Introducing Alena Nikifarava, Your Holiday Finalist

Meet our finalist of the day! Read on to learn a bit about her and her entry!

If you like what you see, comment right here--everybody likes props on their hard work! And check back weekdays through October 3 to meet the rest of the finalists.

Tell us one of your best (or most entertaining) holiday memories.

Installing a pine tree and decorating it with my parents.

I got in the holiday mood for this contest by . . .

By remembering the best holidays in my life.

Why is your card the perfect choice for anyone sending holiday cards this season?

Because of the cause that it represents.

Tell us (and the world) a little bit about yourself.

I was born in the Ukraine and moved to Belarus with my parents. I graduated from a fine arts college in 1986. In 2000 I moved to the U.S. with my family. We live in a small town in Illinois. For the last eight years, portraits of people and pets have been my main interest in fine art.

Introducing Helene Childress, Your Holiday Finalist

Meet our finalist of the day! Read on to learn a bit about her and her entry!

If you like what you see, comment right here--everybody likes props on their hard work! And check back weekdays through October 3 to meet the rest of the finalists.

Tell us one of your best (or most entertaining) holiday memories.

I saw Santa Claus. I was one lucky kid.

I got in the holiday mood for this contest by . . .

Drinking hot chocolate and googling Christmas trees!

Why is your card the perfect choice for anyone sending holiday cards this season?
This card could be given to anyone regardless of religion or culture. And it's purdy! What more could you want from a holiday card.

Tell us (and the world) a little bit about yourself.

I am a graphic designer with a love for typography, music and books. I collect letterpress posters, lo-fi cameras and elegant wine bottles. I am forever grateful for my family (as quirky as they may be) and for my black lab, Alexis, and my amazing boyfriend, Santi. I wish all my friends and family a peaceful and love-filled holiday season!

Introducing Leah Seydel, Your Holiday Finalist

Meet our finalist of the day!  Read on to learn a bit about her and her entry.

If you like what you see, comment right here--everyone likes props on their hard work!  And check back weekdays through October 3 to meet the rest of the finalists!

Tell us one of your best (or most entertaining) holiday memories.

My first year of college, I needed a place to spend time for the holidays, and a friend of mine and his brother invited me to spend it with their family.  Now he's my husband, and they're my in-laws!

I got in the holiday mood for this contest by . . .

I have to honestly say the cash reward for the winner was a big motivator; however, I just thought about what people love about the holidays and about my college friends who had some of the tackiest Christmas sweaters.  How great would it be to be able to share our Christmas spirit and warmth by wrapping the whole world up in one of our sweaters?

Why is your card the perfect choice for anyone sending holiday cards this season?

Why my card?  Well, who doesn't love tacky holiday sweaters?  I think the card is a good visualization for about anybody, but it also follows the (RED) campaign purpose by sharing warmth and cheer with the whole world this holiday season.

Tell us (and the world) a little bit about yourself.

My favorite things to do are make lists, sleep, drink coffee, sing, and help people.  My least favorite things are lying, the phrase "I'm not gonna lie" and potential jobs that leave you hanging and don't tell  you they're not going to hire you.  And . . . I'm a little OCD about needing peppermint chapstick at all times and lotion after washing my hands.

Introducing Wendy Johnson Carmical, Your Holiday Finalist

Meet our finalist of the day!  Read on to learn more about her and her entry!
 If you like what you see, comment right here--everybody likes props on their hard work!  And check back weekdays through October 3 to meet the rest of the finalists.

Tell us one of your best (or most entertaining) holiday memories.

My mom and sister have always made the holidays special.  They put the Q-T in cute.  I don't have a specific story other than an appreciation for marking the day.  You have to make it special.  If that means decorating to your heart's desire, then go for it.

I got in the holiday mood for this contest by . . .

Well it's not too hard in the Pacific Northwest.  The week I was working on this seemed like December (rain).  But honestly this was a heartfelt effort.  I managed to hit on something that really meant something to me.  I've made a lot of things but I don't know that how often I really put myself in  something.  Even the cause is close to my heart, but I want to respect my family's privacy on that one.  But it was easy to find Christmas in August because this was about people I love, for me.

Why is your card the perfect choice for anyone sending holiday cards this season?

Well, the holidays are all about love, aren't they?  When I thought about this card, I thought about the message I want to send the people I love at Christmas.

Tell us (and the world) a little bit about yourself.

