Take Hallmark 'Home for the Holidays' and Bring Traditions to Life

Take Hallmark 'Home for the Holidays' and Bring Traditions to Life

'Hallmark Holiday Home Contest' and 'On-line Holiday Home' Provide Advice from the Experts

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Need a little help this holiday season? You're not alone. Over the years, customers have told Hallmark they would love to have help and hear tips on how to eliminate stress while still experiencing the joy of the season. In response, Hallmark is sending their creative staff directly to people's homes this year to help them decorate, entertain and shop for gifts, as well as providing an on-line resource for holiday inspiration and ideas.

"Hallmark Holiday Home Contest" Brings the Experts to You

Personal traditions make the holiday season magical, but sometimes it is necessary to put a little twist on the same trimmings, holiday parties, and gifts. "Hallmark Holiday Home Contest" entrants can win the opportunity to receive free in-person advice and products from the world-class creative experts behind Hallmark's holiday magic. One grand-prize winner will be awarded in each of three areas: decorating, entertaining, and gift-giving. Each grand-prize winner will receive an in-home visit from Hallmark holiday experts.

"The 'Hallmark Holiday Home Contest' offers people the chance to ask the experts for advice on how they might make favorite holiday traditions even more memorable this season," said Steve Hess, an art director and creative expert who has been with Hallmark for almost 25 years. "Our creative experts - who specialize in helping people celebrate and connect on all levels - will visit the winners' homes and incorporate new Hallmark Gold Crown(R) products with their existing decorations and traditions."

Entrants can log on to http://www.hallmark.com/ and explain in 50 words or less which holiday family traditions need a little revival this year. The contest runs Nov. 1, 2005 through Dec. 1, 2005. Entries will be judged by the creative experts behind Hallmark's best-selling holiday products, cards, gifts and Keepsake Ornaments.

On-line Holiday Home Showcases Unique Tips and Ideas

In addition, Hallmark is launching the "On-line Holiday Home" at Hallmark.com to see holiday tips and ideas for incorporating the season all through the house. The interactive "Holiday Home" comes alive for visitors, offering tips on home decor, gift-giving, entertaining, and traditions. Creative ideas cover everything in a home that touches the holidays, including writing Christmas cards and newsletters, baking fun holiday cookies, creating new traditions with children, planning for a great holiday party, and more.

Some of the new home decor ideas consumers will find in the "On-line Holiday Home" are tips on how to brighten up the home with Illuminations, a new, holiday lighting accessory. Available exclusively at Hallmark Gold Crown Stores this year, the Illuminations collection features the latest technology in decorative Christmas lighting. Multipacks of star and snowball ornaments, as well as individual ornaments, all feature softly fading, changing lights and projection that lasts thousands of hours. A unique, one-of-its-kind star tree topper even projects images on the ceiling. The Illuminations collection joins Hallmark's extensive array of holiday items, including cards, gifts, and stocking stuffers.

About Hallmark Cards, Inc.

Kansas City-based Hallmark is known throughout the world for its greeting cards, related personal expression products, and television's most honored and enduring dramatic series, the "Hallmark Hall of Fame." The company's Hallmark Entertainment, Inc., subsidiary is the world's leading producer and distributor of movies and miniseries made for television; its Binney & Smith subsidiary, maker of Crayola(R) crayons and markers, is the leading producer of art materials for children and students. Through licensing leadership and joint ventures, Hallmark continues to expand its product formats and distribution avenues. The company publishes products in more than 30 languages and distributes them in more than 100 countries through a multi-national strategy. In 2004, Hallmark reported consolidated net revenues of $4.4 billion.

Contacts:

Holly Lucas Bachand
Fleishman-Hillard
(816) 512-2427
bachandh@fleishman.com

Deidre Parkes
Hallmark Cards, Inc.
(816) 274-5768
dparke1@hallmark.com

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com/.

Source: Hallmark Cards, Inc.

CONTACT: Holly Lucas Bachand of Fleishman-Hillard, +1-816-512-2427,
bachandh@fleishman.com, for Hallmark Cards; or Deidre Parkes, Hallmark Cards,
Inc., +1-816-274-5768, dparke1@hallmark.com

Web site: http://www.hallmark.com/

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