Be BO(RED) no more. ENTER the YourHoliday Card Competition.

Today is the first official day that we are officially accepting YourHoliday submissions, officially.

Please read everything on the YourHoliday landing page (hallmark.com/you), get inspired and think (RED) as you submit your one official and wonderful entry.

We can hardly wait to see what you all come up with. Feels a bit like the holidays in July. Which is nice. In this heat. :)

Happy Entering!

Judgy

Some size clarification

Dimensions/Layout (pick one):
*Option A: Vertical holiday card (5 x 7) (note: this is for your design’s printable space – your actual image should be as big as 5.5 x 7.5 to give a little wiggle room for our automated card-cutting machines, so we don’t chop off any of your brilliant concept. This is called the “bleed,” coincidentally.)
*Option B: Horizontal holiday card (7 x 5) (note: this is your design’s printable space – see above for explanation of what the heck that means.)
Click on the picture to get a larger view of the fine print.

YourHoliday Card-Making Tips

Hint #2 is up on the YourHoliday site. Go check 'em out.

And in case you don't have time to jump over there and see all the goodness, here are the basics:

*Create a 5.25" x 7.25" (vertical) or 7.25" x 5.25" (horizontal) design to go on a flat photo card.

*"Design" = anything from the most simple drawing to something more fancy. You can include words in the design or not. We want this to be fun for everyone.

*It must be about the holidays. (You probably figured that.  Smarty.)

*It has to include the color red somewhere in the design.

(How much or how little is your call.)

*Write a little sentiment to go with your design.  Short.  Sweet.  To-the-point.

*Make it your original work.  No cheating.  (Seriously, these are holiday cards.  Why cheat?)

That should get you started.  Go check out the rest of the tips when you get a sec. And look for more hints coming soon. 

Now, go!  Create!

YourHoliday Formats

The real, live page isn't quite built yet. We're still tinkering. So in the meantime, you'll find hints right here... which might actually be better 'cause you can ask any questions you have to ask right away. It's not fancy schmancy. But it's helpful. That counts for something, right?

As you're thinking about your submission for the YourHoliday card competition, one very important thing to consider is the FORMAT of your card.

In this competition, we are asking you to create designs for something different than what you did in the first three competitions. The YourHoliday contest is all about "flat photo cards". (You know, the kind people stick on their fridges around holiday-time.)

* Your challenge is to create a design to go on a such a card. (And to make sure your design will look good beside somebody else's holiday photo.)



* You'll also get to choose whether your design is vertical or horizontal.



So, are you up for the challenge? Do you know what we're talking about? We think it'll be a fun one. And we hope you do, too.

Speaking of Holidays

We'll be unwrapping hints on the YourHoliday contest page until submissions open. Just not today.

We promise we're working hard to bring you the juiciest hints possible.

Still, even worker bees like us need vital time away for fireworks, cookouts, and shenanigans. (Can you blame us for loving parades?)

We hope your weekend gave you a chance for a hot dog or two and some time to play in the sun!

Wordy & Judgy

P.S. What we can do today is post some hints right here on this blog. Later today. So that's something. Something great.

Funny*ness Shameless Self-Promotion #5: Sharon

Some might say I'm funny, others might say I'm funny looking--either way, I'm good.

Please, pleeeaaassee, pah-leez (I'm on my knees now and given my age, that's not an easy place to get up from) vote for me!  My illustrated card deserves to win because it can be used in more ways than one: you can send a chuckle to your weight loss buddies who "get" how hard it is to lose those pounds or you can send this to a friend who you haven't seen in a while.  I would love your vote, so please vote for me!!

Funny*ness Shameless Self-Promotion #4: Mike

Funny*ness Shameless Self-Promotion #3: Sandy

Hi, my name is Sandy Groth,

Shahsam, my horse is named

That word is what I shouted out,

when I saw him his first day.

I'd like for you to vote for us,

In this contest we've tried hard,

to get more people interested,

to vote for all these cards!

I try to bring a little smile,

to all on Hallmark's site,

and share a little of my heart,

to make your days so bright.

Vote for us and I can say,

you really won't regret it,

I'll thank you with a little poem,

that's fun and filled with wit!

Hard at work

Working away night and day
To give you some hints and show you the way.

We know you can't wait to see what's next.
Racking your brains, we're sure you're perplexed.

We're cooking up contests and judges and prizes
And, more than likely, a few surprises.

So take a peek into our shop
And see the work just never stops.

Funny*ness Shameless Self-Promotion #2: Yashira

Hello Fellow Voters!

This is Yashira with an important message: Put those mice to good use and vote for me!

Make sure to click on the card titled "My Crayon Friend."  It's not only funny-it's nostalgic too

(unless you currently draw like that).  So direct that pointer to the funniest card around . . . mine!

And if you are using real mice for the task, remember to pay them in quality Wisconsin cheese

and keep them away from the cords.

Happy voting!

Funny*ness Shameless Self-Promotion #1: Kristi

Hi, I'm Kristi.  Thanks for taking the time to read a little about me! :)  I believe that I've been truly blessed with a  zany and child-like sense of humor that allows me to laugh at myself and find "funny" in the otherwise mundane!  Unflattering self-photos, silly faces, and, ahem . . . noises associated with "bodily functions" always precipitate a good belly laugh!  As you can see, my card design reflects the very foolishness that I find laughable . . . I hope it gives you a smile, too! :)