Well, I'm an animator.  I've worked on stuff for kids for years.  I went into management full-time a couple years ago trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my own work.  I have to say this is the first thing I've done that has brought a lot of things I've been trying together.  I'm married, no kids.  Great family both sides and extended.  I'm lucky.  And grateful to be part of this contest.

Introducing Haley Montgomery, Your Holiday Finalist

Meet our finalist of the day!  Read on to learn a bit about her and her entry.

If you like what you see, comment right here--everybody likes props on their hard work!  And check back weekdays through October 3 to meet the rest of the finalists.

Tell us one of your best (or most entertaining) holiday memories.

The first Christmas after my husband and I got married, we went to my family farm and chopped down a massive Christmas tree, tied it to the top of our SUV and brought it home.  It looked much smaller against the sky than it did against our little apartment's ceiling.  We meticulously decorated it with boo-coodles of old-fashioned lights, ornaments from grade school, and even a Coke can.  We stepped back to admire our handiwork and couldn't wait to see it with the lights on when we drove home from work.  Unfortunately, we woke up the next morning with a very sheepish looking cat and a tree sprawled across the living room floor.  Needless to say, twine tied to hooks on our wall are now part of our Christmas decorating "traditions."

I got in the holiday mood for this contest by . . .

Looking through some of my holiday family photos.

Why is your card the perfect choice for anyone sending holiday cards this season?

This design highlights the things we all love about the holidays--being together, sharing, believing in one another, reaching for love and light.

Tell us (and the world) a little bit about yourself.

I live and work in the Deep South.  I'm a graphic designer by trade, a painter, drawer, writer, general creative type at heart, and a wife and mother in joy.  My "real job" is with an advertising agency where, for 15 years, I have run the design department.  I also pursue freelance writing opportunities because I like seeing, thinking and writing about it.  My blog at eyejunkie.com is a collection of snapshots on my journey to experience life and culture deliberately.

Introducing Stephanie Ryan, Your Holiday Finalist

Meet our finalist of the day!  Read on to learn a bit about her and her entry.

If you like what you see, comment right here--everybody likes props on their hard work!  And check back weekdays through October 3 to meet the rest of the finalists!

Tell us one of your best (or most entertaining) holiday memories.

The first time I attended a holiday gathering with my husband's family was when my daughter Lea (my oldest) was just a baby.  We had just gotten there after a little bit of a drive, so I knew I needed to do a diaper check soon.  While I was frantically trying to meet everyone, it was too late.  Lea had peed all over both of us.  Of course, I have a change of clothes for her, but not me.  I'm now standing in the bathroom drying off my pants with a hair dryer.  I wound up having to stick it out the rest of the time.  Lots of eggnog for me, please!

I got in the holiday mood for this contest by . . .

Putting Christmas music on my iPod got me in the holiday spirit.  That's right.  The middle of August and I was listening to Christmas music.  Oy.

Why is your card the perfect choice for anyone sending holiday cards this season?

My card is simple and fun, but the most important piece is what the card will do.  People will see the (PRODUCT) RED and it will spark conversation.  Not enough people know what it is or even recognize it.  Putting it out there on a holiday card they get from a friend or loved one will get them talking and asking questions about it.  Most of all, once they know and get out there shopping for Christmas, it will drive them to pick up more (RED) products for gifts to help this wonderful cause.

Tell us (and the world) a little bit about yourself.

I'm 25 and a very busy gal, but I love it.  My kids, Lea (5), Elliot (3) and Wes (1) keep me on my toes 100% of the time.  I work a 9-5 job and I am also a photographer.  I'm entirely way too crafty.  So jewelry, quilting, drawing, etc. . . I get the question of how I manage to do it all, on a frequent basis.  Simple answer--I don't sleep!

Introducing John Coulter, Your Holiday Finalist

Meet our finalist of the day!  Read on to learn a bit about him and his entry.

If you like what you see, comment right here--everybody likes props on their hard work!  And check back weekdays through October 3 to meet the rest of the finalists.

Tell us one of your best (or most entertaining) holiday memories.

When I was a kid, my mom was notorious for not quite getting the gift I'd asked for.  One year I asked for a weightlifting set.  Christmas Day, I opened a present, and it was a curling bar.  Which was perfect.  I figured the weights were too heavy to wrap, and asked my mom, "Where did you put the weights?" To which she replied, "What?!  They aren't in the box?" And I said, "Mom, you could lift the box, right?" So I had to go buy my own weights later.

