Cheap Hallmark Holiday Card Studio (Software) (Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows 95, Windows 2000) Price

In addition to winter holiday cards, use the Card Studio to create newsletters, invitations, envelopes, stickers, and labels. The variety of artistic styles to select from is tremendous--you'll find everything from cuddly animals frolicking in the snow to wry and hilarious Shoebox greetings. And customization is a breeze, just a matter of choosing and clicking to combine a whimsical picture with a formal greeting. The Hanukkah section contains 14 art options, and Kwanzaa has seven; while that's nowhere near the number of choices available for Christmas-themed creations, it's possible to use the art and create your own greeting, or use general artwork and choose a holiday-specific greeting. For all creations, changing fonts, sizes, and colors is simple, and there's plenty to play with before making your final decision. E-cards are also an option; when used in conjunction with the stellar address book and event calendar, you'll whisk greetings off as easily as if you had a personal assistant.

Installation is a snap, although getting past those free offers from Internet companies is a bit annoying. Throughout the program, icons are large and clearly labeled, so it's easy to navigate your way through, with only a minimal chance of losing a card you've just perfected. Remember that your printer may not be capable of the same depth of color your monitor is--some of your artwork may fare better if put on a disk and transported to a professional printer. --Jill Lightner