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Artist Insights: 2022 Cookie Cutter Christmas

Hallmark sat down with Keepsake Artist Nina Aubé to discuss her 2022 Cookie Cutter Christmas #11. Enjoy!

What was the inspiration for your adorable little mouse friend?

Nina: “He’s engaging in every kid’s most anticipated holiday activity… opening presents on Christmas morning! He’s in his red jammies, which look just like the red flannel footie pajamas my two sisters and I had when we were kids.“

Nina went on to say, “since sweets are an integral part of the series, the tree is a 3-tiered sugary cupcake with red licorice garland, centered on a peppermint taffy rug. I don’t have a photographic memory, so of course needed to buy some licorice while I was sculpting this one for ‘research purposes.’”

What is your process to bring this ornament to life?

Nina: “the cookie cutter is a present with a bow on top, which echoes the shape of one of the colorful gifts under the tree. The 3D shape is created digitally. I gave a sketch to (fellow Keepsake Artist) Rodney Gentry, who created a 3D prototype from the drawing. The scene inside is sculpted by hand. I work in a very firm wax-based clay, which needs to be warmed up first, so it’s pliable enough to rough out the basic forms. Once the clay cools, it holds its shape for even the tiniest details, which I carve into with various tools.” We are still in awe of the talent of Hallmark’s Keepsake Artists, and constantly reminded, it truly does take a (Keepsake) Village to bring these beloved ornaments to life!

Did you know?

The Sweet Lil’ Mouse miniature ornament is the SAME little mouse friend from the series, in miniature form!

Nina: “I love the smaller version, it makes a really cute complement to the larger series. The mini is all about sweets as well, so he’s about to nibble on a yummy star shaped Christmas cookie.”

Nina went on to say, “this is the second time the mouse is making an appearance in miniature form. The first was as a part of 2018 KOC-exclusive collaboration Let’s Build a Snowman! ornament.” This ornament was delivered to 2018 KOC members in their Dream Box and featured characters from the Frosty Friends, Snowball and Tuxedo, Cookie Cutter Christmas, and Snow Buddies series. Nina is super excited as this is the very first time our mouse friend is an ornament all on his own!

What do you think? Will you be adding the Cookie Cutter Christmas #11 or the miniature Sweet Lil’ Mouse ornaments to your collection when they release at Ornament Premiere next month?

Cookie Cutter Christmas
11th in the series.

Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments. “Behind the scenes with Nina Aubé and Cookie Cutter Christmas, 11th in the series!” Keepsake Ornament Club Facebook Page, June 22, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/groups/KOCMembers/posts/2994348874138450/

June 22nd, 2022|0 Comments

Member Exclusive Offer: KOC Flash Sale (2022 Comic Con Ornaments)

Hallmark is planning another *EXCLUSIVE SALE* – just for KOC Members! Keep reading for everything you need to know.

Gonk Droid™ & Mouse Droid™
Star Wars: A New Hope™

Time War Dalek
Doctor Who™

Spider-Gwen
MARVEL

We are excited to share that on December 6, 2022 KOC Members will have the opportunity to purchase the three 2022 Comic Con Keepsake Ornaments online or by calling 1-800-Hallmark. This special purchase opportunity will be available for all 2022 KOC members (even if you already purchased this year at the Comic Con Convention). Restriction of 1 ornament per KOC membership number remains.

We are so excited to share that Hallmark is making a VERY limited amount of the three 2022 Comic Con Keepsake Ornaments available online to KOC members! Mark your calendar for December 6. The sale begins at 10 a.m. CT and runs while supplies last.

Available only at Hallmark.com while supplies last! Canadian members, call 1-800-HALLMARK to order. Limit one of each design per member.

June 20th, 2022|0 Comments

Press Release: PopMinded by Hallmark Announces 2022 Event Exclusives

Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments, itty bittys® among items planned for fan gatherings later this year.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (June 20, 2022) – PopMinded by Hallmark will meet some of pop culture’s greatest fans later this year while attending two of the world’s largest fan-focused events – Comic-Con International and New York Comic Con. This is the first time since 2019 the company will be attending the events in person.

Since 2016, PopMinded has served as Hallmark’s way of celebrating fandom with gifts and collectibles created and curated with all fans in mind. PopMinded plans to continue Hallmark’s annual tradition of providing access to their ever-popular event-exclusive products.

