Facebook

  The Cardboard and Me is now on Facebook.  I plan on updating some older posts with more re-skinned cards or filling in more blanks on some players careers.  When I first started doing the Lost Cards, I usually did a single card or maybe two for the player.  In looking back, some players were either omitted from OPC several times, or were given fairly poor photos in their cards.  Instead of creating a new post, I am going to add existing posts.  So if you enjoy the blog, go over to Facebook and like the The Cardboard and Me facebook page.
  Also, are there any players I featured on Lost Cards, that were missing cards in their careers or got jobbed by OPC on photo quality?  List them in the comments. 

Blog Status Update

 It's been a while since I posted.  I have been on the move of late and have yet to settle down.  My computer that has all my files, Photoshop, and custom cards, was packed up into a moving box and is still not in possession.  Even if I did have it, I don't think I'd be setting it up until I reach my final destination.  I do have a couple of older posts in draft, which I will try to finish up and post.  Otherwise, the blog will likely be fairly quiet for the next month or two. 
  Unless I actually buy and post about some real hockey cards, now that I back down south, as opposed the Arctic, it's easier to get my hands on some new wax.  Granted I was at a small show the past weekend and didn't buy a thing other than a $10 wax box of 1991-92 OPC.  I just don't have any interest in modern hockey cards.  And the vendors seem to have little interest in dragging out their boxes of early 90s singles.  Although I really do appreciate the collation in modern boxes as opposed to early 90s OPC.  40% of the box I bought were doubles or even triples. Not to mention the minus one card per pack due to the gum.  If anyone else is collecting 91-92 OPC, drop me a line.  I am still about 100 cards short myself from a complete set and I have 100s of doubles and triples.
  Regardless, the blog, and myself, will be fairly sporadic until I am resettled. 

88-89 OPC Tribute: Packs now Available

  1988-89 OPC Tribute set is finally available in packs.  5 cards per pack.  Collect the 132 card set, featuring 90 of today's brightest stars, 30 legends of the game and 12 of 2011-12's hottest rookies.  Each pack will contain either one Legend, one Rookie or one insert.  Search for In Action inserts and autographs!  Click on the pack to start ripping virtual wax. 

   *Click here for a picture checklist of the base set
   *Click here for a text checklist of the base set
   *In Action photo galley 

Anniversary Contest

  Welcome to the Cardboard and Me's first anniversary reader appreciation contest.  When I mail off a custom pic or card, I send two copies, in case the player would like to keep a copy.  Sometimes they keep a copy, but sometimes they send both back.  When they send both back, usually both are signed.  Below I have a list of my duplicate customs that have been autographed.  They are the prizes.
   The contest will start as of this post and will close on September 30th at 11:59pm mountain time.  I will put all the entries in the randomizer and post the winners shortly after.  The top 5 individuals will get a chance to take part in a draft for the customs, getting one pick each. Maximum one prize per individual, regardless of eligible entries.  Specific details will be available when the winners are picked. 

  Step 1 - Comment on this post saying you are entering the contest.  Anonymous entries will not be counted. 

  Step 2 - Place a comment on any TTM, Custom, or 88-89 OPC tagged post that is dated before Sept 12th.  The comment must be relevant to that post.

  You will receive one entry for doing the two steps above.  

Bonus Entries
  -One bonus entry for each person who has entered the contest and is a follower on Sept 30th.
  -One bonus entry for any bloggers who have entered the contest and have my blog linked on their site.  Please mention your blog when you enter.

  You can only earn entries between the time of this post and end of day, September 30th.

  One rule is that none of the prizes can be resold.  I hate seeing autographed custom cards/pictures being sold on eBay.   I hate seeing TTMs being sold.  When players start seeing their signed TTM responses go on eBay, they either stop signing TTM or start charging. 

  Here are the available prizes.

Stephane Richer	Dale Hunter
David Aesbicher - 88-89 OPC	David Aesbischer - Horizontal
Craig Janney	Pekka Rinne
Derek Dorsett	Scott Hartnell "Suck it Phaneuf"
Anders Lindback	Dale Weise - Horizontal
Pete Peeters	Dale Weise - Vertical
Martin Biron	Tim Jackman - 84-85 OPC
Jonathan Huberdeau - Florida	Craig Anderson
Sergei Gonchar	Curtis Sanford
Scott Clemmensen	Al Secord - 79-80 card

  The links are to the original post.  Only the listed autographed custom is an available prize.  The majority of them are 3.5x6 with a few being 3.5x5.  The Al Secord is the size of a card.  Other items in the postings are not available.  None of the prizes are personalized.  Which also suggests you may not get the one pictured.  They are duplicates, not exact copies.

