For Immediate Release:
September 30, 2007

- Gillian McCrostie first began producing crackers for sale from her Toronto card shop in 1995.

- The crackers are created in the Victorian tradition, filled with games, candy, Christmas decorations, treats and surprises.

- GillianCrackers are available in two sizes:

- Holiday Crackers are available also for Hanukkah, Thanksgiving, Kids, Cats and Dogs.

- Crackers are most often opened at the dinner table before the meal begins. The crackers are pulled by their snappers or holding the cracker ends. They provide a wonderful means of setting a light festive atmosphere. Some people prefer to open them on Christmas Eve or morning and wear their paper hats throughout Christmas Day.

- Contents: Handmade paper tissue hat, Christmas tree decoration, candy cane, puzzle with pencil and eraser, carols, ladybug or honey bee praline, confetti, seasonal joke.

- Available all year round: Birthday, wedding, golf, baby, easter, valentine, and Father's Day Crackers.

Customer Testimonials: www.crackers.gilliancards.com/customerfeedback.htm

Corporate Goals:
1) To provide old fashioned holiday crackers which provide festive family fun.
2) To renew and spread the holiday cracker spirit in keeping with the Victorian tradition of treats, surprises and entertainment.
2) To replace every empty, disappointing modern Christmas cracker on the planet with GillianCrackers Old Fashioned, Hand-wrapped Crackers.

HISTORY of GillianCrackers:

<< Several years ago I went shopping for Christmas crackers at a better known, quality retail store. Looking over the selection, I settled on a box with pretty papers and a festive look. However, after reading the contents of the box, I was horrified to see they included a pen knife!  For Christmas, can you believe it?. Looking more closely at other boxes I began to see that for the most part they were filled with plastic gizmos and un-festive junk, not at all in keeping with the original idea of treats, mottoes, puzzles and little gifts.
 

I immediately resolved to stop buying mass produced crackers and begin making them myself. I wanted my crackers to be filled with treats like the ones my Mom used to put in the stocking she lay beside my bed each Christmas eve. In it were pieces of fruit, nuts, candy and tiny wrapped fun surprises. Many people shared my thoughts about how tired and empty the modern day cracker has become; in many cases it is nothing more than a 'decorator' tube filled with plastic gizmos!  I received mounting requests from people asking me to make my crackers for their families and friends. After only one year I was already making hundreds of crackers for my downtown card shop. Continuing to expand the concept every year, I began to create these gentle old fashioned crackers for my feline friends, including in them, toy mice, catnip and tiny party hats!! This year I am including crackers for our Dog Pals again. I have also developed designs for Hanukkah, Thanksgiving, birthdays, weddings and valentines.

I began brainstorming about further developing the cracker line in keeping with the Victorian roots of the tradition when they were a lively source of holiday fun, family entertainment and included the all-important element of surprise. Victorian crackers were an event; an entertainment that people looked forward to with anticipation and that is what I want for my crackers.>>

For more information or to request images for media use, please contact Gillian:

Email: info@gilliancards.com or Fax: 801 720 5775