2013 LOUIE Awards – The Artist & The Card

New York, NY – On Sunday, May 19, 2013, The Greeting Card Association (GCA) honored the 25^th Anniversary LOUIE Award finalists and winners in 52 different categories, as well as the first-ever recipients of a LOUIE Award for Lifetime Achievement, at an elegant gala at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, in New York City.

The special Silver Anniversary celebration was attended by more than 300 guests, including finalist companies; industry retailers, representatives and suppliers — many of whom are GCA members; as well members of the press. This year’s theme, The Artist & The Card, which celebrated the artists behind the cards, and the simple yet broad medium of paper, was reflected in numerous ways at the event, from an intricate cutout paper entryway that guests walked through on their way into the venue, to a gallery of hanging frames showcasing all the finalists cards.

The most noteworthy nod to the theme — and the high point of the evening — was the presentation by GCA President Susan January of LOUIE Awards for Lifetime Achievement to two of the industry’s most high-profile and prolific artists: Marjolein Bastin and Mary Englebreit. “We wanted to recognize these two amazing women and express to them in a significant and special way our gratitude for their creative spirit and talent and the impact they’ve had on our industry,” said January. Both Bastin, who hails from the Netherlands, and Engelbreit, a native of St. Louis, were in attendance, accompanied by family and friends.

Winners of the 52 categories were chosen by a panel of 19 judges — comprised of prominent industry retailers, educators, editors and designers — during two full days of judging, which took place January 29 and 30, 2013, during the New York International Gift Fair®, also in New York City. From that pool of winners, a special Blue

Ribbon panel of five judges selected the Cards of the Year. All entries were judged on originality, impact, design excellence, sendability and value.

The winner of Card of the Year in the Above $3.50 category was Maginating’s “Good As Gold” card, which also won in the Friendship/Encouragement (General) category, while Oh My Word’s “Holy Sheet” was named Card of the Year $3.50 & Below, after taking home the LOUIE in Non-Religious Celebrations. This is the second consecutive Card of the Year win for Maginating, and the first for Oh My Word. Monika Brandrup-Thomas, Chair of the 25^th Anniversary LOUIE Awards and Vice President & Creative Director of Up With Paper, LLC, said “the judges were impressed, in particular, with the craftsmanship of the letterpress and gold foil on Maginating’s card, in addition to its heartwarming message. And they loved the clever die-cut design and creativity of Oh My Word’s entry. Both cards are fun to look at and make you smile!”

This year a record-breaking 220 companies worldwide submitted a combined total of more than 1,000 entries, all of which were marketed and sold in the United States during the 2012 calendar year.

The complete list of winners is as follows:

Announcements & Photo Cards

Pear Tree Greetings

Birthday (General)—Above $3.50

Quillingcard, LLC

Birthday (General)—$3.50 & Below

Compendium, Inc.

Birthday (Humorous)—Above $3.50

Smitten Kitten

Birthday (Humorous)—$3.50 & Below

Madison Park Greetings

Blank Card—Above $3.50

1canoe2 Letterpress

Blank Card—$3.50 & Below

Designer Greetings

Children’s Card—Above $3.50

American Greetings

Children’s Card—$3.50 & Below

Calypso Cards, Inc.

Christmas/Seasonal (General)—Above $3.50

Rifle Paper Co.

Christmas/Seasonal (General)—$3.50 & Below

Madison Park Greetings

Christmas/Seasonal (Humorous)—Above $3.50

Smitten Kitten

Christmas/Seasonal (Humorous)—$3.50 & Below

Calypso Cards, Inc.

Christmas/Seasonal Boxed Notes—Above $2.00

Papel Couture

Christmas/Seasonal Boxed Notes—$2.00 & Below

Paper Magic Group

Congratulations/Special Occasion—Above $3.50

Gakken–Ginko Papers

Congratulations/Special Occasion—$3.50 & Below

Compendium, Inc.

Everyday Boxed Notes—Above $2.50

Up With Paper, LLC

Everyday Boxed Notes—$2.50 & Below

1canoe2 Letterpress

Family Celebrations—Above $3.50

Sugarcube Press

Family Celebrations—$3.50 & Below

Compendium, Inc.

Friendship/Encouragement (General)—Above $3.50

Maginating

Friendship/Encouragement (General)—$3.50 & Below

Marian Heath Greeting Cards, LLC

Friendship/Encouragement (Humorous)—Above$3.50

Smitten Kitten

Friendship/Encouragement (Humorous)—3.50&Below

Compendium, Inc.

General Invitations—Above $3.50

Luscious Verde

General Invitations—$3.50 & Below

Checkerboard Ltd.

Get Well/Feel Better—Above $3.50

Paper Magic Group

Get Well/Feel Better—$3.50 & Below

Compendium, Inc.

Humorous—Most Humorous

Sapling Press

Letterpress

Maginating

Mother’s Day—Above $3.50

Sugarcube Press

Mother’s Day—$3.50 & Below

Compendium, Inc.

Non-Religious Celebrations—Above $3.50

Sky of Blue Cards

Non-Religious Celebrations—$3.50 & Below

Oh My Word

Print & Production Excellence

Ladyfingers Letterpress

Religious Celebrations—Above $3.50

Elum

Religious Celebrations—$3.50 & Below

Calypso Cards, Inc.

Rising Star—Above $3.50

9th Letter Press

Rising Star—$3.50 & Below

Dodeline Design

Romantic Occasions—Above $3.50

Smock

Romantic Occasions—$3.50 & Below

Madison Park Greetings

Superbly Stated

Sycamore Street Press

Sympathy—Above $3.50

1canoe2 Letterpress

Sympathy—$3.50 & Below

Madison Park Greetings

Thank You—Above $3.50

Hello!Lucky

Thank You—$3.50 & Below

J-Dig Cards

Valentine’s Day—Above $3.50

Plane Paper

Valentine’s Day—$3.50 & Below

Compendium, Inc.

Wedding Invitations—Above $10.00

Elum

Wedding Invitations—Between $3.50 & $10.00

Plum Blossom Press

Wedding Invitations—$3.50 & Below

Wedding Paper Divas