A Facebook app for greeting cards

In November, Hallmark announced it had invested in the developer of the SocialCalendar application for Facebook, and relaunched it as the Hallmark SocialCalendar. The SocialCalendar application (in November) had more than 13 million total users and more than two million monthly active users -- according to Hallmark. It is designed to help people "remember and acknowledge birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and other events and occasions." Kind of like the FB birthday reminder on greeting card 'roids.

As someone who is NOT a fan of most Facebook apps, but loves Facebook, I decided to give it a try. Not shockingly, it's completely unnecessary. Virtual gifts. Wish lists. Invitations. Doesn't Facebook already offer all of these tools already? It is, however, good to see Hallmark continue to further its online strategy. If anything, it leaves more paper space for us little guys.

Hallmark brings you Halloween in 3-D, sound

Overall sales are expected to be down, but greeting card sales should hold steady this Halloween and Hallmark is capitalizing on the trend with a new line of cards featuring "visual tricks."

As the cards are flipped open, a haunting image magically comes to life as skeletons dance and black cats cross your path. Sweet vintage-inspired looks and charming extras have been added to greeting cards that can double as holiday decor such as pop-ups, banners, shadow boxes and word garland.

My "visual trick" this holiday season involves 4"-spike-heel boots and a whip. I wonder who would win in a shoot-out?

Superhero-sized licensing deal

Marvel this week signed a long-term licensing agreement that allows Hallmark to develop print and e-cards (and other goods) using the comic giant's more than 5,000 characters from the Hulk to Elektra. Continuing Hallmark's recent trend of technology teasers, the announcement said the cards will "feature lights, sounds and other innovations." Someone please get on details of this, please.

Another twist: "A secondary purpose of the partnership is to include projects announced for domestic and international release that have not yet been covered by a major social expressions category. For example, recently announced feature films from MARVEL Studios (such as The Avengers; 2012), and animated television series' recently produced by MARVEL Animation, are now a part of the agreement."

All-you-care- to-eat e-cards

E-cards have their place (behind paper), but if our best wishes need to get there today -- Hallmark offers a subscription plan that allows you to send all the e-cards you want in a year for less than $10.

And if you don't already track all of your friends' birthdays on Facebook, there is a scheduling option too.

Take this card behind the middle school and get it pregnant

NBC Universal has inked a deal with Hallmark to "create a line of greeting cards that use content from the studio’s film, television and music libraries." In the lineup, "30 Rock" and "The Office" -- two shows with the best collection of one-liners on TV today. While I don't think that line "Tell her that you want your privates and her privates to do a high-five" will be spoken when you open a card emblazoned with a smiling photo of Tracy Morgan anytime soon, I hope it's at least ready by my birthday in December.