Submission Guidelines
If you would like a .pdf printout of these Submission Guidelines, click here.
Consider Freelancing with Duck Soup Designs
There's a lot here. I've tried to make it as entertaining as possible. But hey. It's pretty dry stuff. But if you're serious about this, read through it all carefully. A lot of it will be repeated through emails as we muddle along through the process - so don't worry too much about memorizing the whole thing. And though there's no official test at the end, we'll know if you bothered.
Sections:
Welcome
Duck Soup Designs specializes in Greeting Cards. Maybe you do, too.
If you would like to see your designs included in our collections, and receive a generous royalty for your work, read on. We're looking for talented writer/illustrators who are looking for a venue to showcase their work.
Duck Soup Designs takes pride in featuring messages that maybe aren't quite what we're used to seeing in your typical drug store fare.
When we want funny, we want actual funny. No clichés. No bland ha ha's. No boring been there done that's. We want something people insist on showing others with the expectation of a good laugh.
When we want sympathy, we'll never spout any of that 'all the best' and 'thoughts and prayers.' We want genuine compassion. Unique perspective. Real emotion.
And let's just get this out there. Inappropriate means inappropriate. With the exceptions of harmful and/or hateful, anything goes. And we decide where that line is. No exceptions or arguments. It's Duck Soup Designs' name on the back. We'll stand by it.
Same goes for the sexy, snarky, sarcastic, and silly stuff.
As opposed to any of our stuff created for or from children, which must have universal appeal for and acceptance of all children aged 13 and under. (If 14 year olds are allowed to be watching the likes of Bridgerton, well, we're not going to fight that.)
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Your Creations
Your submissions must be of top quality, original work to which you guarantee that you hold all rights, permissions, and copyright.
NO AI. Period.
That goes for your text and your illustrations.
Yes, you can use Canva, Procreate, or equivalent to draw/design/arrange/format, etc. Photos and stock photography are permissible as long as you have the right to use them (you have permission and/or have paid the photographer and/or model(s)) and that you credit the photographer.
Just be careful with photos. Print them out yourself on regular paper as a customer would. Make sure the image still looks like you want it to.
Aside from that, all artwork and photography must be your concept and your creation. It must be unique and original, created specifically for Duck Soup Designs, not shared or published anywhere else previously, or as long as it may be available at Duck Soup Designs.
All text must be your own original words, or quoted/credited snippets.
Artwork will be vibrant, interesting, and eye-catching. It should match the emotion of the message and purpose of the card.
Your message must be memorable, emotional, and deep. It must convey thoughts and feelings of the giver, even if the giver has no idea what they're thinking or feeling.
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Our Imprints
Duck Soup Designs has 6 lines of greeting cards:
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Inspire: These cards will motivate, encourage. They will promote understanding, acceptance, and support. They will let the giver assure their recipient that they are, indeed, on their side.
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KIDS: Black & white cards that are perfect for colouring, embellishing, and customizing by young budding artists. Or full colour with fun and playful images, and thoughtful messages. Think child to parent or relative. Also, parent/relative to child. And don't forget friend to friend.
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NSFW: Salty language, inappropriate ideas, and a knack for saying what many of us really want to say. Think 'Happy Divorce!' 'My condolences on the loss of your car' 'Too bad you lost your job.' So many times we want to say something and know we shouldn't. But maybe we can get away with it in a card.
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Cheeky: Funny, sarcastic, and leaning on the border of inappropriate, but not quite crossing over. These cards are going to encourage an inside joke, point out something uncomfortable in a kind way, or admit to something awkward.
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Steamy: Romantic, emotional, and lusty, tell them how you feel about them. Cards between partners. Everything from chaste to sexy. Between two consenting adults. And think 'everyone.' Everybody has a gender, a sexual orientation, a type. Feel free to include everyone.
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Classic: What you'd expect to find in a drug store, but not what you'd expect to find in a drug store. Anniversaries, graduations, birthdays, special events. But with feeling. And a new twist. And a different perspective. And for occasions that have never really had a card before. Adoptions, blended families, transitions, condolences and recognition of miscarriages. The world has changed. Our need for connection has not.
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Query Process:
OVERVIEW:
1. Design your card(s) - a sketch, watermarked image, or finished design are all acceptable. SEE ‘IF ACCEPTED’ guidelines below if you want to start with a submission-ready design instead of just an idea.
2. Post pics of your card images and text to ducksoupdesigns on Snapchat. We have made the Snapchat option available for those who are more comfortable with that platform: we can view your image for about 30 seconds, can't download it, and can't screenshot it. More protection for you, the contributor. **
3. Receive a comment/reply on Snapchat
4. Follow the directions in APPROVAL, below.
** NOTE: if you prefer, and trust that Duck Soup Designs will absolutely, without a doubt, respect your right to copyright, you can email your query directly to us at subs@ducksoupdesigns.com with the Subject Line: ELEPHANT NEW CARD QUERY
NOTE: if you are a previously approved contributor, you may skip the query process altogether and submit your design(s) directly. It will be assumed that you still accept the previous agreement and any relevant updates.
APPROVAL
If your query is NOT APPROVED:
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If time permits, we will do our level best to include a brief reason as to why.
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More likely, you’ll get a simple ‘NOT APPROVED’
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This does not mean you’re a bad person, or a shit designer, or we don’t like you. (Although that’s possible, it’s not likely. Or even probable.)
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What it most likely means is that this particular card doesn’t fit what we’re looking for. Try again. Study our catalogue. Get a good feel for what we’re offering. Try to turn it up a notch.
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Unless we block you because of repeated extreme inappropriate, hateful, or harmful content, keep trying.
If your query is APPROVED:
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You will receive an EMAIL #1 from us with further instructions.
Once you’ve received, read, and understand EMAIL #1, you will reply to that email with the line,
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“I agree to the Terms and Conditions of Duck Soup Designs’ Submission Process as outlined above. I understand that this agreement is subject to change in the future. I agree to accept any such changes.”
Of course, we’ll try to let you know if changes happen. We’re not planning any. It’s a lot of work.
This email will act as the contract between yourself and Duck Soup Designs.
You have to accept the contract as is. We cannot possibly negotiate individual agreements for every greeting card.
If you find an error, omission, or otherwise completely ridiculously unacceptable and unfair condition, please point it out. We’re human. We make mistakes and are just really trying to cover our asses. Most people are totally cool to work with. But there’s always that one that needs to be told not to use the toaster in the bathtub.
When you have replied to EMAIL #1 as above, your contract is considered ACCEPTED and you will receive a new EMAIL #2 with submission instructions.
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Your Layout
Most of this will be repeated in the Submission Emails you'll receive. But in case you're wondering what you're getting yourself into, I've tried to answer any and all questions here. If you think of anything else, let me know so I can update this.
<<At this time, as of June 2025, analog print cards are not available. Digital downloads are the only format we are currently offering.>>
Decide how you would like your design to be offered. Duck Soup Designs offers two versions:
Ultimately, you will have the option of having your designs available as digital, analog, or both.
Downloadable (digital):
The artwork for the FRONT and INSIDES of the card will not exceed 95mm x 128mm (3.75" x 5.0"), in either landscape or portrait orientation.
Final text size should be minimum 4mm, (3/16") (equivalent to Arial 18), and fit completely within these margins.
The images should have a resolution of 300 dpi. As CMYK colours are best for print, be sure to watch for colour matching if this matters. CMYK colours can look quite different on paper than RBG colours do on a screen.
Pro-Printed (analog):
Because professionally printed cards can print to the edge, the requirements are slightly different. Duck Soup Designs only offers one size: 102mm x 152mm (4" x 6").
The instructions below 'FOR ALL CARDS' apply to all designs, with the following exceptions/alterations for pro-printed (analog) cards:
The artwork for the FRONT and INSIDES of the card will not exceed 114mm x 165mm (4½" x 6½"), in either landscape or portrait orientation. Ensure the safe zone is respected by making sure that no important information/graphic is located within 13mm (.5") of all sides.
Final text size should be minimum 4mm, (3/16") (equivalent to Arial 18), and fit completely within the text box(es).
FOR ALL CARDS:
We strongly recommend using CANVA to format and design your greeting card. If you do not use CANVA, let’s assume you can produce the equivalent, and you can skip to the IF NOT USING CANVA, below.
IF USING CANVA
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Click the CANVA link in the EMAIL #2 or HERE to access the “DSD TEMPLATE LINK.”
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MAKE A COPY
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DO NOT EDIT THE “DSD TEMPLATE LINK.” (It’s a pain to keep fixing it.)
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CLOSE THE “DSD TEMPLATE LINK.”
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Open your copy of the template, rename it to MY DSD CARD TEMPLATE. You now have your own original template, so you can avoid this whole copying templates thing in the future.
