WICHITA — Self-described “Hallmark junkie” Julie Conner is now an official Hallmark card creator.
As Have You Heard? reported earlier this summer, Conner is the Wichita resident who won an online Hallmark competition for a card she created.
Now, Hallmark has chosen that card to produce and sell in Walmart stores nationally.
Conner also won an additional $250, which is what she won for the online portion of the competition.
She calls it “a drop in the bucket to what they’re going to make off of it . . . but it’s still cool.”
“For people like me who just want to have the notoriety of having written a Hallmark card . . . excitement is part of the reward.”
Conner’s card is based on a photo she snapped of her husband, Chris, on the teacup ride at Walt Disney World. His eyes were closing, which made him look as if he were about to be ill.
She used the picture with the caption: “Now that you’re older, it might be best to avoid the spinning rides. Hold on tight and have a great birthday!”
When her husband learned Conner had won with the card making fun of him, he offered a sarcastic, “Grrrreat.”
Conner consoled him by saying she’d put her winnings toward their next Disney trip.
Now that she’s won, Conner isn’t planning to give up her day job in the marketing department at Pioneer Balloon.
“I’m just excited that they thought my card was worthy of being printed and sold all over the country.”