For the month of April, we are putting the focus on Alexi! It also happens to be her birthday month. Maplelea Super Fan, Shannon G., has created this photo story of how her Alexi is celebrating her April 12th birthday! There's also a birthday banner you can print out for your own Alexi celebration.

It's the perfect time to go on adventures with your Maplelea doll!  Submit photos or videos of your adventuresand you could win a $5 Maplelea Credit for each photo selected for publication, or up to $50 per photo story! 

We are excited to announce that we are combining both our famous Maplelea PHOTO CONTEST and our FAN PHOTOS so that we can offer them YEAR-ROUND! This is a perfect opportunity to show the world all the fun you and your Maplelea doll have in all seasons, so don’t forget to snap your photos whether it is sunny, rainy, or snowy! We love to see you and your Maplelea Doll having fun! 

For every photo that we select to publish online or in print, whether it’s just your Maplelea doll/dolls or you with your doll doing something fun, you will receive a $5 credit on your Maplelea account, per photo selected up to $50 per story! That means that you can also submit “Photo Stories” of your dolls doing fun things and you will receive $5 credit per photo that we use, up to $50!

We are looking for two types of photos and videos:

1. Photos of children and their Maplelea dolls being active.  Exploring, playing, discovering, learning, helping, and having fun in various locations all across Canada.
2. Photos of your Maplelea doll(s) doing interesting things in an interesting setting.  Use one photo or a series of photos to tell a story.

Essential criteria:

1. Maplelea only.  Because we are using the selected photos in our catalogue or online campaigns, the clothing and accessories on the doll must be Maplelea clothing and accessories. The only exception to this is clothing or accessories made by the child. We prefer if the outfits/accessories shown with the doll are those that are intended for that character or those intended for all dolls (i.e. Taryn’s outfit on the Taryn doll, or an outfit intended for all dolls on any Maplelea doll. Outfits intended for all dolls have M as the second letter in their stock number.  Check the tag inside the clothing). Do ensure that the doll's hair is neatly combed and/or styled. Please note that although Maplelea does distribute the Dollie & Me line in Canada, Dollie & Me is not a Maplelea product and therefore not eligible for this Photo Contest.
2. Photo(s) must be taken in Canada.  Locations outside of Canada are acceptable only if they have a strong Canadian connection, such as visiting Vimy Ridge or representing Canada at an international sporting competition.
3. Age of participants: Maplelea is designed for children age 6 to 12 and so we tend to choose photos that include children of those ages.  People of other ages can be shown in the photo, but please note that Maplelea is safe only for children three and over due to small parts.  The photographer can be any age.
4. Safety First! If the activity shown is a sport that normally requires certain safety equipment, then that safety equipment must be shown in the photo. For example, if the child is in a boat, then they must be wearing a lifejacket. If the child is riding a horse, they must be wearing a helmet. Where appropriate, if the child has paused their activity for the photo, the safety equipment need only be in the photo. 

What makes a winning photo?  

1. An interesting location!  Every community and part of Canada has its own distinctive features, whether it is the wide open grasslands of the prairies, the cobblestones of Old Quebec, or the tundra of the North.  Show off the unique features of the place where you live, or where you vacation in Canada.
2. An interesting activity!  The child and and/or the doll should be actively doing something.  Hiking through a canyon, checking out a lighthouse, feeding the calves, preparing for a dance recital, playing hockey, helping a senior, learning about maple syrup, participating in a festival, or the like.
3. An interesting story!  Tell us interesting facts or background information about the location or activity or event.  We also love information that helps others learn about Canada.
4. Include diversity.  We want to show Canada's diversity—diversity of people, of activities and of places. We like to show photos from every province and territory. We strongly encourage families living in, or visiting, the territories and smaller provinces to submit entries. 
5. Style your doll in Maplelea: Only Maplelea dolls and outfits are accepted.  We prefer photos where the doll wears a complete Maplelea outfit.  For example, the shirt, pants and jacket should come from the same set.  If the set did not include footwear, then choose something suitable, preferably something sold by itself.  We do accept photos that include retired Maplelea outfits but we would give preference to those wearing currently available outfits and accessories.  The reason for this is because your photos will likely pique the interest of others and it is easier for them to find the outfit on our website if all pieces come from the same outfit and is currently available.  Be sure your doll’s hair is nicely brushed or styled.
6. Pose your doll carefully.  Make it look like the doll is engaged in the activity with the child, or if the photo is of just a doll, the doll should be doing something in a realistic manner.
7. Consider doing a photo story.  Take a series of photos that tell a story.  Check the Discover section of our website to see the example of the Mendelson Family Road Trip, or the Windstorm on Salt Spring Island.  We award a $5 credit for each photo in the story that we use.  We may use only a portion of the photos you submit but the more you submit the more we may choose.
8. No need to look alike.  You don’t need to look like your doll, or dress exactly like your doll, but you should be dressed compatibly.  For example, both in winterwear, or both in dance outfits, or the like—whatever is suitable for the activity.
9. Photo quality.  We look for good lighting, proper exposure, creative compositions, etc.  Photos should be under 5MB and in jpg format.  Please send them as an attachment, not in the body of the email.

When is the deadline?