Hallmark Keepsake Ornament designs, itty bittys® plush characters, and other exclusives will be sold in limited quantities at these two events:

Comic-Con International San Diego, July 21-24
New York Comic Con, October 6-9

Limited Availability items include:

Gonk Droid™ and Mouse Droid™, Star Wars: A New Hope™ Keepsake Ornament set features a pair of droids first appearing in Star Wars: A New Hope™ that have proven popular and memorable with fans over more than 40 years. The Gonk Droid features sounds from the film, while the mouse droid is cast in metal. The ornament set is priced at $35 with a total production run of 3,000.

Time War Dalek, Doctor Who™ Keepsake Ornament – This gold-armored version of the iconic Doctor Who villain is depicted as Daleks in the Cult of Skaro appeared to challenge the Tenth Doctor. The exclusive ornament, which includes sound from the show, is priced at $30 with a total production run of 3,000.

Spider-Gwen, Marvel Comics Keepsake Ornament depicts the heroic alter ego of Gwen Stacy as she has appeared in alternate universes to fight crime in comics and animated stories. This ornament is priced at $25 with a total production run of 3,000.

Harry Potter™, Rubeus Hagrid™ & Luna Lovegood™, Harry Potter™ set of 3 Christmas Tree Ornaments. A trio of fan-favorite characters are styled to complement characters in Hallmark’s Harry Potter Mystery Ornament line. The exclusive three-pack is priced at $15 with a total production run of 1,500.

Professor Boggart Snape™, Harry Potter™ itty bittys® offers a stylized depiction of the iconic moment when Neville Longbottom conjures the idea of Snape in his grandmother’s clothes to defeat the boggart. It is priced at $10 with a total production run of 2,400.

The event exclusives will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis at the PopMinded booth when the convention opens each day. Sales permit one of each exclusive product to be sold per person, per transaction while supplies last.

Allotments will be divided evenly between the two conventions. Additionally, a small quantity of the three Keepsake Ornaments will be available for Keepsake Ornament Club Members to purchase. For more information on membership, go to hallmark.com/ornaments/keepsake-ornament-club.

The PopMinded booth will showcase upcoming products and sneak peeks from Hallmark’s full line of pop culture-themed products, and have select items from Hallmark’s core product lines available for purchase. Along with the tradition free exclusive buttons, handed out in limited quantities with a different design released each day of the convention.

Visit PopMinded.com/Events for details on how to purchase exclusives and learn about on-site activities planned for each event released closer to the date.

For more information about PopMinded by Hallmark and the products offered, visit PopMinded.com

Gonk Droid™ & Mouse Droid™
Star Wars: A New Hope™

Time War Dalek
Doctor Who™

Spider Gwen
Marvel Comics

Harry Potter™, Rubeus Hagrid™ & Luna Lovegood™
Harry Potter™

Professor Boggart Snape™
Harry Potter™
itty bittys®

June 20th, 2022|0 Comments

2022 Reveal: Comic-Con Exclusives

Here are the exclusive pop culture products Hallmark will be offering in limited quantities at Comic-Con® International, to be held July 21-24, 2022 in San Diego, CA, and at New York Comic Con, set for October 6-9, 2022 in New York City.

Gonk Droid™ & Mouse Droid™
Star Wars: A New Hope™

Time War Dalek
Doctor Who™

Spider-Gwen
MARVEL

Harry Potter™, Rubeus Hagrid™ & Luna Lovegood™
Harry Potter™
Set of 3

Professor Boggart Snape™
Harry Potter™
itty bittys®

A daily allotment of event exclusives will be sold at Comic-Con® International: San Diego in the PopMinded Booth #2913-U in the Star Wars Pavilion beginning at opening time, each day of the convention. Tickets with three different purchase windows will be handed out when doors open on a first come, first served basis. Sales permit one of each exclusive product to be sold per person, per transaction while supplies last. A selection of core Star Wars products will be available to see and purchase in this booth as well. To see and purchase other core, non-exclusive products from other brands, go to PopMinded booth #1505.

June 19th, 2022|0 Comments

2022 Video: Connected by Heart

Whether you’re together or apart, you and your loved ones are connected by heart. Make a lasting memory by recording a special message with this recordable ornament. Record your message and gift it to someone special to listen to again and again as a reminder you’re always with them.

Watch the video

Connected by Heart

June 17th, 2022|0 Comments

2022 Reveal: Holiday Barbie™ Dolls

Here are pictures of the 2022 Holiday Barbie™ Dolls that inspired this year’s Holiday Barbie™ Ornaments.

