per piece of art work. Keep in mind that under a flat-fee basis, ownership rights are typically turned over to the publisher. This means you no longer own the rights to the piece of work you sold, and can’t use it or sell it to another company.

Where to Find Greeting Card Writer Jobs

The best way to find a greeting card writer job is to go to your local card shop and do some research. (You can also search for Greeting Cards online.) Look at the back of greeting cards and write down all of the manufacturer information. Sometimes you’ll only find a company name. However, you may also find website and contact information as well.

Your next step is to do an online search of the greeting card companies you discovered. Look for a jobs section, submissions section, or writer’s guidelines section. This should give you all the information you need to submit your writing. If you can’t find anything on the company website, check out their social media pages. You may be able to find more information there.

If you can’t get any information with the above steps, send an e-mail to the company. Kindly inquire about any writer opportunities and ask if they have a submissions or writer’s guidelines document, or a link that they can forward on to you.

How to Become a Greeting Card Writer

Interested in how to get into greeting card writing? If you are a freelance writer, there’s a good chance you’ll be successful as a freelance greeting card writer as well. Again, start by visiting your local store and look through all of the different greeting cards that are available. How do the words and imagery work together. What is the tone? How are the greeting card companies different? What types of cards stand out to you? Which ones do you connect with and why?

Once you’ve done thorough greeting card research, you’ll want to start reaching out to greeting card companies. Hopefully you already have an online writing portfolio, and website, to share with prospective clients. If not, you should definitely create one now.

Build Your Own Writer’s Website

To learn how to build your own writer’s website, check out my post How to Start a Blog: Beginner’s Guide for step by step instructions.

Your website should have an about page, contact page, and a writing samples page at minimum. Your writing samples page should feature your best work, and list any prominent places your work has been featured.

If you are an artist, your website should have a portfolio section that features all of your best, and relevant, art work.

Once you have your website up and running, you can start querying greeting card companies. If you are able to find submissions guidelines, or writer’s guidelines, read and follow them thoroughly. So many people do not follow the submissions guidelines and end up not landing the job. You stand the best chance of getting a greeting card writing job (or any writing job for that matter) by following the writer’s guidelines.

When you send a submission, make sure that you include your contact information on any physical writing, or art, samples that you send. If you want your samples returned, be sure to include a self addressed and stamped envelope.

Finally, create a spreadsheet and list each company you query, as well as the date. If you don’t hear back in a month, send a gentle 2nd query reminder e-mail. If you still don’t hear back, move on to your next opportunity.

The Best Greeting Card Writer Jobs Online

Following are some of the best greeting card writer jobs online that are available to date. I’ve linked to each company’s writer guidelines where available. Included are greeting card companies that are also looking for original art work and photography. I’ll update this post as I come across new greeting card writing jobs, and greeting card companies.

Blue Mountain Arts

Blue Mountain Arts is a Colorado based company that has been in business for over 40 years. They are known for their innovative art styles, quality papers, and unique production techniques.

Blue Mountain Arts is looking for contemporary prose or poetry, written from personal experience, that reflects the thoughts and feelings people today want to communicate to one another, but don’t always know how to put into words. They pay $300 per poem for the worldwide, exclusive rights to publish it on a greeting card and other products. You can find their writer’s guidelines by clicking on Blue Mountain Arts.

Snafu Designs

Snafu Greeting Cards is a manufacturer of funny wholesale greeting cards that supplies fun cards for retailers in the USA and beyond.

They are looking for humorous cards that invoke a laugh-out-loud response from the reader. They will pay $100 for an idea that they use. You can find their writer’s guidelines by clicking on Snafu Designs.

RSVP

RSVP is an eclectic line of greetings cards that is fresh, funny, sweet, and sugary mixed with a bit of sass & edge! Their cards are designed to reach someone very personally, whether you want to say I love you or make them laugh out loud!

They are looking for authentic, emotionally inspired, clever, original, and succinct greeting card messages. You can find their writer’s guidelines by clicking on RSVP.

Viabella

Viabella cards complement the emotion of any occasion. Embrace the beautiful path. Speak with more than words.

