A very custom contest

by Mir at 12:47 pm on August 25, 2008 in Contests

Hello, my pretties! We’re going to do something a little bit different for this week’s contest.

First, I’d like you to go take a look at the most gorgeous coffee-table book I’ve ever seen—it’s called America at Home and it’s a monster of a tome. This was a collaborative project put together by photographer Rick Smolan (a renowned photographer), and the end result is a stunning collection of day-in-the-life photos from all around the country. It was created during a seven day-period last September by not only 100 professional photographers but by tens of thousands of amateurs as well.

The book itself is beautiful and impressive, but they’re doing something really cool in addition to just producing the book. They’re also selling them with custom covers, which means that you can go online and upload your favorite photo to turn it into the book jacket! Personally, I think this is all kinds of brilliant.

This book sells for $39.95 + shipping and handling, but three lucky Want Not readers are going to win copies of “America at Home” and get to make their own custom covers to go with ‘em.

Here’s what’s different: This contest will not be determined by random drawing. I will be hand-selecting three winners based on your cover photos. Here’s what you do:

1) Go use their custom cover creator to make yourself a cover, featuring your favorite photo.
2) When you get to the final (billing) step, instead of purchasing, click on the “Email my cover to a friend” button and send it to yourself. You will get an email with a link to your cover.
3) Come back to this post and leave the link to your cover in the comments. That constitutes your contest entry.

(Here’s an example of a cover I made and mailed to myself just to give you an idea.)

One entry per person, valid email address required. I will take entries until 3:00 p.m. Eastern (noon Pacific) on Sunday, August 31st, 2008. (That’s a whole week, so plenty of time.) Winners to be determined based on the ones that tickle my fancy. So, um, get to ticklin’.

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133 Responses to “A very custom contest”

  3. 3
    Heather August 25, 2008 at 1:30 pm #

    This is so cool! Here’s mine:
    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=38b

  4. 4
    LisaMarie August 25, 2008 at 1:38 pm #

    Great idea!

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=38d

  5. 5
    april s August 25, 2008 at 1:41 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=38c

  6. 6
    Melisa August 25, 2008 at 1:45 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=38e

    I really need to take more pictures. This is the best I could do.

    P.S. This is my lucky number.

  8. 8
    Aimeern02 August 25, 2008 at 2:01 pm #

    Hi Mir, I hope my cover cutie tickles your fancy!
    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=396

  9. 9
    Faith August 25, 2008 at 2:02 pm #

    Just one of those funny pics you get when the kids think you’re not looking…BTW, the shoes from your picture look REALLY familiar! ha ha
    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=392

  10. 10
    Rebecca August 25, 2008 at 2:02 pm #

    LOVE it! Here’s my cover with my silly guys. http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=393

  11. 11
    Kathy August 25, 2008 at 2:17 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=399

  12. 12
    Linda August 25, 2008 at 2:25 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=39a

  13. 13
    Selena August 25, 2008 at 2:27 pm #

    This is a GREAT idea! I used a picture of me smelling my daughter’s feet– what baby doesn’t love to be told they have stinky feet? :)
    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=39b

  14. 14
    beachgal August 25, 2008 at 3:13 pm #

    mine is of the loves of my life, my hubby and son.

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3a1

  15. 15
    Alicia August 25, 2008 at 3:19 pm #

    Here’s my baby girl!

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3a3

  16. 16
    Emma Montandon August 25, 2008 at 3:25 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3a5

    If this doesn’t make you think of home, not sure what will! I love this pic.

  17. 17
    Lori August 25, 2008 at 3:26 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3a6

  18. 18
    Nancy August 25, 2008 at 3:31 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3a8

  19. 19
    divrchk August 25, 2008 at 3:35 pm #

    Here’s mine.
    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3a7
    The photo that I really wanted to use was landscape and didn’t fit well. Bummer!

  20. 20
    Sue August 25, 2008 at 3:39 pm #

    What an awesome idea. Thanks for the great contest!
    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3ab

  21. 21
    Sue August 25, 2008 at 3:41 pm #

    What an awesome idea. Thanks for a great contest. http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3ab

  22. 22
    Cindy August 25, 2008 at 3:43 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3ac

  23. 23
    Denise August 25, 2008 at 3:45 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=3ad

    I love this idea…

  24. 24
    Rachel R August 25, 2008 at 3:48 pm #

    A new one we really like. Taken at the Georgia Aquarium.

