The House Dressing Company

Written by : Julie Cove

We’ve brainstormed a fabulous way to Support the Food Banks, Celebrate Your Talents, and Win Great Prizes this Christmas!  This is the poster for our exciting contest. Take a peek!

Of course we commissioned the “one and only clever gal” Rose Cowles to design it for us. Don’t you love her stuff?  She ceases to amaze me with her talent!  Now about the contest.  There are sixteen, Yes…… I said 16 categories — enter one or enter them all!  And check out that grand prize!!

• Submissions Accepted: Dec 1st to Dec 24th
• Enter In Person Only at The House Dressing Company
• Each category Entry requires a Minimum $2 Cash Donation for the Food Banks of Sidney & Victoria
• Early bird entries received by Dec 10th will be entered to win a $50.00 HD Gift Card.

CATEGORIES & PRIZES

•Best Christmas Decorated Room with Tree = Top Prize-$1000 ($500 cash, $250 Design Services, $250 HD Gift Card) (Submit photos only)

•Most Unique Decorated Christmas Tree = $250 ($125 cash & $125 HD gift card) (Submit photo only)

•Best Christmas Dining Table = Boxed Set of Maxwell Williams Dishes (Value Approx 125.00) (Submit photo only)

•Best decorated Mantle = Candle Gift Basket (Submit photo only)

•Best handmade Christmas Ornament = $50 HD Gift Card (ornament to be donated for our Community Gift Tree)

•Best hand made Christmas card = $50 HD Gift Card (Submit photo only)

•Best Homemade digital card = $50 HD Gift Card (must bring a digital version into the store)

•Most gorgeous or uniquely wrapped present = Thymes Frasier Fir Gift Basket (Submit photo only)

•Most nostalgic Christmas Tradition = Tea Forte Gift Basket (must submit min 250 word written description)

•Most Memorable Christmas gift received = Thymes Fragrance Gift Basket (must submit min 250 word written description)

•Most Creative Christmas Family Photo (pets welcome!) = Picture Frame  8 x 10

•Best Decorated Christmas baked goodies = Wildly Delicious Gift Basket (Submit photo only)

•Best Decorated Ginger Bread House = Whimsy Kitchen Gadget Basket (Submit photo only)

•Best Kids Christmas Illustration = Webkin Stuffed Animal (Enter your age group- ages 3-5, 6-8, 9-12yrs)

•Most Creatively Decorated Workspace or Place of Business = $100 Tea Forte Gift Basket (Submit photo only)

•Largest Food Bank Donation = $100 Gift Basket From Fresh Cup Roastery

*HD-denotes House Dressing Gift Card

What do ya think?  Aren’t you excited now to decorate for Christmas?  Did you see all those categories? And those prizes-wow wee!  There’s everything from gorgeous gourmet Teas, lovely Thymes Fragrance, Gift cards so you get to choose your prize, Maxwell & Williams dishes!  Since you are a valued reader of our blog YOU are first to know about this contest –before the rest of the world!  Our campaign to promote the contest starts this weekend.  You will start seeing flyers and posters around town in the next week.  If you are keen, just download the entry form or you can pick one up in the store and decide what category you would like. entry form copy and then for a print out of the above click here for contest categories.

You’ll need to read over “How to Enter” by clicking here for contest details where you’ll also find the “Contest Rules”.  If you prefer we have this all on a one page flyer at the store.

So, all you have to do is get creative, take a photo and bring it in with your entry form and your donation!  If you don’t feel that you are “a creative decorating type” how about sharing your “Most Memorable Christmas Gift” or ” A Nostalgic Christmas Tradition” that you can write about.  A minimum of 250 words or more is all you need.  Don’t forget to include any children in your life for the Christmas Illustration submission.  What about a unique family photo? Really, there’s a category for everyone to enter! Even if you want to only donate to the food banks you still have a chance to win for the “Largest Food Bank Donation”.  Jim Townley, Owner of Fresh Cup Roastery, has generously donated our prize for this category, a gorgeous $100 gift Basket filled with coffee and goodies.  Jim is also passionate about raising funds for the food bank and has a fantastic community event in Saanichton that you can check out right here Fresh Cup Community Christmas where he is also raising much needed food bank funds in a big way.  Take a peek!

At the 11th hour we decided to add one more category so it may not be on our first run of flyers.  It is for the Most Creatively Decorated Workspace or Place of Business and the prize is $100 Tea Forte Gift Basket that could be shared in the office for coffee breaks!  How about your work space or the business you work at or perhaps own?  I bet you can find a creative way to make the office look festive.

We have chosen to support both the Sidney Lions Food Bank and the Mustard Seed Food bank in Victoria so that you can support both communities in need.  Our donations will be divided equally between the two.  A donation of cash instead of food donations allows the food banks to purchase exactly what they require to fill in the gaps.

We can’t wait to start seeing some of the entries rolling in.  We have a panel of judges lined up to decide who the winners are.  We’re keeping the the judges a secret for now but will reveal them in an upcoming post.  Do keep an eye on this blog so that you won’t miss any updates or peeks at some of the submissions that we receive.

I hope we have inspired you to enjoy your festive holiday decorating and crafts even more this year so that you will take a moment to snap a photo for the contest.  Hey, you’ve got nothing to lose, and after you’ve spent the time there’s nothing better than sharing your efforts.  Don’t be shy, your efforts probably look amazing but you might be just a wee bit too self conscious – let it go- take a risk- you might just be the winner- you never know! And how rewarding would that be?

Until the next update, have a great week.

Julie and the House Dressing Team