Exhibit 10-5

          EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") dated as of
November 1, 1996 by and between Robert E. Johnson, Jr., residing at 888 Upland
Drive,  Elmira,  New  York   14905  (the  "Executive")  and Artistic Greetings
Incorporated,  a  Delaware corporation with a business address  of  One  Komer
Center, P.O. Box 1999, Elmira, New York  14902 (the "Company").

          I.    WHEREAS,  the  Executive  has  served  in  various capacities,
including
Senior Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer of the Company since
October 16, 1995;

          II.   WHEREAS, the Company desires to memorialize  the  retention of
the  full-time services of the Executive hereby, and the Executive is  willing
to accept full-time employment for a period of two (2) years subsequent to the
date of execution of this Agreement (the "Execution Date");

          III.  WHEREAS,  the  Company  is  seeking  to  address the following
issues in connection with the Executive's employment with,  and  services  to,
the Company:

          1.    The  Company's  desire  to compensate the Executive at a level
sufficient to induce the Executive to continue  the Executive's efforts toward
the advancement of the Company's business; and

          2.    The Company's desire to provide for and fund a non-competition
agreement with the Executive to ensure the protection of its investment in the
advancement of its business under the management of the Executive.

          IV.   WHEREAS, the Company desires and  agrees,  in consideration of
the  objectives  described  above,  to employ the Executive on the  terms  and
conditions set forth herein; and

          V.    WHEREAS, the Executive  is  desirous  and  willing  to  accept
employment with the Company on the terms and conditions expressed herein.

          NOW, THEREFORE, the Executive and the Company hereby enter into this
Agreement   on  the  terms  and  conditions  hereinafter  set  forth  (certain
capitalized terms used herein shall be defined in Section 9 hereof).

          1.    EMPLOYMENT  AND  DUTIES.   The  Executive  shall  serve as the
Senior Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer of the Company or in
such  other  capacity  as  the  Chief  Executive Officer shall determine  (the
"Duties").  The Executive shall devote the  Executive's customary working time
to the business of the Company and shall perform  the  Duties  in  a diligent,
effective and loyal manner.

          2.    COMPENSATION.   The  Executive  shall  be  compensated by  the
Company (the "Compensation") for the services to be rendered  by the Executive
pursuant to this Agreement in the following manner:

          a.    A  base  salary  of  One Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand  Dollars
     ($125,000) per calendar year (the  "Yearly  Salary"),  which shall be (i)
     paid each week beginning on the Execution Date; and (ii)  reviewed by the
     Company  on an annual basis with increases of such Yearly Salary  granted
     to the Executive  in the sole discretion of the Company based upon, among
     other things, the Executive's  performance of the Duties during the prior
     period.

          b.    A percentage of 100%  of a Share Unit (as hereinafter defined)
     calculated from January 1, 1996 and thereafter.  A Share Unit is equal to
     the sum of 3% of the Net Operating Income (as hereinafter defined) of the
     prior year (if Net Operating Income is negative, such number equals zero)
     plus 12% of the increase in Net Operating Income of the current year over
     the prior year (a "Share Unit").   Net  Operating  Income is equal to Net
     Income before (i) interest and investment income (expense),  (ii)  taxes,
     (iii)   bonuses   and  (iv)  extraordinary  items.   The  amount  of  the
     Executive's percentage  Share Unit shall be reviewed by the Company on an
     annual basis with increases  of  such Share Unit granted to the Executive
     in the sole discretion of the Company based upon, among other things, the
     Executive's performance of the Duties  during  the prior period.  Bonuses
     shall be paid no later than March 15th of the following year.  Should the
     Executive be Terminated for Cause, no bonus for  the  year  in  which the
     Termination occurs will be due or payable.

          3.    BENEFITS.   During  the Term of this Agreement, and thereafter
as may be specifically provided herein,  the  Executive  shall  be entitled to
receive the following benefits (collectively, the "Benefits"):

          a.    Three  (3) weeks of paid vacation per calendar year,  or  such
     greater period as may  be  approved  from  time  to  time  by  the  Chief
     Executive Officer of the Company;

          b.    Health  insurance (Company pays 75% and Executive pays 25%  of
     the plan options selected);

          c.    Long-term disability insurance (Company pays 100%);

          d.    Life insurance equal to one year's base earnings; and

          e.    Contribution  (profit)  sharing  as  a full participant in the
     Company's 401K Profit Sharing Plan under the conditions  outlined  in the
     Company's plan manual entitled "Savings Plan."

          4.    TERM.   This Agreement shall be effective for a period of  two
years from the Execution Date (the "Term").

          5.    TERMINATION   OF   EMPLOYMENT.    "Termination"   shall   mean
termination of the Executive's employment with the Company prior to the end of
the Term, as of a date specified in a Termination Notice delivered by either:

          a.    (i)   The  Company,  for any reason other than the Executive's
     death, disability or for Cause or  (ii) the Executive for Good Reason, in
     either event, the Company shall (A)  make  Payment  (any amount due under
     this  Section 5 is referred to as a "Payment") to the  Executive,  within
     thirty  (30)  days of such Termination, of an amount equal to the product
     of (x) one-twelfth  of  Yearly  Salary  and  (y)  the  greater of (I) the
     remaining number of calendar months of the Term of this Agreement or (II)
     twelve  months;  (B)  cause  any  outstanding Stock Options held  by  the
     Executive to automatically vest as of the date of the Termination Notice;
     and  (C)  make  Payment  to  the Executive,  within  (30)  days  of  such
     Termination, an amount equal to  the  Executive's  pro  rata share of the
     Executive's bonus (as determined in accordance with Section  2(b) hereof)
     up  through the last day of the calendar month immediately prior  to  the
     date of the Termination Notice.

          b.    (i)   The  Executive  in  resignation at any time without Good
     Reason or (ii) the Company for Cause,  and  in  either event, the Company
     shall  continue  to  pay to the Executive the Compensation  and  Benefits
     provided for under this  Agreement  only until the effective date of such
     Termination;

          c.    The  Executive  as  a  result   of  disability  prior  to  the
     expiration of the Term of this Agreement, in  which  event, the Executive
     shall receive the Compensation and Benefits for the remainder of the Term
     of this agreement; and

          d.    The Executive in the event of an Acquisition of Control and if
     Executive  is  not  retained  pursuant  to an employment agreement  under
     Section 8(d)(i), the Company shall pay to  the Executive the Compensation
     and Benefits, within thirty (30) days of such Acquisition of Control in a
     lump-sum  amount  equal  to  the  amount  due therefore,  including  such
     Benefits as are described in sections 5(a)(ii)(B) and 5(a)(ii)(C).

                In the Event of the Executive's  death prior to the expiration
of the Term of this Agreement, the Company shall make  a  lump-sum  payment to
the Executive's estate within thirty (30) days of such death in the amount  of
the  present  value  (applicable  present  value  interest factor shall be the
Federal  Rate  described  in  Section  1274  of  the  Internal  Revenue  Code,
hereinafter referred to as the "Code") of the Compensation  and  Benefits  for
the remainder of the Term of this Agreement.

                Any  calculation  of an amount of Compensation and Benefits to
be paid under this Section 5 shall  be  made  using a rate of Compensation and
Benefits that was applicable immediately prior  to  the death of the Executive
or prior to the date of any Termination Notice hereunder.

          6.    LIMITATION  ON  CERTAIN PAYMENTS.    Notwithstanding  anything
contained  herein, if any of the Payments  provided  for  in  this  Agreement,
together with  any other payments of Compensation which the Executive receives
from the Company,  would  constitute  a  "Parachute  Payment"  (as  defined in
Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code), the Payments pursuant to this Agreement shall
be  reduced  to  the  largest  amounts  as  will  result in no portion of such
Payments being subject to the excise tax imposed in  Section 4999 of the Code;
provided however, that the Executive and the Company shall  mutually  agree to
the  amount  of such Payments as otherwise would be paid but for the foregoing
limitation of  this  Section  6,  in  equal installments such that the present
value (applicable present value discount  rate  shall  be  in  accordance with
Section 280G(d)(4) of the Code) of such installments will result in no portion
of  such  Payments  to  be treated as Parachute Payments under the Code.   The
first such installment shall  be payable when such amount would otherwise have
been payable; provided further,  however,  that  the Executive and the Company
shall  mutually  agree to the allocation of any reductions  required  by  this
Section 6.