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=3ae

  25. 25
    Robin August 25, 2008 at 3:51 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3af

  26. 26
    Linda August 25, 2008 at 4:00 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=39f

  27. 27
    Christine August 25, 2008 at 4:01 pm #

    I used a picture of my “babies” coming home last week -

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3b0

  28. 28
    Sherry August 25, 2008 at 4:11 pm #

    Here’s my cover…

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3b3

  29. 29
    Christine B August 25, 2008 at 4:23 pm #

    Great idea!…

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3b6

  31. 31
    Carrie August 25, 2008 at 4:38 pm #

    This picture if of my husband at fire training. I call this one “Where’s the fire?”

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=3b9

  32. 32
    Jenn August 25, 2008 at 4:48 pm #

    What a cool idea.

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3ba

  33. 33
    anne August 25, 2008 at 4:54 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3bb

  34. 34
    Sara August 25, 2008 at 5:18 pm #

    Mir, not entering this one myself, but just had to comment and say, good luck choosing. There are some awesome entries here.

  35. 35
    Adriana August 25, 2008 at 5:23 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3bc

    everyone has such great pics!

  36. 36
    Adriana August 25, 2008 at 5:23 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3bc

    everyone has such great pics!

  37. 37
    Adriana August 25, 2008 at 5:25 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3bc

  38. 38
    Missy August 25, 2008 at 5:25 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=3b2

  39. 39
    Jenn August 25, 2008 at 5:49 pm #

    Holy cow- I don’t envy your judging on this contest! There are some awesome covers here already!! :) Anyway- here’s mine…thanks for the chance!

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3bd

  40. 40
    Pam August 25, 2008 at 5:59 pm #

    Here’s mine:

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=3be

  41. 41
    Jen August 25, 2008 at 6:14 pm #

    To me, home is all about family, and family is all about love. I captured this tender moment between my 5 & 2 yr old recently that for me, expresses as much love that could be between two sisters.

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3c0

    my email: jvplunkett@sbcglobal.net

  42. 42
    Laura August 25, 2008 at 6:28 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3c1

  43. 43
    Kat August 25, 2008 at 7:17 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=3c6

    What great photos people are submitting!

  45. 45
    Steph August 25, 2008 at 7:24 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=3c5

  46. 46
    Katie August 25, 2008 at 7:42 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3c9

  47. 47
    Wendy August 25, 2008 at 7:47 pm #

    wow! That’s some tough competition! I do NOT envy you having to narrow these down!

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=3ca

  48. 48
    m roundy August 25, 2008 at 8:05 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3c7

  49. 49
    Heather August 25, 2008 at 8:31 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3cc

    Thanks for the great website!!!

  50. 50
    Rachel August 25, 2008 at 8:33 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3cd

  51. 51
    gretchen August 25, 2008 at 8:37 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=3cf

    Here’s my daughter and my best friend’s son from a few years ago, I’ve always loved this photo!

  52. 52
    Heather August 25, 2008 at 8:41 pm #

    This is fun! Good luck – there are so great shots!

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3d0

  53. 53
    Kim August 25, 2008 at 8:44 pm #

    Okay, Carrie’s fire picture made me snort in my coffee. I’m not sure I can beat that one.

    But what’s more “America at Home” than this little girl?

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=3d1

  55. 55
    RachelJ August 25, 2008 at 9:19 pm #

    I thought about this for a while. I definitely would want a photo of my kids and, of course, something that they often did together at home. I have great memories from when they were younger. My son, 5 years older than his sister, loved to teach his sister and she, in turn, totally adored him (ok, they still do but they’re 10 and 5 now so it doesn’t happen to such a big degree anymore :) The photo I chose is one in which my son (then 7) taught his sister (2) to catch the frogs that tried to swim in our pool (thus saving the frogs and making our swims more enjoyable!). He was a great teacher and she loved doing it.

    Here’s my cover:
    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3d3

  56. 56
    ali August 25, 2008 at 9:36 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3d4
    thanks! how cool.

  58. 58
    Carolyn S. August 25, 2008 at 10:04 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3d7 The Best of My World

  59. 59
    Emily August 25, 2008 at 10:10 pm #

    So much fun!!!
    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3d8

  60. 60
    Phoebe Floyd August 25, 2008 at 10:41 pm #

    My proud husband at my son’s first hair cut.

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3d9

  61. 61
    Karen August 25, 2008 at 10:52 pm #

    This just cracks me up every time I look at it

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3da

  62. 62
    Karen August 25, 2008 at 11:00 pm #

    And may I just add good luck with this, all the covers are amazing.

  63. 63
    Debra August 25, 2008 at 11:13 pm #

    So much fun!

