Friday, June 27, 2008

Chance of Severe Brainstorms

Our job is really, really fun.  And you make it that way.  We get to interact with you, witness your creative genius, and see your cards make a big impact on people all across the country.  And that's just the visible stuff.


Our behind-the-scenes work is full of merriment, too.  Lately, our team has had a lot of meetings in a cozy little room affectionately called the "Think Tank."  As you might expect, these are no ordinary meetings (if you can call them "meetings" at all).  We're mustering all our brain power to bring you the most exciting new contest we can.  The walls of the "tank" are covered with white boards where we scribble ideas, draw diagrams, erase, make connections between all sorts of things, doodle, try our hand at stick figures, etc.  It's sheer craziness sometimes.  But it's also been a great way to visibly track how far our ideas are coming along.  Then, we all throw out a big woo hoo!

So we're curious, how do you and your brain storm when you're coming up with super duper card ideas?  Do you have your very own version of the "Think Tank"?  Do you keep ideas in a journal or sketchbook?  Is your thinking strategically linear or wonderfully chaotic?  We wanna know.

yourFunny*ness Shameless Self-Promotions

It's not just yourPets finalists that enjoy a little time in the blog spotlight.  Everyone deserves some time to shine.  So next week we'll be featuring yourFunny*ness finalists in all their glory/hilarity.  What can we say; we love shameless self-promotions.  And we've got a hunch we're not the only ones.  (Are we the only ones?)

Friday, June 20, 2008

Getting Excited at HQ

You guys made the front page of THE NOON NEWS, our little daily Hallmark newspaper! See how excited we all are for you? We really are.

And we're just plain excited about the whole idea of us all working together to make great cards: Cards that will help people connect in new ways and cards that will keep relationships growing. Cards that, we hope, will make this world of ours a more loving place.

Awesome.

Survey says...

We have a 3 way tie in this week's
Funny, But No Thank You voting :

Couch Cuties
DANIELA CENSOPLANO
Clinton Twp,MI


Moo Said It!
MYK MARTINEZ
Middlebury,VT


Nostrils Revealed
ANNA SEXTON
Dunkirk, NY

Thursday, June 19, 2008

The Next Competition...


One of the challenges in planning greeting cards can be planning holiday cards when it's no where near the season the card is celebrating.

How do you get into the mood for Halloween when the first blooms of spring are unfurling? Or get all giddy about bunnies and springtime and the true meaning of Easter when it's time to cook the turkey for Thanksgiving? And how can you get yourself to really feel the holiday spirit when you're sweating bullets at a BBQ in the summer?

We've got our own ways of getting inspired, but here's our question to you: If you were given such a challenge, how might you get yourself in a holiday mood... for a holiday far, far away? Hmmmm??

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

They're Up! They're Out There! Wahoo!!

I see that some of you have already scoped out your local Hallmark source and found some of our finalists' (or your own) cards there on the shelves. How fun! What was it like for you? Weird? Normal? Wonderful? We'd love to hear.

My mom got to experience something a bit like this, years ago, and the joy she felt continues to inspire my work on this whole greeting card competition project.

Want the story? Read on if you're curious...


Back when I worked on Fresh Ink (the "square cards"), we liked to use "homegrown" photos on our card covers now and then. For various reasons, we often turned to the old photo albums of the writers and artists in our group.

Anyway, a picture of mom, in black-and-white as a seven-year-old Minnesotan, standing in the snow, all bundled up, outside of the family car, holding her Ginny suitcase and just looking ready for anything... became a "Miss You" card. (With her permission, of course.)

She thought it was really neat that her photo was picked from the random assortment of family pictures, but it didn't really hit her how cool it all was until she actually got to see it in the store (or send it to her friends).

It was at my little brother's college bookstore when my unsuspecting mom was browsing the Fresh Ink collection and did a double-take. There she was! In all her seven-year-old glory! She hadn't known it was out yet and was completely shocked when she saw it.

She grabbed one of the cards and probably some of the card shoppers near her, she was so excited. When she went up to the counter to purchase one, she said the check-out clerk treated her like a celebrity. And that everyone in the store was wowed by the whole thing.

I keep that card up by my computer at work. It makes me smile every time I see it.

I sincerely hope that some of you have as happy of an experience as my mom (and I) did. :)

Monday, June 16, 2008

Funny, But No Thank You #7

Revealed by Popular Demand: (some of) the "almosts" and "maybes" and "really?" from YourFunny*ness. (See sidebar on right.) More to come each Monday, for a while.

Couch Cuties


Moo Said It!


Nostrils Revealed


Tweeze and Thanks


Twist 'n Slide

Friday, June 13, 2008

Survey says...

The winner of this week's
Funny, But No Thank You voting is
"Flippy Snippy Blond"

Congratulations!
ELAINE CONDON
Sayville, NY




Thursday, June 12, 2008

Shameless Self-Promotion #16: Dan & Lucy

Hi, I'm Dan Pinder, and this is my dog Lucy.

Lucy is a rescued dog. We adopted her last year. Although there are signs that she was abused (a scar across her neck about 5" long), she is a really great dog. She has learned a lot of commands in the last year since she has come to live with us. One thing that I think is unique about Lucy is that she purrs. Yes she does purr. Usually in the evening or late at night when I pet her, she makes a short purring sound.

