Latest News - Digital Dreambook

2015 Holiday VIP Event Gift

Participating Hallmark retailers will once again kick off their Holiday season by inviting their best customers to an exclusive holiday event. This years event will be bigger than ever with weekend-only and event specials and 10 days to shop. If you are one of your local Gold Crown® store’s very best customers, keep an eye on your mailbox this fall for an invitation to this years Holiday VIP event. Accompanying this invitation will be your coupon for the free with purchase* VIP event gift.

This years VIP gift is a reusable fabric bag with an assortment of fun items inside including:

Smiling Snowman ceramic cookie jar
Merry In The Making Keepsake Ornament by Terri Steiger. 3″ h.
Festive retro-pattern potholder and
package of coordinating recipe cards

VIP Weekend,
November 6-8, 2015

* Gift with purchase of $50.00 or more (valued at more than $65.00).

Merry in the Making

Additionally individuals spending $100.00 or more will also receive a Season of JOY Light Décor (regularly $34.95 USA). Individuals spending $150.00 or more will also receive a Winter Wonder Wire Deer (regularly $29.95 USA).

Season of JOY Light Décor

Winter Wonder Wire Deer

Holiday VIP Gift – A promotional offer, that is directed at each individual local Gold Crown retailer’s top spending customers.

November 9th, 2015|0 Comments

2015 Reveal: Hallmark Crown Collection Jewelry

Cherish the memories with these tiny treasures inspired by classic Keepsake Ornaments. They are little works of art, created by real people with real stories to tell.

Celebrate your story and the joys of the season with the Hallmark Crown Collection. Available in select Hallmark Gold Crown stores.

Snowflake Gold-Silver
Pendant Necklace

Christmas Cardinal
Pendant Necklace

Christmas Tree Cardinal
Pendant Necklace

Holiday Traditions
Bracelet

Hallmark Crown Collection – An on-trend, quality jewelry line designed exclusively for Hallmark Gold Crown stores, includes designs inspired by art found in the Hallmark archives.

November 5th, 2015|0 Comments

Additions to POS List (11/05/2015)

As of November 3, five more Keepsake ornaments have been added to the POS (permanently out-of-stock)* list, six POS ornaments have been moved to the limited inventory list and four have dropped off the list all together.

Here is a list of the additional 2015 Keepsake ornaments that have sold out at the warehouse:

pg. 22
MR. SNOWMAN
By Terri Steiger.
QGO1537
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 29
LA FLOR DE LA NOCHEBUENA
By Edythe Kegrize.
QSM7777
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 34
BORN IN OUR HEARTS
By Terri Steiger.
QGO1247
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 55
MERRY FANCY CHRISTMAS!
Fancy Nancy™
By Anita Marra Rogers.
QXI2677

pg. 81
ANDREW LUCK
Cincinnati Bengals
QXI2737
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

The following 21 ornaments have limited inventory remaining:

pg. 8
JINGLE BELL ROCK**
By Sharon Visker.
QGO1007

pg. 10
COOL ICICLES
3rd and Final in the series
By Nello Williams.
QX9189
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 23
TIMELESS ANGEL**
By Joanne Eschrich.
QGO1497
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

PEACE ON EARTH**
By Terri Steiger.
QGO1769
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 26
LOS TRES REYES MAGOS (THE THREE KINGS)
By Matt Johnson.
QSM7779
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 35
I AM THREE!
By Jake Angell.
QGO1467

pg. 37
GINGER BOY
By Becky Hottel.
QGO1717
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

THE BIG GUY
By Becky Hottel.
QGO1727
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

PENGUIN PAL
By Becky Hottel.
QGO1729
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

SPECIAL DELIVERY
By Becky Hottel.
QGO1739
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 51
TIANA BALLERINA
By Patricia Andrews.
QXD6069
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