I got in the holiday mood for this contest by . . .

Looking at various vintage greeting cards gathered from the internet.  And listening to Ultra-Lounge: Christmas Cocktails: http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Lounge-Christmas-Cocktails-Part-One/dp/B000002UFL.

Why is your card the perfect choice for anyone sending holiday cards this season?

I think "Joy to the World" is a great message that crosses all cultures and is not overtly religious.

Tell us (and the world) a little bit about yourself.

I grew up on a farm in western Illinois.  We had lots of pigs.  I went to college at Truman State University in Kirksville, MO, majoring in Visual Communications.  After college, I worked for 2.5 years as an agricultural extensionist in the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic.  I met my wife, Anne, there too.  We married in 1997.  We have a daughter, Ava, that loves to sing and draw.  I've been working in freelance illustration since 1998.  I am represented by Lilla Rogers Studio.

Introducing Aruna Rangarajan, Your Holiday Finalist

Meet our finalist of the day! Read on to learn a bit about her and her entry.
If you like what you see, comment right here--everybody likes props on their hard work! And check back weekdays through October 3 to meet the rest of the finalists.

Tell us one of your best (or most entertaining) holiday memories.
We were in the 8th grade. It was Christmas Day and all of us decorated the class windows with fake snow, tinsel, and huge, handmade Christmas cards. Then Ms. Joan, our English teacher, brought us cupcackes and we sang the "Twelve Days of Christmas" until the bell rang and it was time to go home and stay home for Christmas vacations. Aaaaah. Oh-and I also had the best Secret Santa in class.

I got in the holiday mood for this contest by . . .
...daydreaming about presents, and ribbon, and glitter, and ornaments, and family, and more presents, and eggnog, and cake, and tinsel, and gift wrap, and carols, and snowmen.

Why is your card the perfect choice for anyone sending holiday cards this season?
This card is a simple and perfect way to share your holiday joy and cheer with the people you love. It also speaks for sharing on a deeper level, with people that need us across the world. Two beautiful messages in one simple design.

Tell us (and the world) a little bit about yourself.
I'm a peace loving illustrator from New York City. I live with my husband and my lovely Mac laptop. In my spare time, I read children's books and watch too much TV.

Introducing Lori Mulligan, Your Holiday Finalist

Meet our finalist of the day! Read on to learn a bit about her and her entry.
If you like what you see, comment right here--everybody likes props on their hard work! And check back weekdays through October 3 to meet the rest of the finalists.

Tell us one of your best (or most entertaining) holiday memories.
I was living under the flight path of JFK in Brooklyn with my husband and 2 young sons. It was Christmas Eve.  We looked out our window and saw the red light of Santa's sleigh. The boys exclaimed WE BELIEVE and ran up to bed.

I got in the holiday mood for this contest by . . .
by eating holiday yule log and drinking eggnog

Why is your card the perfect choice for anyone sending holiday cards this season?
It embodies the meaning of the holiday season--sharing.

Tell us (and the world) a little bit about yourself.
I like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain.  I am also a Wiffle ball champion, don't ask my kids . . .

Introducing Vicky Spyrou-Andriotis, Your Holiday Finalist

Meet our finalist of the day! Read on to learn a bit about her and her entry.
If you like what you see, comment right here--everybody likes props on their hard work! And check back weekdays through October 3 to meet the rest of the finalists.

Tell us one of your best (or most entertaining) holiday memories.
The most memorable, for obvious reasons, would be our son's very first Christmas. You know, oooh, aahhhh, gurgle, gurgle, dribble, dribble....burrrp. The most entertaining, however, was his 3rd Christmas. Oh, the joy and sense of pride that comes from watching your little one run screaming through the mall away from Santa Claus (like so many before him) as if he were throwing sugarplums at his little head. We did get the pic, though. I, Mommy the Brave, sat between him and the big, red, bearded guy and made him promise to bring us presents anyway.

I got in the holiday mood for this contest by . . .
...running aimlessly through the mall, shoving anyone near a sales rack to the floor (while grabbing their "prices slashed" items from their flailing hands), and spending a ridiculous amount of money. Isn't that how everyone kicks off the holidays? No? Just me? Huh. That's strange.

Why is your card the perfect choice for anyone sending holiday cards this season?
The reason someone should buy this card? Because it's Inspi(red). (Haha). Honestly? Because it gets to the heart of the holidays with 3 simple words that can be found on the inside: REJOICE, MIRACLE, CHRISTMAS. Of course, the design itself is kinda cute too. I mean, who can resist baby Jesus in a manger? You?

Tell us (and the world) a little bit about yourself.
Although Momhood is my main priority and primary gig, I'm a bit of a techie so I run a few websites...(design, keep them updated, etc...stuff people usually yawn at). To feed my creative self (which is the self that is usually hungrier than the techie self), I create humorous kid's tees (among other things), am a stock photographer, and have been writing "poetry" since I was but a teeny tot with crayons (some of which is soon to be published--fingers crossed--and not the stuff I wrote in crayon, either). Can't say how good I am at any of it, but all of that, an active 5 year old, a loving husband (and a bag of chips, as they say), keep me pretty busy... and tired...and sometimes cranky too. Nah, I'm a happy and grateful kind of gal!

And the YourPets Grand Prize Winner is . . .

. . . Susan Rodnite and her dog, Daisy!  Their card, "Birthday Princess" has earned them the royal treatment.

Put your hands (and paws) together for this fun-loving duo and their Grand Prize winning card!  They deserve it, doggonit.   

Introducing Misty Lemons, Your Holiday Finalist

Meet our finalist of the day! Read on to learn a bit about her and her entry.
If you like what you see, comment right here--everybody likes props on their hard work! And check back weekdays through October 3 to meet the rest of the finalists.

Tell us one of your best (or most entertaining) holiday memories.
My son's first Christmas meant so much to me. He was my best gift.

I got in the holiday mood for this contest by . . .
I thought about how my son's face lights up every time we go and play in the leaves, bake cookies, or play in the snow (if we are lucky enough to get snow in Texas, that is).

Why is your card the perfect choice for anyone sending holiday cards this season?
Because it speaks about what the holidays are all about. Love and light. Joy and hope. It's all we wish for year round, not just the holidays.

Tell us (and the world) a little bit about yourself.
I'm a full-time mom and a part-time photographer. I've been an artist my whole life, whether it be sketching with pencil, woodworking on a scroll saw, singing in a choir, writing poems, photographing anything that catches my eye, or making crafts.

Introducing Tiffany Bogus, Your Holiday Finalist

Meet our finalist of the day! Read on to learn a bit about her and her entry.

If you like what you see, comment right here--everybody likes props on their hard work! And check back weekdays through October 3 to meet the rest of the finalists.

I got in the holiday mood for this contest by . . .

just thinking about what I love about the holiday season, because it is my favorite time of year.

Why is your card the perfect choice for anyone sending holiday cards this season?

I think my card is the perfect choice for anyone to send this season because it's not specific to any particular holiday and is all about the fun that can be had by anyone in the wintertime - if there's snow outside, of course.

Tell us (and the world) a little bit about yourself.

Things you should know about me that pertain to the holiday season: I love the smell of evergreen trees, I find the sight of snow absolutely mesmerizing, and I could probably eat my weight in candy canes without getting sick - bring on the cold weather days!

Introducing Carol Hatcher, Your Holiday Finalist

Meet our finalist of the day! Read on to learn a bit about her and her entry.
If you like what you see, comment right here--everybody likes props on their hard work! And check back weekdays through October 3 to meet the rest of the finalists.

Tell us one of your best (or most entertaining) holiday memories.

Spending Christmas in Savannah, Georgia with my grandparents.

I got in the holiday mood for this contest by . . .

Thinking of Christmas Eve.

Why is your card the perfect choice for anyone sending holiday cards this season?

It's simple, stylish, and doesn't take away from the real reason for the card--the photograph!

Tell us (and the world) a little about yourself.

I've wanted to be an artist since I was three years old (I come from a long line of artists . . . ), and along with my family, it's my life!

Introducing Sarah Caterisano, Your Holiday Finalist

Meet our finalist of the day! Read on to learn a bit about her and her entry.
If you like what you see, comment right here--everybody likes props on their hard work! And check back weekdays through October 3 to meet the rest of the finalists.

Tell us one of your best (or most entertaining) holiday memories.

One year, I finally got to pick out the Christmas lights. I chose a dark blue-purple that I thought would look really cool. At the end of the day when they were all set up, we plugged it in and they were the hottest shade of pink you can imagine. Everyone this year, mind you, chose white lights. It was like Winter Wonderland until you took a pit stop at Las Vegas.

I got in the holiday mood for this contest by . . .