Viabella accept submissions for all holidays and occasions including humor. You can find their freelance submission guidelines by clicking on Viabella.

Calypso Cards

Calypso Cards is a woman owned business that publishes and distributes contemporary greeting cards, and related gift products, that are sold through specialist retailers in the US and Canada.

They are are currently seeking copy for Selfish Kitty, a humor line which is edgy but not cruel or degrading. The audience for Selfish Kitty is young, urban, educated. You can find their submission guidelines by clicking on Calypso Cards.

Oatmeal Studios

Oatmeal Studios delights shoppers with unique cards that feature bright, colorful artwork and on-the-mark humor.

They are looking for card ideas for these occasions: Birthday, 21st, 30th, 40th, 50th & 60th, Relative Birthday, Belated Birthday, Get Well, Good-Bye, Miss You & Thank You, Love, Wedding, New Baby, Anniversary (from friend to couple), Congratulations & Retirement. You can find their writer’s guidelines by clicking on Oatmeal Studios.

NobleWorks Cards

NobleWorks Cards is one of the leading humor card publishers. They strive to find funny, unique, risqué and carefully-crafted card suppliers to help stock their virtual shelves. Keep in mind that they stock their shelves with naked grandmas, cards that use the F-word and generally off-beat sentiments. If that’s your cup of tea, than NobleWorks Cards might be the right place for you.

You can request NobleWorks writer’s guidelines by clicking on NobleWorks Submissions.

Papyrus

Papyrus sells greeting cards, stationary, and more. You can visit their website by clicking on Papyrus.

From the Papyrus website:

To submit artwork, photography or copy for review, please send color copies or printed materials only.  Do not send original works of any kind.  Please limit your submission to no more than 12 images or copy ideas.  If you wish to have your submission material returned, you must include a stamped, self-addressed envelope with sufficient return postage.  Papyrus is not responsible for any submissions lost or damaged by the postal service. 

Please address your submissions to:
Papyrus Portfolio Review 
240 Gateway Rd West 
Napa, CA 94558 

Please allow a minimum of 8 weeks for a response. 

Amber Lotus

Amber Lotus creates calendars, greeting cards, and stationery items that illuminate the sacred dimensions of everyday life — mindfulness, healthy living, creativity, and earth awareness.

They are currently accepting photography and art work submissions. As of January 2022, they state that they are currently not accepting writing submissions. However, it doesn’t hurt to check their website on occasion. For submissions guidelines click on Amber Lotus.

Great Arrow

Great Arrow was founded in 1984 with a line of six greeting card. They’ve grown since then and create numerous silk screened greeting cards by hand. They have worked with hundreds of freelancers, and are always looking for more.

For submissions guideline information click on Great Arrow.

Palm Press

Palm Press’s greeting cards combine premier photography and profound prose to help you tell a story beyond words. They are currently accepting photography submissions year round.

For submission guidelines, click on Palm Press.

Leanin’ Tree

Leanin’ Tree sells beautifully crafted greeting cards that feature original artwork by outstanding independent artists from across the country and around the world.

They are currently accepting art submissions for a variety of categories. For submissions information, and deadlines, click on Leanin’ Tree.

Pomegranate

Pomegranate produces the finest quality books, calendars, puzzles, paper gift products, and more. They enjoy collaborating with artists and writers all over the world.

For submissions information, and to propose a product idea, click on Pomegranate.

Avanti Press

Avanti takes funny seriously, and delivers humor with an attitude. They offer a variety of humorous seasonal greeting cards.

For writing submissions information click on Avanti Press Writing. For photo submissions information click on Avanti Press Photo.

Caspari

Caspari is a respected publisher of exquisitely designed and printed paper products. The maintain a philosophy of presenting a wide selection of designs from world renowned museums and independent artists ranging in style from traditional to contemporary.

Caspari reviews each piece of work submitted on artistic merit and whether the design and style relates to the current range of Caspari products. For submissions information, click on Caspari.