PRINCESS MERIDA**
Disney/Pixar Brave
Precious Moments
QXD6009
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 53
CELEBRATION BARBIE™ ORNAMENT SET
(African-American)**
Set of two.
Inspired by the 2013 & 2014 Holiday Barbie™ Dolls
Artist crafted and fabric.
By Robert Hurlburt and Patricia Andrews.
QXI2789
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 66
FEED THE REINDEER
Taz-LOONEY TUNES
By Robert Chad
QXI2107

pg. 76
DR. ZARIUS**
Planet of the Apes
By Kristina Gaughran.
QXI2597
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 77
SMAUG AWAKENS
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
By Orville Wilson.
QXI2257
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 78
THERE IS NO TRY
Star Wars™: A New Hope™
19th in the Star Wars™ series
By Orville Wilson.
QX9219

pg. 81
JAMAL CHARLES
Kansas City Chiefs
QXI2709
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

A.J. GREEN
Cincinnati Bengals
QXI2779
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

COLIN KAEPERNICK
San Francisco 49ers
QXI2717
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

Not Pictured:

HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS! TREE TOPPER
By Ken Crow.
QGO1686
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

The following ornaments are temporarily out-of-stock. Replenishment will be available soon:

pg. 17
UP ON THE HOUSE TOP
By Ken Crow.
QGO1317
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 68
DEPUTY BARNEY FIFE
The Andy Griffith Show
QXI2327
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 74
LYNDA CARTER AS WONDER WOMAN
By Kristina Gaughran.
QXI2483
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 77
PLATFORM 9¾
Harry Potter™
QXI2119
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 78
C-3PO™ AND R2-D2™
Star Wars™: A New Hope™
By Orville Wilson.
QG9219

pg. 79
THE NEEDS OF MANY
STAR TREK II: The Wrath of Khan™
By Valerie Shanks.
QXI2587
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

* Permanently Out-of-Stock/SOLD OUT List – A list of the ornaments that are no longer available for retailers to reorder. That said, keep in mind that any ornaments ordered prior to the sell out will be shipped to retailers. Depending on the quantities a retailer initially ordered, it may be faced with an early sell out. If you are looking to purchases any of these ornaments (especially those that are denoted as Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusives) you may want to do so early in the season.

** Previously listed on POS list.

November 5th, 2015|0 Comments

Additions to POS List (10/27/2015)

As of October 27, eleven more Keepsake ornaments have been added to the POS (permanently out-of-stock)* list, bringing the total number of sell outs to 26.

Here is a list of the additional 2015 Keepsake ornaments that have sold out at the warehouse:

pg. 15
DOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
The World of Frosty Friends
By Nello Williams and Tom Best.
QGO1469
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 17
SANTA’S MAGIC CUCKOO CLOCK
By Ken Crow.
QGO1367
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 23
BLACK TIE
By Terri Steiger.
QGO1959
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 25
LITTLE SNOW ANGEL
By Tammy Haddix.
QGO1507

pg. 29
SNAPPY SNOWMAN
By Edythe Kegrize.
QXM8539
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 42
ANNIVERSARY
By Edythe Kegrize.
QHX1109
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 47
QUINCEAÑERA
By Julie Forsyth.
QHX7747
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 55
JOY
Disney•Pixar Inside Out
QXD6049

pg. 63
“I DO” TIMES TWO
Mickey and Minnie
By Katrina Bricker.
QXD6157
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 68
THE GODFATHER
QXI2329
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 92 (KOC version)
FAIRY SURPRISE
By Kristina Gaughran.
QGO1647
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

The following 12 ornaments have limited inventory remaining.

pg. 10
COOL ICICLES
3rd and Final in the series
By Nello Williams.
QX9189
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 22
MR. SNOWMAN
By Terri Steiger.
QGO1537
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 29
LA FLOR DE LA NOCHEBUENA
By Edythe Kegrize.
QSM7777
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 34
BORN IN OUR HEARTS
By Terri Steiger.
QGO1247
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 35
I AM THREE!
By Jake Angell.
QGO1467

pg. 51
TIANA BALLERINA
By Patricia Andrews.
QXD6069
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 55
MERRY FANCY CHRISTMAS!
Fancy Nancy™
By Anita Marra Rogers.
QXI2677

pg. 77
SMAUG AWAKENS
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
By Orville Wilson.
QXI2257
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 79
THE NEEDS OF THE MANY
STAR TREK: The Wrath of Kahn™
By Valerie Shanks.
QXI2587
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 81
ANDREW LUCK
Cincinnati Bengals
QXI2737
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

