Frequently Asked Questions

Scroll down to read some answers to commonly asked questions. Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Email us! gca@greetingcard.org.

Do I have to be a GCA member to submit to the Louie Awards?

You do not! However, it is cheaper to submit as a member.

How does the Ceremony being in July (instead of in April) affect the timeline?

Our timeline is staying mostly the same. The only difference is that winners will not be announced until July instead of in April. This gives us more time to celebrate our Finalists in each category (which we announce in February)!

Do I have to attend the Louie Award Ceremony if I submitted cards?

Nope! But we would love to see you there.

Do I have to attend *Noted in order to go to the Louie Award Ceremony?

Nope! While the Louie Award Ceremony is the first night of *Noted, anyone can purchase a ticket when it opens in February.

Can I edit my entry once I submit it? Or can I purchase entries to complete the submission later?

In order to pay for a submission, you have to completely fill out the entry form. However, you can edit your entries until January 5th with any changes you need to make.

Are you continuing the diversity categories this year? 

Yes! Last year, we expanded our Celebrating Diversity & Inclusion category to include 5 separate categories – Celebrating LGBTQIA+, Celebrating Latinx Culture, Celebrating Black Culture, Celebrating AAPI Culture, and Celebrating Indigenous Culture. We have also added a Celebrating Women and a Global Greetings category. You can read more about the new categories here.

Can I submit to one of the new Diversity categories even if I don’t identify as part of those communities?

Yes! Any company, regardless of background, can and is encouraged to enter these categories.

What is the Maker-of-Note Award?

These awards honor and elevate the rich diversity of makers and publishers within the vibrant greeting card community. They highlight remarkable contributions by individuals from underrepresented and diverse communities. To qualify for a Maker-of-Note Award, the designer must self-identify in their Award Force profile as a member of at least one of the highlighted communities listed above when submitting for the Louie Awards.

To be eligible, a maker must then submit a minimum of five entries to any combination of award categories. There is not a separate submission process to be considered for this award. A Maker-of-Note award will be given to a maker in each of the communities (Latinx, Black, AAPI, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+) and will go to the individual with the highest average score across all their 5+ entries.

You do not need to apply or submit anything specific to win this award, Maker-of-Note Awards will be given out at the Annual Louie Awards Celebration in April.

Do you have any opportunities for free entries?

This year, GCA is dedicated to diversifying the Louie Awards and highlighting makers and companies from underrepresented communities in our industry. We are offering two free Louie entries to any maker who self-identifies as part of the following communities: Black, AAPI, LGBTQIA+, Indigenous, Latinx.

These free entries can ONLY be used for the following categories:

• Celebrating LGBTQIA+
• Celebrating Latinx Culture
• Celebrating Black Culture
• Celebrating AAPI Culture
• Celebrating Indigenous Culture

Once you fill out this form, you’ll receive an email within 1-2 business days with the discount code to use to submit your cards!

How do I decide what category to enter my card into?

That is totally up to you! Many cards will fit into multiple categories, so you can decide which category you’d like to submit the card to. The full list of categories can be found here. Each card can only be submitted once (with the exception of cards submitted as part of Rising Star, Writer/Artist of the Year, and Letterpress).

What is the cost to enter?

You can view the cost to enter here.

How do I know if my card is eligible to be entered into the Louies?

You can view the eligibility/entry requirements on this page.

I’m interested in entering the Louie Awards and was wondering why there is a 200-or-more run requirement per card entered? Can you explain this more?

The reason for the 200+ run requirement is so we can distinguish between at-home card producers and wholesale manufacturers. We don’t want someone to pay to enter and then be judged against the professionally printed, manufactured, and highly finished cards that are produced by the entrants.

How many cards am I allowed to enter?

• You may enter as many cards as you’d like in as many categories as you wish.
• You can enter as many cards as you’d like into a category.
• However, you may NOT enter the same card in multiple categories. The exceptions to this rule are Rising Star, Writer of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Letterpress categories. Because these 4 categories recognize a company vs. a single card, you can enter those cards into another category as well.

Is it OK to use licensed artwork in my submission vs my original design?

Licensed artwork is just fine.

How many samples should I send?

There are a few very strict rules to follow when sending in your samples. View the guidelines here

Where should I send my entry samples?

Entries should be sent to:

Greeting Card Association
Attn: Louie Awards
7173 S Havana Street
Suite 600-289
Centennial, CO 80112

Once I send in my entries, what happens?

GCA staff will code and catalog your entries to get them ready for judging. You will receive an email confirming that we received your samples. You do not need to follow up–if there is a discrepancy or question or correction, we will contact you.

When will I found out if my card won?

Finalist announcements will be made mid-February 2025. More information will be sent to the full GCA database as we have it. Make sure you’re on our mailing list by filling out the form on the bottom of this webpage.

Winners will be announced at a live award celebration in July 2025. More information coming soon.

Who should I contact with questions?

If you have a question, please contact us at gca@greetingcard.org.