There is no deadline!  This is an on-going program.  We will accept photos at any time, and we will use them as they are submitted, and as we need them.  Please note that we usually work 4 to 6 weeks ahead, so if you are taking Valentines photos or Halloween photos try to get them in to us at least 4 to 6 weeks before the time we are most likely to use them.  But, if you take photos on Valentines Day or Halloween or whatever, do submit them after the date.  We will hold photos for consideration for two years and may use them at any time during that two years.

Communication regarding the photos

Please note that we do not acknowledge receipt of emails sent to submissions@maplelea.com (though you can set it to request a read receipt when you send it).  Once we decide if we are going to use the photo(s) we will publish them and advise you we have added the appropriate credit to your account.  You can then spend that credit on your next purchase.  We regret that due to volume of submissions, we are not able to provide information when and if we will be using your submission.

Where will the photos appear?

Most will be used online—on our website, in our broadcast emails, in our social media and sometimes also in print media like our catalogue.  Some photos that are selected may only be used once, others may be used in a variety of ways over a period of several years or more.  Not all photos submitted will be selected and it is entirely Maplelea’s choice of whether the photos will be used, and where they will appear.  You are welcome to make as many submissions as you like.

Thanks for reading!  We can’t wait to see what you are going to submit!

Maplelea Girls Jenna and Charlsea visit Salt Spring Island!

Maplelea fans, young and old, love to take pictures of their dolls in action, amid our beautiful Canadian scenery.  To submit your photos or short videos for consideration, see the instructions at the end of this Photo Gallery.

In the Lower Mainland of BC, the daffodils had begun to sprout when they got their first snowfall of the season this past weekend.  Charlsea enjoyed the day with her animals, training her puppy Kootenay while Kam and Loops in their warm wooly natural sheep coats enjoyed the snowy day hanging out.  The Empress was (as usual) up to her shenanigans hopping up onto the stumps.  But when everyone went over to check out the backyard tree named Herman, and hear his tale of woe about the squirrel who chewed off his nose, moustache and mouth, the empress climbed way up high onto Herman’s limbs and Charlsea had a lot of work to get her down.  Thank you to Maplelea fan Shannon G. for this photo story!

Charlsea and Saila bring in the fall harvest on Salt Spring Island, BC.  Taken by Thea Chapman.

Charlsea and Saila enjoy the last few days of summer on Salt Spring Island.  Taken by Thea Chapman.

Shannon G. made a party room for her dolls in honour of Léonie's birthday! Happy Birthday Léonie!

Shannon G. and her husband looked out to find a beautiful blue sky day with sparkling snow and just knew they had to take Charlsea out to enjoy it.  They had a wonderful day atop Cypress Mountain in Beautiful British Columbia while many people stopped to admire her very Canadian doll with her very Canadian outfit.

Hannah F. captured a portrait of Saila in her traditional Amauti and Pang Hat as a light snow gently fell in Sudbury, ON.

A curious fox photo bombed Saila and Taryn’s photography session.  He looked and he sniffed, but he didn’t touch. Submitted by Kimberly K. of Redditt, Ontario.

Charlsea enjoys a quiet moment in the sun on a beautiful Salt Spring Island fall day and just hangin' out! Submitted by Marjorie B. of Washington, USA.

Jenna joined Charlsea on a magical forest adventure and found this charming feather windmill and fairy door! Submitted by Shannon G. of BC.

At this bountiful time of year, Jenna and Charlsea have much to be thankful for. Submitted by Shannon G. de Langley, CB.

In Celebration of Canada 150, Jenna and Léonie cheered on Taryn and Charlsea on as they re-enacted the historic adventures of the Voyageurs on BC’s Fraser River. Submitted by Shannon G. of BC.

Oh dear! Jenna and Charlsea are stranded on one of the BC Gulf Islands!  Will anyone see their frantic waves? Submitted by Shannon G. of BC.

On a beautiful sunny West Coast day, Charlsea waves the Maple Leaf to show her Canadian pride while Jenna and Charlsea were thrilled to be the parade leaders on the occasion of Canada’s 150th birthday! Submitted by Shannon G. of BC.

Ferry boats and fairy doors—Charlsea’s Salt Spring Island has both! Submitted by Shannon G. of BC.

In the city of Toronto, the CN Tower features prominently on the horizon, and on Alexi’s shirt! Photo submitted by Marjorie B. of Washington, USA.

It is May 24th and time to celebrate the birthdays of both Charlsea and Queen Victoria! Submitted by Shannon G. of BC.

Please include your name, the location and a one or two sentence explaining the photo.  Remember, we can only accept photos of Maplelea dolls wearing Maplelea outfits!  Please send them as a jpg attachment to your email.  Do not include people in your photo; for photos of children with their dolls, please see the annual Maplelea Photo Contest which happens in the Spring of each year.

To submit your photos, please send them to: submissions@Maplelea.com with "FAN PHOTOS" as the subject line. 

 Submission of photos to this email constitutes permission for Maplelea to use the photos as they deem appropriate, without compensation, in perpetuity.

Alice, Simon, Emet, Kol, Naomi and Baila Mendelson recently took a road trip from their hometown of Hamilton to Eastern Canada and they took Maplelea along with them. We followed the Mendelson family, along with Jenna and Léonie, on their journey as they explore the sights from Ontario to the East Coast.