A.J. GREEN
Cincinnati Bengals
QXI2779
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

Not Pictured:

HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS! TREE TOPPER
By Ken Crow.
QGO1686
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

The following ornaments are temporarily out-of-stock. Replenishment will be available soon:

pg. 17
UP ON THE HOUSE TOP
By Ken Crow.
QGO1317
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 68
DEPUTY BARNEY FIFE
The Andy Griffith Show
QXI2327
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 74
LYNDA CARTER AS WONDER WOMAN
By Kristina Gaughran.
QXI2483
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 77
PLATFORM 9¾
Harry Potter™
QXI2119
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 78
C-3PO™ AND R2-D2™
Star Wars™: A New Hope™
By Orville Wilson.
QG9219

Not pictured:

COLORADO MOUNTAINS
QHG1266

DALLAS
QGO1817

DENVER
QGO1809

KANSAS CITY
QGO1807

TEXAS STATE CUTOUT
QHG1253

TEXAS BOOTS
By Julie Forsyth.
QHG1263

October 27th, 2015|0 Comments

Live Chat Recap: Sharon Visker

.
Sharon Visker
Hallmark Artist

On Thursday, October 22, Hallmark Artist, Sharon Visker chatted with collectors via Facebook. Here is a synopsis of that chat that highlights most of the questions and responses. Please note the chat is not in chronological order and has been grouped by subject and edited for brevity.

Día de Los Muertos

Diana Michelle Tidlund: Love the cat,,,, did you do the colors when you designed it or are the colors something the hallmark added and picked out?

Sharon: Glad you like it. I chose the colors and do the painting as well.

Susan Holland: Will we be able to add another sugar Halloween ornament next year?

Sharon: Yes! the pictures above have an unpainted sculpt of the one for next year.

Sarah Michelle Freitas: I haven't seen the skull that is in the picture though, how can I get that one?

Sharon: The unpainted skull in the picture will be available next year at Premiere.

Diana St James: Thanks for showing photos of your prototype ornaments. Could you explain why there are two different colored clays on the sugar skull prototypes?

Sharon: One is a clay and one is a wax and I use which ever is easiest for the type of effect I am trying to get.

Día de Los Muertos

Diana St James: I'm looking forward to next year's Sugar Skull that was Frieda Kahlo inspired. Since the sugar skulls are seeming to be popular, do you have other ideas up your sleeve for future years? Any hints?

Sharon: Maybe some with a stronger Halloween tie in like the cat was this year. I hope to do more they are some of my favorites to work on.

Marc Mirabal: Although I was excited to hear about your Día de Los Metros collection, I was disappointed to find out it was only offered in select markets and we weren’t one of them. This is shocking as your sugar skull ornaments have sold out here both years. Will this collection be released more widely next year?

Sharon: I honestly don’t know which stores are carrying it and how they were selected. I do think it is in a testing phase and if it is well received hopefully more next year.

Nancy Ochs Copeland: Do you observe the Day of the Dead at your house?

Sharon: My house is decorated that way all year long because of my love of skeletons.

Renee Micallef: I heard that you made treats for your sons wedding that were to beautiful to eat. Can you share a bit?

Sharon: Yes, I made about 30 sugar skulls for the Day of the Dead theme.

Sugar Skull Wedding Treats

Season’s Treatings

Season’s Treatings
7th in the series.

Diana Michelle Tidlund: Is the plate of cookies (Season's Treatings) gonna be a series you only do?

Sharon: So far I have done all of the Seasons Treatings and hope to continue to do them.

Marc Mirabal: Which ornament in the Season’s Treatings series is your favorite?

Sharon: I really loved the snowman coconut cake and this years too.

Jim Bowman: Do you already have sketches for several more ornaments for the Season’s Treating series?