  Good Luck

 

Happy Belated Anniversary to me!

  The one year anniversary of this blog has come and gone without any recognition.  One year and 10 days ago, I posted a hello message, a custom Peter Sidorkiewicz and a teaser for the 88-89 OPC Tribute set.  I never really thought I'd still be doing this one year later.  The blog was originally supposed to about about my hockey card collection but it took off with the 88-89 OPC Tribute Set and then autographs TTM.  The once fast and furious posting pace has slowed to a crawl.  It's been a gorgeous summer in the Arctic this year.  So I have been busying ATVing, kayaking and eating juicy Jalepeno and Cheese sausages roasted over an open fire.  I am sure that with the return of the snow, ice and, hopefully, the NHL, will help me get back into the blog.
  So how to celebrate the one year anniversary of this blog?  I guess I will have to stop being so lazy and finally put the finishing touches on the 88-89 OPC Tribute set.  Yes, the base set is finished but where is the fun if you can't crack any packs?  They will only be virtual packs but they should still entertain for a few minutes.  I am also adding the one retro aspect that was missing from the original 88-89 set; In Action cards. 

88-89 Tribute In Action Promo Card

  Also, what would an anniversary be without a contest?  Whenever I send out a custom card or picture to get signed, I include an extra copy for the player.  Sometimes they keep it, sometimes they send it back.  Usually when they send both copies back, both are signed.  I am going to give some of those away.  I will post contest details and prize list soon.
  I'd like to thank some of my fellow bloggers for linking to my blog.  I have enjoyed reading many of your blogs, and occasionally pilfering an idea or two.  Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.  Of course I'd like to thank you, Constant Reader, for your page views, follows and comments.  Which for all, more is a good think.  If no one ever viewed or commented on my blog, I am sure I would given it up long ago.  So if we continue to work together as a team, give 100% night in and night out, don't underestimate our opponents and blog every post like it's the playoffs, perhaps this blog will be around for another successful season.  Stay tuned.

Housekeeping

  I have being doing a bit of housekeeping of late.  I have changed the labels on the posts to make them more user friendly.  Instead using player names, I have switched the labels to teams.  I have also included labels such as Goalie, Custom, or Break (for packs and box breaks).   I hope this will make the site easier and more enjoyable to view.  If you have any other suggestions, please post them below.
  The 88-89 OPC Tibute Project is finally nearing the end; only 5 cards remain to complete the base set.  I remember when I first started I was on pace to finish before November.  The pace eventually slowed down and has turned into a weekly entry.  I am also going to do some In Action cards before posting what I believe will be the highlight of the entire project.  I will need to brush up on some HTML skills before the coup de gras.  To see the current progress, there is a link on the right side under Projects that will take you to the checklist, with pictures.
  I've had 50 TTM returns and I am approaching my 100th send out.  After several attempts, I finally got a supply of American Stamps, thanks to Sal at Sal's Hockey Autographs.  Returns have been slow this month with only two in the past three weeks but I have been averaging a TTM sent every two days.  Under Projects on the right side, there is a link to my TTMs showing Succeses, Failures and Pending.
  I also have a few eBay items on the way, fanpack returns and a few more boxes to break and post.  So follow me, bookmark me, or add the Cardboard and Me to your blog listing.  There is more to come.

Where was I?

  I went for a day trip to Inuvik and I got back 12 days later.  We shouldn't have made the trip, the weather was bad and it was suppose to get worse, but we thought we'd make it back that night or maybe the next day at worst.  The blizzard raged on for 3 days, it even made the news.  Luckily, the company I work for had an extra staff house in Inuvik.  The cheapest hotel in town is $184 per night, so we saved over $2000 by staying in the staff house.  In the north, not all towns are connect by year round roads.  The town I live in has a winter ice road for 3-4 months a year.  It might be the only official road in North America that is located on the Arctic Ocean.  That road was wiped out by the blizzard.  So even after the 3 day blizzard subsided, I had to wait another 9 days while they remade the road.  I also had to leave the truck in Inuvik since it broke down three times and my boss wanted me to get back home ASAP.  I got a ride home in a 18-wheeler, just like on that Ice Road Truckers show, which by the way is coming to town to film next week.  That's just life in the North.
  So I haven't given up on posting TTMs or trying to finish the 88-89 OPC Tribute set.  It'll get done... eventually.

What Am I doing here.

This blog will be home to my attempts at custom cards and general musing regarding my life with sports cards. I hope to share some of my customs and TTM auto attempts.