If we win, I am going to donate $500 to the animal rescue groups in the Delaware/Pennsylvania area.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Shameless Self-Promotion #15: Amy & Jenkins


Hi All! Amy Parrish here, requesting your votes (while Jenkins is begging for them). While normally the life of the party, Jenkins was one party-pooped pooch the day I took this picture. If you would help him roll on over into first place he’d have another chance to celebrate!

Also (here comes the mushy stuff), I'd love to make my mom proud. Entering this contest was her idea to begin with. I love her so very much for always having such confidence in me. Both she and my dad have always let me grow at my own pace and not only experience, but also enjoy, the wonder that is life.

Thanks for reading...vote for Jenkins!

Monday, June 9, 2008

Cards Coming Soon to Stores!!


So, we went over to the Card Factory to see your card "gangs" being "cut" a while ago. The next step for our little team was to see the "ship test" -- an actual (pretend) display of what your Pets cards will look like once they're in the store. Plus, we got to see samples of your cards printed.

We were beyond thrilled. They all look so good. And they look amazing as a big group. You should be proud of yourselves. We sure were. Way to go, you guys.

Funny, But No Thank You #6

Revealed by Popular Demand: (some of) the "almosts" and "maybes" and "really?" from YourFunny*ness. (See sidebar on right.) More to come each Monday, for a while.

2nd Best Medicine



Dog-eared Dandy


Flippy Snippy Blond


Thumb Fun


True Confession

Friday, June 6, 2008

Shameless Self-Promotion #14: Ginny & Nestle

Hi! I am Ginny Carter and this "shiny puppy" is Nestle... yes, like the chocolate.

Nestle, my Niece's dog, is a 2 1/2 year old, 6lb, short haired Chihuahua.

When his mommy comes home he jumps on the couch and wants belly kisses... it's a must, before you even take off your coat.

Nestle was just at his first baseball game, Dog Night at Shea Stadium...PLAY BALL! Also his favorite activity!

Vote for us... everyday, you do and Nestle will be on his back wanting belly kisses!!

Survey says...

The winner of this week's
Funny, But No Thank You voting is
"Snowbuddies"

Congratulations!
TERRY DAY
Pendleton,OR


Thursday, June 5, 2008

Shameless Self-Promotion #13: Carol & Tucker


My name is Carol Pohlman and I'd like to thank you for considering Tucker as the grand finalist. His card doesn't give you the whole picture, so I've included it here.

Tucker's blood brother Kalamazoo was very sick and required life-saving surgery. My husband told Kal he needed to get a job to help cover his expenses, but you can see that he clearly wasn't up to it. However, big brother Tucker positioned himself for the challenge.

He's made it to the finalist stage and needs your help now! Please vote for us daily!

Whatever happened to Blogden Nash?

To quash any rumors about my recent blogging absence and to help resolve any abandonment issues among our regulars, here's a quick update.

I'm going to summer school! Hallmark is sending me to my alma mater, the University of Minnesota, where I'll live in the dorm and study web design and guitar. Don't feel like revealing my real age, but the last time I was in school Nixon was president. You do the math.

I'll check in here often to see what the talented card making hordes are up to. You'll be seeing a couple of new avatars in my absence, and the fresh horses should keep things extra lively.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

YourPets Puzzlers: #5

More little games. Anyone care to play?
Make a comment to make your guesses known.



1. What a face this critter's got…
    He ruffs you. Or he ruffs you not.

2. Looks like our picture editor
    removed a feline predator.

3. For puzzlers, detail is the thing.
    Can you spot the doggy bling?

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Shameless Self-Promotion #12: Susie & Tick Tock

Hi I am Susie Rodriguez from the Sunshine State Miami, Florida.

You should vote for me and my Oh so Photogenic and Colorful Senegal Parrot Tick Tock. Which has been named after one of my Husbands and My favorite Disney beloved Classics Peter Pan. For all of you that don’t remember its the Famous Crocodile that chases Captain Hook . Tick Tock is his name.

We thought of every GREEN thing on the face of this earth and this was really unique.
My parrot is really unique we can lay him down with his legs facing up (look at the photo).

Tick Tock is definitely a Bird-Dog for us, he is not a flyer he is a walker. The minute we say “Sleepy Time” he climbs down from his cage and follows my husband and I . He climbs up his ladder to climb up to the bed to go Night Night., He also loves to go for a ride especially to the drive thru of Burger King, that way he can grab a French fry.

Tick Tock eats dinner with us with his own mini plate his favorite foods and drink are: Spaghetti, Crackers, Cheese and loves Coca-cola (only one sip because that’s bad for him)

Vote For Us the Colorful Duet

Monday, June 2, 2008

Funny, But No Thank You #5

Revealed by Popular Demand: (some of) the "almosts" and "maybes" and "really?" from YourFunny*ness. (See sidebar on right.) More to come each Monday, for a while.

BIRDHOUSE BLVD.


BOOGIE BOY


QUACKY HAT


FELINE FLUFFY


SNOWBUDDIES