Sharon: I do!

Kathy McCray: Will there be some Seasons Treatings with the designs on the cupcakes (sugar skulls) like were at your sons wedding?

Sharon: No plans yet to incorporate them into the series.

Marc Mirabal: Have you thought of creating a Halloween ornament that complements your Season’s Treatings series?

Sharon: No official plans yet, but I do have some ideas.

Merriest House in Town

Melissa Conrad: If you could only pick one ornament from debut that was your favorite, what would it be?

Sharon: I loved working on The Merriest House in Town with Orville. I loved thinking through the magic and light show.

Susan Holland: Speaking of merriest house....... I notice you work with Orville on other ornaments. are you planning other ornaments together? You make a great team.

Sharon: I hope so I love working with Orville.

Jim Bowman: Did you have the option of making the Merriest House in Town a magic cord ornament or use batteries?

Sharon: We decided on magic cord so it can be lit all of the time and have a continuous light show. Then you get the added bonus of the sound and bigger show when you press the button.

Curtis Heavrin: Can you see yourself working with magic cord again? did you enjoy it? what was the most difficult part?

Sharon: Yes, I probably will. The hardest part is actually for the engineers and how to make the magic happen. But I do love the collaborative process.

Merriest House in Town

Tyler Yalian: Where does your inspiration come from? I love the Merriest House in Town, Did you decorate as a child or still do? Is that why you did that ornament? Another thing is I want to thank you for making a pig ornament, my mother loves pigs and farm animals- So this will make a perfect Christmas present!

Sharon: I don’t do anything as extravagant as The Merriest House in Town, but I do decorate. I like pigs too and was glad to have one in the line for this year.

Other Work

Here Comes the Pumpkin King
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas

Curtis Heavrin: I love that this years Nightmare before Christmas ornament glows in the dark.

Sharon: The glow in the dark is a nice surprise, since it wasn’t listed on the box (glad you noticed)! I think it was an oversight that it wasn’t included on the box, but it is such a great addition to the sculpt.

Jimmy Dowden: Any more nightmare before Christmas down the pike?

Sharon: Yes, two for next year!

Susan Holland: Another ornament I enjoy is the deck the hogs! I love those pigs!

Sharon: I can’t reveal too much, but if you like barnyard friends you will like one of next year’s magic ornaments.

Diana Michelle Tidlund: You talk barnyard..... and you did a pig.... I'm a moose nut... any chance you doing a moose

Sharon: I haven’t done a moose, but I would like to.

Renee Micallef: I was so bummed out to learn about the cancellation of the I Got You Babe ornament. Do you know if it will be produced next year or at a later time? I can remember watching that show as a young child with my parents.

Sharon: I really have no idea.

Marc Mirabal: Do you know why I Got You Babe was pulled?

Sharon: It didn’t meet Hallmark’s quality standards.

Renee Micallef: Can you share what next years salt n' pepper shakers theme will be?

Sharon: It is a surprise, but I can tell you that it’s a retro theme.

Faye Babcock: Do you collect retro salt and pepper shakers?

Sharon: I don’t actually but love looking at them in flea markets, etc.

Curtis Heavrin: With other artists doing big projects like a train or tree topper, can you see yourself working on these types of projects?

Sharon: Yes, I will be in the coming years. I already have some fun ideas.

Renee Micallef: Can you share what you are excited about in 2016? Can't blame me for trying.....

Sharon: Can’t give specifics but I am really excited about my solar ornament for next year and a few of my other magic ornaments.

Other

Diana Michelle Tidlund: How long does it take you to design an ornament?

Sharon: My initial idea and concepting takes a couple of weeks and sculpting is two to three weeks and then paint a few days. But that process is always drawn out since I typically am in different stages on 2-3 things at a time.

Susan McConihay Seidensticker: How much input do you as the designing artist get in the final color choices on a production ornament?

Sharon: I do all of the color selection and the final paint on my ornaments. So I have all the input.

Susan Holland & Marc Mirabal:What is your favorite ornament that you have designed?