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=3de

  64. 64
    Patricia August 25, 2008 at 11:21 pm #

    Ok, here’s my entry. I’m assuming should I win, I’d be able to use a photo without my son’s face blurred, but I’m weird about photos of my son.

    I went with the idea of “America At Home” After all, this is pretty much the view of my home:
    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3e1
    (Face it you wish you had so much fun)

  65. 65
    ChristieNY August 25, 2008 at 11:21 pm #

    I have this photo of my son on my fridge, and everyone who sees it gets *quite* a kick out of it.

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3e0

    Thanks for the fun contest, Mir! :)

  66. 66
    Jamie AZ August 25, 2008 at 11:33 pm #

    So much fun and great competition. It was tough to choose a single photo to enter!

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3e2

  67. 67
    Cristina August 26, 2008 at 12:22 am #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3e4

  68. 68
    Simone August 26, 2008 at 1:19 am #

    How fun!!

  69. 69
    april August 26, 2008 at 1:53 am #

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=3e5

  70. 70
    becky August 26, 2008 at 3:35 am #

    Great idea. Here’s mine:
    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=3e8

  71. 71
    Michelle August 26, 2008 at 9:35 am #

    oops I can’t get it to work. Here it is again:
    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email\?em=3ea

  72. 72
    Kelly August 26, 2008 at 10:18 am #

    Gosh so hard to decide which one….. had to go with the tongue sticking out.

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3ee

  73. 73
    Kelly August 26, 2008 at 10:23 am #

    Anyone know why the links aren’t working?

  74. 74
    Kelly August 26, 2008 at 10:24 am #

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=3ee

    Take 2 – changed the link to .com from .net

  75. 75
    Katie August 26, 2008 at 10:48 am #

    Changing mine to .com – Kaylee at the pumpkin patch last year

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=3c9

  76. 76
    Petunia August 26, 2008 at 11:31 am #

    I love this idea!

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3ef

  77. 77
    Petunia August 26, 2008 at 11:45 am #

    Lemme try this again using dot COM

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=3f1

  78. 78
    Brandie August 26, 2008 at 12:00 pm #

    What a great contest! You have some serious competition going on here! Great covers!!!

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=3f2

  79. 79
    dallimomma August 26, 2008 at 12:48 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3f4

  80. 80
    Lexi August 26, 2008 at 1:22 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3f5

    Under the rainbow! There’s no place like HOME!

  81. 81
    Gillian Claus August 26, 2008 at 2:41 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3f6

  82. 82
    Marilynn August 26, 2008 at 2:52 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=3ec

    This is my son trying to find his inner child!

  83. 83
    Brenda August 26, 2008 at 3:03 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3f8

  84. 84
    Jessi August 26, 2008 at 3:04 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3f9

  85. 85
    Jamie August 26, 2008 at 10:33 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3fe

  87. 87
    Jen August 27, 2008 at 11:57 am #

    Fun!

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=406

  88. 88
    Anna August 27, 2008 at 12:19 pm #

    This is a picture of my mother holding my son for the first time. Luckily, my husband was able to capture the moment at the perfect time. Thanks for the great contest.

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=408

  89. 89
    Stephanie Chance August 27, 2008 at 12:53 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=40a

  90. 90
    Sabrina D. August 27, 2008 at 1:14 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=40c

    This is mine, but it’s actually not my favorite picture, my favorite is no longer digital thanks to a computer crash but this is from this past weekend…

  91. 91
    Cheri August 27, 2008 at 1:18 pm #

    It was really hard to decide on a photo, but I’m sure it will be even harder for you to decide which one is the winner. I loved looking through everyone’s selections!

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=40b

  92. 92
    Christina August 27, 2008 at 1:40 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=40d

  93. 93
    Erin August 27, 2008 at 2:00 pm #

    Just today my son was wishing it was winter…
    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=40e

  94. 94
    Andrea August 27, 2008 at 2:21 pm #

    Thanks for the reminder to check this out!
    How cool.

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=410

  96. 96
    RAN August 27, 2008 at 2:59 pm #

    This was fun!

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=412

  97. 97
    Amie W August 27, 2008 at 3:08 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=413

  98. 98
    Jen August 27, 2008 at 3:21 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=414

    here’s mine…the Navy’s Blue Angels, what a great contest

  99. 99
    Chris W August 27, 2008 at 3:24 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=416

  100. 100
    Kristen August 27, 2008 at 3:50 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=417

  101. 101
    Gennie August 27, 2008 at 4:02 pm #

    Love it, Mir! Hope you’re having fun with all of these. I did and agree it was hard to pick :)

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=418

  102. 102
    Ani August 27, 2008 at 4:43 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=41c

  103. 103
    Sharlene August 27, 2008 at 4:46 pm #

    Thanks Mir!!! Here’s mine: http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=41d

  104. 104
    Sharlene August 27, 2008 at 4:48 pm #

    Thanks Mir!