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Make a copy of your template for each card of your original design, and rename it as follows:
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your 3-character identifier, found in your EMAIL #2,
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date YYMM,
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and a 3 digit number of your choosing. Pick a number that you have not previously used. Example: for my first card in February of this year: ALX2502001
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There are two pages in the template: VERTICAL and HORIZONTAL
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You will create a FRONT, INSIDE LEFT, and/or an INSIDE RIGHT on page 1 for a vertical card, OR a FRONT, INSIDE BOTTOM, and/or an INSIDE TOP on page 2 for a horizontal card
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Note that the outlines are not in the order that they will be printed on the card. They are organized for ease of manipulation on our end when we add them to our finished templates.
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Your design, images, text, and background, must fit COMPLETELY within the margins for each section. Due to the nature of most home printers, allowing for bleed to the edges is not possible.
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The image for your BACK will be blank, unless you would like to include your logo. Logos/contact info must fit within a 38mm x 38mm or 1.5” x 1.5” square. Colour or black/white is acceptable.
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Once you are satisfied with your design, you will delete the extra components:
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click on any element
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> Position
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> Layers
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click on the layer that looks empty - it actually contains the light grey guide lines and info
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>Unlock
- >Ungroup
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>Delete
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It should delete all of the grey outlines.
- DELETE the page you did not use.
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Double check that everything is publish-ready and you’re happy with the finished results
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Share the CANVA file with Duck Soup Designs
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>Share
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Access Level > Anyone with the link > Can edit
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>Copy link
- Create an new email message to Subs@DuckSoupDesigns.com
- Make the subject line: “WOOHOO ACCEPTED CARD SUBMISSION” (In a sea of emails in the inbox, the woohoo is easier to spot!!)
- ‘PASTE’ link in the first line of the email body. You can include several links with your submission if all of the following INFO is the same for all.
- Include the following INFO with every submission
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Your legal name:
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Your name as you would like it to be seen on the website:
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Your contact email address:
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Your website URL:
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Your social media links:
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A Blurb: Something about you. Nothing identifying, as this will be posted on our contributors’ page. Funny, real, fantasy, whatever. You be you. Max 100 words.
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You only have to include a blurb if this is your first submission or you would like to change what we already have.
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Send it in.
IF NOT USING CANVA
- You will create 4 .png images, using your preferred method of creation as follows:
- For a vertical card: FRONT, BACK and INSIDE LEFT, and INSIDE RIGHT
- For a horizontal card: FRONT, BACK and INSIDE TOP, and INSIDE BOTTOM
- All images must be 300dpi, and measure 95mm x 128mm or 3.75” x 5”
- The image for your BACK will be blank, unless you would like to include your logo. Logos/contact info must fit within a 38mm x 38mm or 1.5” x 1.5” square.
- Collect the 4 .png files into a .zip file.
- Name your .zip file with your 3-character identifier, found in your EMAIL #2, date YYMM, and a 3 digit number of your choosing. Pick a number that you have not previously used. Example for my first card would be: ALX2502001
- Create an new email message to DuckSoupSubs@FreshPennies.com
- Make the subject line: “WOOHOO ACCEPTED CARD SUBMISSION” (In a sea of emails in the inbox, the woohoo is easier to spot!!)
- Attach the zip file to your email. You can include several zip files with your submission if all of the following INFO is the same for all.
- Include the following INFO with every submission
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Your legal name:
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Your name as you would like it to be seen on the website:
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Your contact email address:
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Your website URL:
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Your social media links:
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A Blurb: Something about you. Nothing identifying, as this will be posted on our contributors’ page. Funny, real, fantasy, whatever. You be you. Max 100 words.
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You only have to include a blurb if this is your first submission or you would like to change what we already have.
- Send it in.
TIPS:
- Assume your card will be printed on white paper. Items such as yellow print on no background will not show well.
- Whenever possible, choose CYMK colour palettes. This is best for print even though your colours may seem slightly off on screen. Users are used to colour variation on screens, but they're going to want optimum colour on their printed cards.
- Make sure lettering is clearly legible. Be careful with colour on backgrounds and funky fonts.
- Edit your message. Make sure you're saying what you want to say with the greatest impact. And make sure your spelling and punctuation are perfect. Or at least, match the style of your card.