This year’s Holiday Barbie® Doll embodies the spirit of the season in a vibrant, red gown inspired by the beautiful poinsettia, a symbol of good will and community spirit. Her ensemble dazzles with a shimmering poinsettia detail at the neckline and a layer of tulle and satiny petals adorning her long, full skirt. Gorgeous, golden chandelier earrings and red lips complete her look.

2022 Holiday Barbie™ Dolls

June 13th, 2022|0 Comments

Local Club News: Virtual Artist Signing Event TOMORROW

Here is the latest Club communication.

Dear Local Club Presidents,

Don’t Forget! Join us on the Keepsake Facebook page TOMORROW from 10-11 a.m. CT for our Facebook Live Virtual Keepsake Artist Signing Event! The event is completely free – all you have to do is join us on the Keepsake Facebook page from 10-11 a.m. CT tomorrow.

Mrs. Claus’s Sewing Cabinet

Our entire studio of artists collaborated on ONE ornament, Mrs. Claus’s Sewing Cabinet, and we cannot wait to share all of the details behind the collaboration of this ornament with you during this live event! Hear from Keepsake Artist Anita Marra Rogers and Art Director Kurt Gaulke as they chat about the inspiration of the ornament, the story behind it, and the process to bring it to life!

The best part? The Mrs. Claus’s Sewing Cabinet ornament will be available for purchase for the very first time, on Hallmark.com only, beginning tomorrow at 11 a.m. CT. Each ornament will be hand signed by TWO artists from the Keepsake studio! Check it out here.

Be sure to tune in live for giveaways, a live Q&A, and lots of fun! The giveaways will be the Mrs. Claus’s Sewing Cabinet ornament hand signed by the entire Keepsake Studio! Must be virtually present to win. Let us know you plan to join here.

See you then!

Sincerely,

The KOC Team

June 3rd, 2022|1 Comment

Gonk Droid™ & Mouse Droid™
Star Wars™

Hallmark has revealed the Star Wars ornament set that will be offered in limited quantities at Comic-Con® International (SDCC), to be held July 21-24, 2022 in San Diego, CA., and at New York Comic Con (NYCC), set for October 6-9, 2022 in New York City.

May 26th, 2022|0 Comments

Artist Insights: 2022 Mary’s Angels

Did you know? Keepsake artist Jake Angell is taking over this beloved series from retired Keepsake artist Robert Chad this year. Read on to learn more!

What was it like to take over this series from Robert Chad?

Jake: “For the last couple of years before Chad* retired, he had been my neighbor at work.“

Jake’s and Chad’s cubicles were right next to each other at our headquarters here in Kansas City!

Jake went on to say, “Chad always told me, ‘I am going to suggest that you take this series over. Just watch, they will have you doing Mary’s Angels when I leave!’” Jake said, “well, here we are! I really thought he was just saying that because of my last name. I can only hope he was happy to pass the torch to me.”

We are certain that Chad has happily passed the torch on to Jake, and it is very fitting given Jake’s last name.

And Jake is carrying on Mary and Chad’s legacy with much excitement! He said, “It’s a great series done by some wonderfully talented people. I am humbled.”

Jake does not take his role as artist of this series lightly. He went on to say, “it will always be a challenge for me to do right by Mary, in remembrance of such a wonderful, talented, historic Hallmarker. I hope when Chad sees the new ornaments, he knows that I was thinking of him too. And that he agrees I did right by Mary like he would have.”

If the Aster ornament is any indication of what’s to come with Jake as the lead artist of this series, we think Jake is doing a fabulous job that both Chad and Mary would be very proud of. Do you agree?

*NOTE: Robert Chad is known as ‘Chad’ in the Keepsake Village.

What inspired your Mary's Angels #35?

Jake: “Growing up, my dad was a Methodist pastor. One of the songs I always remember singing as a child was ‘He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands’ in nursery school. It’s a catchy tune you won’t forget. I think the world needed some healing, so I put the whole world in this little guardian angel’s hands.”

What do you think? Will you be adding this ornament to your collection when it releases at Ornament Premiere in July?

Aster
Mary’s Angels
35th in the series.

Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments. “Behind the scenes with Jake Angell and Aster, 35th in the Mary’s Angels series!” Keepsake Ornament Club Facebook Page, May 25, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/groups/KOCMembers/posts/2994348874138450/

May 25th, 2022|0 Comments

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