It's still hot here, so I wanted to create something that reminded me of snow and cold air. So I stuck my head in the freezer, closed my eyes, and smelled Pine-Sol, and voila!

Why is your card the perfect choice for anyone sending holiday cards this season?

I think the fresh colors and friendly design could be sent as a card to any friend or acquaintance, yet the idea of the design is sentimental enough for your closest family or loved ones.

Tell us (and the world) a little about yourself.

I love to turn inanimate objects into little monsters in my sketchbook. I like to sit and draw at 24-hour coffee shops with my friends, play the guitar & piano, and hang out with my baby cousins.

Introducing Eric Ransom, Your Holiday Finalist

Meet our finalist of the day! Read on to learn a bit about him and his entry.
If you like what you see, comment right here--everybody likes props on their hard work! And check back weekdays through October 3 to meet the rest of the finalists.

Tell us one of your best (or most entertaining) holiday memories.

When I was around seven years old, my older brother insisted that we practice sneaking out of bed at night in anticipation of Christmas Eve. So, while the rest of the family was downstairs watching TV in the evenings, we were upstairs running drill after drill of the whole process in the dark: getting out of bed as quietly as possible, moving across the room and down the hall while avoiding all the creaking floorboards, and reaching the living room to plug in the Christmas tree lights where on Christmas Eve all the presents would be displayed. I thought it was fun until, in my effort to plug in the lights in the dark, my finger got in the way of the plug and the two hit together right at the socket and wham! What felt like the biggest shock ever was probably just a small harmless one, but it did convince me to end the proceedings and to just wait until Christmas morning where the real shock of joy was waiting for us.

I got in the holiday mood for this contest by . . .

Going through old Christmas photos and listening to holiday tunes.

Why is your card the perfect choice for anyone sending holiday cards this season?

My wreath is a simple yet spirited design with mass appeal. It represents a universal theme of strength and unity and is an instantly recognizable symbol of the holiday season.

Tell us (and the world) a little bit about yourself.

I do a great impersonation of Beeker from the Muppets!

Introducing Pati Twardosky, Your Holiday Finalist

Meet our finalist of the day! Read on to learn a bit about her and her entry.

If you like what you see, comment right here--everybody likes props on their hard work!

And check back weekdays through October 3 to meet the rest of the finalists.

Tell us one of your best (or most entertaining) holiday memories.

When my sister and I were young, we took a bus into New York City by ourselves for a rare and exciting Christmas shopping expedition. We bought a huge wooden salad bowl on a stand for my mother. We struggled with the oversized purchase in the city, battling busy streets, crowded escalators, and irate people in the bus station. On Christmas morning, after my mother opened the gift, we went on at length about the ordeal we went through to get it home. Only to have my uncle walk over and unscrew the legs and show us how it could have been easily condensed and brought home without incident. This story gets retold every Christmas!

I got in the holiday mood for this contest by . . .

I can think Holiday at any time. I love Christmas, Halloween, and Easter, so I'm ready on a moment's notice!

Why is your card the perfect choice for anyone sending holiday cards this season?

My card is a great choice because it is bright & cheery with a wintry look. It shouts "Merry," no matter what the holiday. I think it can appeal to any geographic locale and people of any age.

Tell us (and the world) a little bit about yourself.

I live in Florida with my husband, son, two dogs and a cat. Enjoy art, antiques and crafts of all kinds.

YourPets Love Votes

You wouldn't deny those pets the love they deserve, would you?

There's less than one week left to vote for your favorite finalist in the YourPets contest. Make sure you cast your daily ballots from now until the polls close.

Next week we'll be deeming the top vote-getter "Grand Prize Winner!" And then it will be party time for those grandest of prize winners (of the human and pet varieties)!

Vote! We thank you. And the animals thank you.

Introducing Kelsey Shelton, Your Holiday Finalist

Meet our finalist of the day! Read on to learn a bit about her and her entry.

If you like what you see, comment right here--everybody likes props on their hard work!
And check back weekdays through October 3 to meet the rest of the finalists.

Tell us one of your best (or most entertaining) holiday memories.

One of my favorite things when I was little was driving around after Christmas Eve service to look at the Christmas lights with my family. There was always a hushed, magical feeling in the air, but also a sense of joy and contentment.

I got in the holiday mood for this contest by . . .

Daydreaming of powder snow piling into deep drifts and of decorating the Christmas tree.

Why is your card the perfect choice for anyone sending holiday cards this season?

