Yes, folks, you read that right - August has only just begun, and yet we're officially launching the YCNet festive card contest!

As you might be aware, YCNet is part of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, a national charity for carers (including both young and adult carers). Like any organisation, we have a lot of Christmas cards to send... and this year, we'd like you to design ours for us!

The reason the contest is happening in the middle of summer is that it will take time to get the winning entry printed, in time to use when the festive season comes along. So, while you're sweltering away in the sun, contemplating ice lollies and sunscreen, why not turn your thoughts to snowmen, robins, Christmas trees and all things wintery?

Your design doesn't have to relate to being a carer, and it doesn't have to be about Christmas specifically - really we're just looking for a nice festive design that's the kind of thing you'd expect to see on a card. The winning one will be properly printed and sent to people all over the country! We'd also like to put a little bit of information on it about who did the design, but we'll agree that with you at the time.

So, get thinking... the final closing date for this is Friday 5th September. Take a picture of your design (or if it's already on the computer, send us a copy) - and please make sure it's a high-enough quality photo for us to be able to use. Just send it to us at the normal address: youngcarers@carers.org .

Good luck, and a Merry Christmas to you all!

Deck the hall with boughs of holly....

The YCNet team. 

We know you're a creative bunch out there so we're eagerly awaiting all your entries....

Remember, they don't have to be perfect or look particularly professional, we can work on that with you if yours is picked for the winning design!

Photographs or cartoons, drawings or paintings - no matter what the format send it on in to us by 5th September and your design could be the official card of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers this Christmas!

Send them in to us at youngcarers@carers.org

Youngcarers.net Team

And here's our next entry from Jazjazy!

I'm confused to you have to create it on paint? Or can you draw it?

I'm so tierd I probably just havn't read the post properly.

 Kay.

Hi Kay,

You could either send in a photographic image, or you could send in a photo of something you have drawn or painted, or you could send in images you have created on your computer as Maddi and Jaz have both done!

Hope that helps to explain it?

And here's the next one in from Bratz_r_kool!

Hi Maddi,

More than one entry is fine - we're looking forward to seeing it!

Youngcarers.net Team

We are pleased to announce that you now have even longer to get your entries in - we have extended the deadline to the end of October!

We have added a theme for you to work to ( existing entries are all still fine but feel free to submit some more ) and that theme is "What does Christmas mean to you?"

And......... brace yourselves, we have 3, yes 3, lovely ipod shuffles for the winning three entries.

All this as well as the best entry to go into production as the official christmas card of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers!

Contain yourselves now, we know it's very exciting

Sam and Ewan

Three more entries today, folks! Here's two from bratz r kool:

And another from MaddiLeFrog:

And an entry from one of our newest members Miss-dancer-08:

Hi, the deadline is the end of October and we have some exciting news..........

Kirsten O'Brien ( the lovely CBBC presenter, check out our home page for a picture of her ) is going to be the Celebrity Judge for the competition so keep the entries coming!

Just one more thing.... as most of you will know on our site we ask you not to post in anything that could identify someone, including photographs, so that rule also applies to this competition ( though if there is a photo of someone you can always use creative methods to disguise them! )

Youngcarers.net Team

And the entries are still coming in! Here's one from Pickeld_Eggs: