American Greetings Offers a New Take on Birthday Wishes

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Mar 29, 2011, 09:17 ET

CLEVELAND, March 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- For centuries people have only been able to make a wish on the birthday candles that appear on their cake. That is until the creative minds at American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM) decided to transform this birthday tradition into a whole new multi-sensory experience. The result is a card line called Ready, Set, Blow™, which offers an innovative birthday twist on everything from tooting your own horn to wishing on a dandelion.

Upon opening, the recipient is prompted to blow on the card. A special sensor is then activated, making the festive scene come to life with LED lights and either an exciting birthday song or sound. In each card, a breath of air extinguishes birthday candles, activates horns and lights, or recreates a childhood wish on a dandelion.

"Ready, Set, Blow lets people experience the birthday tradition of wishing in an innovative new way," said Carol Miller, executive director of new product concepts at American Greetings. "It's so much fun to see someone receive these cards because you get to watch their surprise as they open it and then their smile unfold as the card comes to life — and hopefully, their wish granted!"

Consumers can find the Ready, Set, Blow greetings at participating drug chains, grocery stores and mass retailers nationwide, as well as in American Greetings and Carlton Cards retail stores. For more information on American Greetings, please visit us at www.corporate.americangreetings.com. You can also follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/amgreetings and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AmericanGreetings.

About American Greetings Corporation

For more than 100 years, American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM) has been a creator and manufacturer of innovative social expression products that assist consumers in enhancing their relationships. The Company's major greeting card lines are American Greetings, Carlton Cards, Gibson, Recycled Paper Greetings and Papyrus, and other paper product offerings include DesignWare party goods and American Greetings and Plus Mark gift-wrap and boxed cards. American Greetings also has one of the largest collections of electronic greetings on the Web, including cards available at AmericanGreetings.com through AG Interactive, Inc. (the Company's online division). In addition to its product lines, American Greetings also creates and licenses popular character brands through the American Greetings Properties group. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, American Greetings generates annual revenue of approximately $1.6 billion, and its products can be found in retail outlets worldwide. For more information on the Company, visit http://corporate.americangreetings.com.

SOURCE American Greetings Corporation