The card is simple and won't detract from any photo a buyer would choose to put beside it. In addition, the card helps to communicate the mission of and to support RED.

Tell us (and the world) a little bit about yourself.

I currently lead a very busy life as a design student, but I love what I do and wouldn't have it any other way. I've always been into art. When I was a kid, my mom got into rubber stamping and card making, and I started too. Since then, I have never given a birthday card that wasn't handmade.

Judging: The Final Round

After a good night's sleep, our judges were ready for round two. This time, they were joined by a celebrity judge from (RED) and other Hallmark judges and once again, serious business ensued. The judges would have to narrow down the fifty remaining submissions to twenty finalists. Each judge made a panel of their top twenty favorite entries, based on the judging criteria. Their panel acted as part of their "vote." Then, they looked around at everyone's panels to see which entries earned the most "votes."

Sounds simple enough.  But simple it was not.  Each judge had personal favorites and would fight to the proverbial death for said favorites.  Keep in mind the judges all come from different backgrounds: marketing, design, editorial, etc..  Let's just say, we're glad they don't all have to send holiday cards together.  Scary thought.  The group hashed out what felt (RED) and what felt unique and they even had to let go of some of those favorites for the good of the group.  It's a good thing they had snacks to soothe the pain of such losses.  After much deliberation over each entry, the judges eventually decided whether it was finalist material. If yes, the entry was pinned onto the finalist board, as the judges clapped enthusiastically.

Here they are, our top twenty finalists (and alternates)! We can't wait to share them with you in all their (non-blurred) glory!

Bowling Alley Pics, As Promised

You were expecting lanes?  Bowling balls?  Super cool shoes, perhaps?  Well, we're giving you something better: a glimpse into the "bowling alley" of Hallmark, where YourHoliday judging went into full swing.  

 

It involved lots of thinking, talking, deciding, changing our minds, eating, laughing, no strikes, and no spares.

Our "yes," "maybe," "probably not," and "definitely not" piles were helpful.  Still, we couldn't fully commit ourselves right away.  Some designs moved from pile to pile more than once.  This judging thing's a tricky business.  Trickier than bowling, even.

Voting Concerns

It is very disappointing that we must, yet again, address voting problems. But address, we must.

We've been reading the blog comments and fielding emails and are aware that many of you have questions and concerns about how some entries seem to move up or down quickly and often dramatically. We hear ya and we're very frustrated by the whole thing too!

While we all hoped that entrants and their friends and families would have followed the golden rule in our contest voting, it seems that some have adopted a "win at all cost" approach. To make things fair for everyone, we have been watching carefully, over the course of the contest – reviewing voting patterns and data, looking for votes that violate the rules, especially the “one vote per person per day” rule. When we find violating votes, we remove them. Obviously, if fraudulent votes are removed from one entry’s tally, its percentage of the total votes likely goes down while the percentage of other votes goes up. Contrary to concerns raised by a few of you, we are not trying to "rig" the outcome, we are working to prevent a few bad apples in the voting world from unfairly skewing the results.

We carefully monitor voting reports on a daily basis. Our system logs which e-mail address votes for which card and we're able to quickly confirm the email addresses that are created for the purpose of fraudulent voting, so for now, the bad votes come out in large chunks (hence the percentage swings). It doesn't take CSI Miami to figure out the fraudulent voting, it's just very time consuming right now but we've been working hard to get things cleaned up. It's becoming a full-time job!

We have many ways to track votes that look fishy and we will continue to crack down on them. Please continue to vote fairly and don't let this contest go to the dogs (so to speak). We'd love to spend our energy on all the goodness tied to this contest and in dreaming up what's next, not in monitoring voting reports. So please encourage everyone you know to keep things clean through the next 11 days - the cleaner it is, the sooner we'll be able to announce the finalist that won fair and square. So vote with confidence knowing that we'll get all the bad votes out before the winner is crowned: It’s just a slow process right now, but we are on it.

In sum, we hear ya... we're with ya... and the winner will be the one with the most legitimate votes at the end of the day, of that you can be sure!

And the YourFunny*ness Grand Prize Winner Is . . .

. . . Stephanie Kelton!  Her card, "Pondering the Future" received the most votes of any card in the history of YourFunny*ness.  Be impressed.  Be very impressed.

Three cheers and lots of laughs for Stephanie!  Join us in congratulating our Grand Prize Winner.  She deserves it, dang it.