Sharon: It would have to be the croaking Jingle Frogs from 2013. We actually had real frogs do the recording.

Diana St James: I love the recent photos Hallmark has shared of various artists doing jack-o-lanterns and decorated pumpkins. Do you do a lot of home decorating for Halloween?

Sharon: Yes, I do lots of Jack-o-Lanterns with lights and of course lots of skeletons. The artist carving is one of my favorite studio events of the year and so glad we were able to share some photos with everyone.

Diana Michelle Tidlund: So..... do you only display your ornaments at Christmas or do they get displayed year round? and if year round..... How do you display them?

Sharon: Year round in my booth at work. I have lots of them in little cubes or on trees.

Diana Michelle Tidlund: I have to ask because I'm sitting here laughing to myself.... do you buy up the ornaments you make and give them to friends and family that year for Christmas? And which ones? what is your favorite to give out? me would be the cookies or the cat depending on who it was…

Sharon: Yes, everyone in my family gets them for Christmas and the Magic ones are always a big hit.

October 22nd, 2015|0 Comments

The World of Frosty Friends Experiences Temporary Black-outs

In response to a consumers inquiry about the synchronized performance of “The World of Frosty Friends” Magic-cord table decorations, Hallmark has released the following information.

“In addition to the familiar light and sound functions that have been a part of many Magic Cord performances from the beginning, we recently introduced automated movement into some of our products. Although we are excited about the new storytelling opportunities that this additional function can provide, we have had to make some difficult choices in order to include this movement. Due to the larger power requirements of the electric motors that are needed, our products with movement use all of the available energy from the Magic Cord when they are activated. This unfortunately requires other products connected to the cord to “go dark” during motion performances, eliminating the synchronized, “full-cord” light show that many of our other Magic Cord ornaments provide. When the motor is not in use, however, our motion products still “follow” along with the performances of other “leader” products connected to the cord. We regret any confusion that this variation in function has caused and hope that consumers will come to appreciate the enhanced individual performances of our new motion products as we do!”

NOTE: At present the only other Magic-cord item that causes the other items on the cord to “go dark” when it is activated is the “Here Comes Santa Claus!” tree topper.

October 22nd, 2015|0 Comments

Going, Going… Gone! (10/21/2015)

As of October 20, the following 15 ornaments are permanently out-of-stock* and replenishment is not available, as such retailers can no longer re-order them. Once stores sell their existing inventory, they will be SOLD OUT!

pg. 8
JINGLE BELL ROCK
By Sharon Visker.
QGO1007

pg. 15
HERE COME FROSTY FRIENDS
The World of Frosty Friends
By Tracy Larsen and Tom Best.
QGO1477
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 23
RADIANT CROSS
By Ruth Donikowski.
QGO1527
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

TIMELESS ANGEL
By Joanne Eschrich.
QGO1497
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

PEACE ON EARTH
By Terri Steiger.
QGO1769
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 47
A DAY AT THE BEACH
By Debra Nielsen.
QGO1677
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 51
PRINCESS MERIDA
Disney/Pixar Brave
Precious Moments
QXD6009
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 53
CELEBRATION BARBIE™ ORNAMENT SET
(African-American)
Set of two.
Inspired by the 2013 & 2014 Holiday Barbie™ Dolls
Artist crafted and fabric.
By Robert Hurlburt and Patricia Andrews.
QXI2789
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 71
TOP GUN
By Valerie Shanks.
QXI2249
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 75
GROOVIN’ GROOT
Guardians of the Galaxy
QXI2967

pg. 76
DR. ZARIUS
Planet of the Apes
By Kristina Gaughran.
QXI2597
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive

pg. 81
CLAY MATTHEWS
Green Bay Packers
QXI2719

Not Pictured:

SWEET SKULL
By Sharon Visker.
QFO5249

NUTCRACKER MICKEY
Tabletop
Limited-quantity
LPR3357

A KANSAS CITY TRADITION (Plaza Lights)
QHG1209

The following 16 ornaments have limited inventory remaining: