Hallmark Encourages Checking in With Old Friends This Christmas

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Dec. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- You know that feeling when you check your holiday Christmas card list and get to that one cousin, niece, or friend you really meant to keep up with through the years, but didn't? Instead of feeling stressed, take holiday card sending as an opportunity to catch up with those special people.

Christmas can be a perfect time to reconnect with friends and loved ones. This year, Hallmark offers more than 2,700 Christmas card designs, including individual cards and boxed-card selections.

"Whether near or far, a Christmas card is a chance to let friends and loved ones know they're thought about, loved, appreciated – or even just wished all the joy of the season," said Cheryl Gaines, Hallmark Editorial Director. "Hallmark has a wide variety of Christmas messages to fit any relationship needs."

Design styles for Christmas range from cheerfully-bright holiday photos to beautifully bold illustrations to brand-new flashy card innovations to such hot licensed properties as Thomas Kinkade™, The Peanuts® Gang, Winnie the Pooh, Frosty the Snowman™, Happy Feet, and Disney's Prep & Landing. 

Like the idea of reaching out to friends and loved ones this holiday, but not sure what to say?  Use these messages and ideas to add just the right jolly, sincere, or funny message inside your Christmas cards.

• Send happy wishes - Sensational season's greetings start with a just-right holiday message like "Wishing you every happy thing this year!"
• Reconnect with a friend - Rebuild a bond or mend a strained relationship with a message that says "I wish we could see more of each other."
• Acknowledge a recent loss - Comfort someone who has lost a loved one with a tender message that says "Holding you and your family close in thought and in love."
• Difficult year - Celebrate the coming of a New Year and fresh start with a struggling loved one. Include a message that says "Be good to yourself—nobody deserves it more."

The personalized card selection on Hallmark.com also offers a selection of over 950 unique Christmas greeting cards, invitations, announcements, and personalized stationery that can be customized with personal photos and messages. Holiday cards are available in multiple design styles, including, Modern, Fun, Vintage or Classic.

For ease and convenience, Postage-Paid Greetings are also available this Christmas in many different designs and messages. Just sign, seal and send.  The postage is treated like a Forever stamp, and its value will always be equal to the price of a standard First-Class stamp, regardless of when it's mailed.

All things Christmas are available at Hallmark Gold Crown® stores and participating Hallmark retailers nationwide. Use the store locator on Hallmark.com to find the nearest Hallmark Gold Crown store. 

Visit http://corporate.hallmark.com/newsroom for more information. You can also follow Hallmark on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Hallmark and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/hallmarkpr.

About Hallmark Cards, Inc.

Hallmark makes the world a more caring place by helping people express what's in their hearts and spend time together – a privilege few other companies in the world enjoy. Hallmark greeting cards and other products are found in more than 40,000 retail outlets in the U.S., including the network of flagship Hallmark Gold Crown® stores. The brand also reaches people online at Hallmark.com and on television through Hallmark Hall of Fame original movies and cable's top-rated Hallmark Channel. Worldwide, Hallmark offers products in more than 30 languages available in 100 countries. This privately held company is based in Kansas City, Mo., and is led by the third generation of the founding Hall family. Visit http://corporate.hallmark.com for more details.

SOURCE Hallmark Cards, Inc.