NEXT STEPS:
We’ll let you know if we need anything else from you. Otherwise, your card(s) should go live shortly. Okay, in reality, give it two weeks. If you don’t see it/them up by then, give us a nudge.
And beyond that, either you’ll hear from us with a royalty payment, or you’ll be sending us more cards.
You can include several links/zip files with your submission if all of the accompanying INFO is the same for all.
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File Requirements:
All designs are to be submitted as .png files.
.pdf's and .jpegs often have a lower quality resolution, especially when printed on home printers. We want to start with the best quality images to account for the abilities of the average ink jet printer.
File sizes and emails are sometimes incompatible. The file sizes can be too big.
If this happens, try flattening your image, embedding fonts, or sending in separate files.
If you send separate files, be sure to include the file names in the subject line so they can be matched together on our end.
Duck Soup Designs will insert your artwork into official templates for publication.
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A Note About Copyright:
As the creator/illustrator of your greeting card designs, you hold the copyright to your work.
If we make your design available at Duck Soup Designs, you will be granting us exclusive permission to market and sell your designs as we see fit. If at any time you wish to remove one or more of your designs from our collection, or your account entirely, email us directly at Subs@DuckSoupDesigns.com with the subject line TIGER PLEASE DELETE
Your design(s) will be removed within 14 days. Wherever possible, please let us know why so we can fix anything that went wrong on our end for future relationships.
Duck Soup Designs maintains compliance with copyright regulations as declared in Ontario, Canada. We also hold in the highest regard, respect and adherence to copyright. We are committed to a trusting relationship between Duck Soup Designs and our contributors. Without that, this would be a most stressful situation. Our reputation is our bread and butter. Any gaps in this commitment will be addressed in the most serious and expedient manner possible.
Likewise, we expect the same level of respect and trust from our contributors. If at any time you feel our attentions are inadequate, you are free to remove your works and sell them elsewhere. It is our hope that this doesn't happen, but sometimes, people are just not a good fit. No hard feelings.
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Compensation:
Duck Soup Designs offers royalties on sales of a contributors designs in the amount of 20% of the final sale price, after applied discounts.
A greeting card that is regularly listed at $5.00 CAD will be subject to outside fees ranging from $1.50-$2.00, depending on payment methods and tax requirements. The contributor (You) will receive $1.00. Duck Soup Designs retains the remaining $2.00-$2.50 for overhead expenses - website maintenance and development, marketing, labour, etc.
Royalties will be paid quarterly, in January, April, July, and October.
You will be asked to share your PayPal account email at that time. All payments will be made via PayPal, in Canadian funds, at whatever exchange is the going rate at the time of payment.
Duck Soup Designs reserves the right to set both regular and discounted prices at our discretion.
Contributors are responsible for any tax obligations to their respective governments. You are not considered an employee of Duck Soup Designs, but rather a contributing freelancer. No compensation is implied nor expected beyond the stated percentage of individual contributor sales based on final retail sale price.
Contributors are expected to use their own social media and marketing outlets to direct traffic to our website. Whether your friends buy your work or someone else's, everyone benefits from more attention.
It is also highly recommended that contributors join our affiliate program. In addition to the 20% royalty you will receive from sales of your own cards, you will receive an additional 10% of sales from all products made through your affiliate link. (Sell your card through your affiliate link and you will receive your 20% royalty, as well as your 10% commission.) Our affiliate program is separate from our contributor program. Registration with one does not mean registration with both. Please be aware of this.
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Last Words:
If you're the kind of creator who likes to putter away on the computer and make stuff, and you think you have a knack for writing engaging, emotional, unique greeting cards, Duck Soup Designs may be a good fit for you.
If you have any questions, feel free to drop us a line. Subs@DuckSoupDesigns.com
There will likely be some bugs to work out in the beginning. But this may be a venture you want to grow with.
Welcome and let's have some fun!
ADDING A SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT SAFETY:
Please beware of any and all communications with Duck Soup Designs. While we're doing everything in our power to protect your information, identity, financial access, etc., the hackers and scammers are way ahead of the game. I am the most careful person I know online, and I recently got taken for $500. As much as I hate admitting to that, I will if it makes just one person that much more cautious.
That said, bona fide, real emails from Duck Soup Designs will always have the name of a RANDOM ANIMAL inserted randomly within the message somewhere. An easter egg of sorts. It won't be hidden; you should be able to find it pretty quickly. If you see it, be careful. If you don't see it, be super suspicious - and let me know in case we missed one.
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