It Takes Two

It takes two was founded in 1984 by the mother-daughter team of Georgia Rettmer and Kimberly Rinehart with just 24 greeting cards. The company has since grown to include a full catalog of cards, stationery, gifts, and scrapbooking items that are marketed internationally through retail shops and online stores.

It takes two has an in house team of artists. However, they do accept submissions from outside artists as well. For more information, click on it takes two.

Up With Paper

Up With Paper has been recognized for developing outstanding pop-up greeting cards. They also create stationary and pop-up books.

Up With Paper always looking for new and talented paper engineers, illustrators, graphic designers, and brands to work and collaborate with. For submissions information, click on Up With Paper.

Allport Editions

Allport Editions makes cards that are artful and cards that are funny, and sometimes cards that are both at the same time.

They are currently accepting a variety of art work. Click on Allport for submissions information.

Gina B Designs

Gina B Designs is a well-established designer of greeting cards, stationery and gifts, inspired by their love of art. Their products are made in the USA and include all occasion greeting cards, boxed notes, gift enclosures, perpetual and desk calendars, notepads, thermal tumblers, art prints, microfiber cleaning cloths, invitations, kids thank yous, recipe cards, Valentine’s Day, Christmas and seasonal holiday cards.

Gina B Designs is currently accepting art work for a variety of occasions. Click on Gina B Designs for submissions information.

Hallmark

Hallmark is one of the largest greeting card manufacturers. They rarely accept submissions. While you are better off focusing on smaller card manufacturers, it never hurts to see if larger manufacturers need writers.

You can check out the Hallmark Career Page, for job listings,or click on Hallmark Publishing for writer information.

American Greetings

American Greetings is another large greeting card company. They do accept submissions. However, they have a very specific process you need to follow.

For more information, click on American Greetings Submissions.

Greeting Card Association

The Greeting Card Association is the U.S. trade association serving the greeting card and social expressions industry, promotes the tradition of sending greeting cards, helps members grow their business through leadership/advocacy on industry issues, and recognizes creativity.

The Greeting Card Association offers a variety of information on their website, and also has a member directory where you can search for greeting card companies. For more information, click on Greeting Card Association Members.

Creating Your Own Greeting Cards

While you wait to hear from greeting card companies, you might want to practice your greeting card writing. A great way to do this is to create your own line of greeting cards.

There are several companies that allow artists, and writers, to create a free print on demand shop. You design, write, and upload your greeting card to your online shop. Shoppers find your work. If they like it and make a purchase, you get a commission. This is a great way to see if your designs, and style, are marketable.

Zazzle

Zazzle is a free marketplace that enables thousands of artists to sell their artwork to new audiences. Just upload your designs on any of their products and they do everything else from printing to shipping to handling customer service. Sell your artwork on hundreds of retail-quality products and set your own royalty rates. It’s easy and FREE! Click on Zazzle for more information.

Redbubble

Redbubble is a global marketplace for independent artists. Like Zazzle, RedBubble gives you access to a wide range of high quality products, just waiting for your designs to make them more amazing. Click on Redbubble for more information.

Minted

Minted is a marketplace for independent artists. They offer a variety of products, including greeting cards, created by artists and designers. However, their platform is a bit unique. Artists and writers submit work to open design challenges, that are then voted on by the public. Winners receive a cash prize, as well as a platform for their work, and an ongoing commission from all sales. Too see upcoming design challenges click on Minted for more information.

Card Gnome

Card Gnome is another place where you can sell your greeting card designs, and make a commission on items sold. You’ll receive 10% of the price of each card sold. And you retain all rights to your work. Click on Card Gnome for more information.

Greeting Card Writer Jobs Conclusion

Writing greeting cards from home can be a fun and unique way to earn extra money as a freelance writer, artist, and designer. Once you land a greeting card writer job, there is a good chance you’ll be able to get many more opportunities in the future.

If you have trouble landing a job, be patient. Keep querying and keep working on your writing, art, and design skills. The more you practice, the better you’ll get.

Looking for more writing tips, and writing jobs? Check out my ultimate freelance writer’s guide Get Paid to Write about Anything.

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