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=41d

  105. 105
    donna August 27, 2008 at 5:56 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=41f

  106. 106
    Rebecca Norton August 27, 2008 at 6:08 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=3e9

  107. 107
    Elizabeth August 27, 2008 at 9:43 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=424

  108. 108
    Dawn Fiske August 27, 2008 at 9:51 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=427

    Little John’s first Christmas at home with family. Real American (and as you can tell..Virginia Tech) Christmas.

  109. 109
    Cheryl and Kim August 27, 2008 at 10:03 pm #

    This is a picture of our dog “Nick” sitting on “his” deck overlooking the protected greenspace behind our townhome. He thinks it is his big backyard. He keeps intruders(and sometimes even the birds)away! We love living here, it always feels like we are on vacation in our very own tree house.

  110. 110
    Angie D August 27, 2008 at 10:06 pm #

    So difficult to choose good shots! But I had a great time making this! Thanks!

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=429

  111. 111
    Joanna August 27, 2008 at 10:17 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=42a

    I don’t know if it will show the caption, but it’s on Lovell’s Island in Boston Harbor, and it’s from life during WWII . . . thanks for the opportunity to win!

  112. 112
    Debbie August 27, 2008 at 11:48 pm #

    My mother-in-law on her 87th birthday, with one of her 10 grandchildren, and one of her 14 great-grandchildren (soon to be 15, thanks to my son & his wife–due today!).

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=42c

  113. 113
    Kim August 28, 2008 at 12:10 am #

    This is my daughter about when she was about 7 months old. I just love the expression on her face!

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=42d

  115. 115
    Michelle August 28, 2008 at 10:54 am #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=431

    THe science day that our Brownie troop did.

  116. 116
    Tanya August 28, 2008 at 12:11 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=432

    Our 1 year old on the 4th of July, Brooke Anne.

    American Made!

  117. 117
    Cheri August 28, 2008 at 3:54 pm #

    I’ve been trying to get a photo of these all summer and finally did today.

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=437

  118. 118
    Tree August 29, 2008 at 2:03 am #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=43a

    Thats mine, what a cool idea!

  119. 119
    Crisanne August 29, 2008 at 8:51 am #

    A regular occurance at our house, but so rarely captured on film.

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=43b

  120. 120
    Lenetta August 29, 2008 at 3:29 pm #

    Neat contest!
    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=43f

  121. 121
    Michael August 29, 2008 at 4:19 pm #

    Here’s my entry, thanks!

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=43e

  122. 122
    Jennifer August 29, 2008 at 10:28 pm #

    Love this SO much. This is one of my favorite pics of my husband and kids. . .

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=440

  123. 123
    Heather August 30, 2008 at 7:26 am #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=394

    Yessss! I hope I win….I had to do this at least eight different times and finally had to email it to my Mom and she had to forward it to me to get the link….I was having alot of trouble getting the site to send me the link! But I did it, finally! Yeah!

  124. 124
    Kathryn August 30, 2008 at 9:12 am #

    Here you are: http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=442

  125. 125
    tory August 30, 2008 at 3:04 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=445
    This was fun!

  127. 127
    Cathy August 31, 2008 at 10:59 am #

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=400

    This is a windchime on my parents’ farm — there’s nothing like the sounds of home!

  129. 129
    Christina August 31, 2008 at 2:36 pm #

    Here is mine:

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=44e

  130. 130
    longlibrarian August 31, 2008 at 3:08 pm #

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=450

  131. 131
    Daisy August 31, 2008 at 8:36 pm #

    Here’s mine: a joint effort with my daughter. Yes, that’s really our backyard!

    http://www.myamericaathome.net/customcover/email?em=451

  132. 132
    Lori August 31, 2008 at 10:07 pm #

    Mir, Thanks for a great contest. This was so much fun!!
    This is a picture of my parents on their wedding day in 1965.

    http://www.myamericaathome.com/customcover/email?em=453

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Want Not » Winners of the America At Home contest - September 1, 2008

    [...] Wow. Wow wow wow. I am definitely going back to contests that only involve random drawings, because what I learned during this contest is that I have a really, really hard time selecting winners. [...]