          7.    COVENANT  NOT  TO COMPETE.  The Executive hereby covenants and
agrees that, during the period of three (3) years from the Execution Date (the
duration of such Noncompete Period  being subject to the penultimate paragraph
of this Section 7 (the "Noncompete Period")), the Executive will not:

          a.    For the Executive or  on  behalf  of  any  other person, firm,
     partnership or corporation, call upon any customer of the Company for the
     purpose  of  soliciting  or  providing to such customer any  products  or
     services which are the same as  or similar to those provided to customers
     by  the  Company.  For purposes of  this  Agreement,  "customers  of  the
     Company" shall  include, but not be limited to, all customers acquired by
     the Company, or contacted  or  solicited  by  the  Executive  during  the
     Executive's employment with the Company;

          b.    For  the  Executive  or  on  behalf of any other person, firm,
     partnership or corporation, directly or indirectly  seek  to persuade any
     director,  officer  or  employee  of  the  Company  to  discontinue  that
     individual's  status  or employment with the Company in order  to  become
     employed in any activity  similar  to or competitive with the business of
     the Company, nor will the Executive solicit or retain any such person for
     such purpose; and

          c.    Directly or indirectly, alone  or  as an employee, independent
     contractor of any type, partner, officer, director, creditor, substantial
     (i.e., 5% or greater) stockholder or holder of  any  option  or  right to
     become  a  substantial  stockholder in any entity or organization, engage
     within the United States  of  America  in  any business pertaining to the
     sale, distribution, manufacture, marketing,  production  or  provision of
     products  or  services similar to or in competition with any products  or
     services produced, designed, manufactured, sold, distributed or rendered,
     as the case may be, by the Company.

          The parties  agree  that  the Compensation provided for in Section 2
hereof, shall constitute fair and adequate  consideration  not  only  for  the
Executive's  services  to  be  performed  during  the  Term,  but also for the
Executive's agreement under this Section 7 for the duration of  the Noncompete
Period.

          The provisions of this Section 7 shall survive any Termination.   If
any  of the restrictions on competitive activities contained in this Section 7
shall  for  any  reason  be  held  by  a court of competent jurisdiction to be
excessively broad as to duration, geographical  scope,  activity  or  subject,
such restrictions shall be construed so as to thereafter be limited or reduced
to  be  enforceable  to  the extent compatible with applicable law as it shall
then exist; it being understood  that  by  the execution of this Agreement the
parties  hereto  regard such restrictions as reasonable  and  compatible  with
their respective rights and expectations.

          8.    CERTAIN  DEFINITIONS.   The  following  terms  shall  have the
following respective meanings when utilized in this Agreement:

          a.    "Acquisition of Control" shall mean:

                (i)  upon the sale or other disposition to a person, entity or
     "group" as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange  Act of
     1934, as amended (other than the Executive or a group which includes  the
     Executive),  of  shares  of  the  Company having 51% or more of the total
     number of votes that may be cast for  the  election  of  Directors of the
     Company; and

                (ii)    stockholder   approval   of  a  transaction  for   the
     acquisition  of  the Company, or substantially  all  of  its  assets,  by
     another entity or through a merger reorganization, consolidation or other
     business combination to which the Company is a party.

          b.    "Cause"  shall  mean  any  action  by  the  Executive which is
     reasonably  believed  by  the  Company  to  constitute:  (i) fraud;  (ii)
     embezzlement or misappropriation; (iii) felony;  (iv) moral turpitude; or
     (v)  willful or bad-faith conduct materially injurious  to  the  Company,
     other than as a result of the Executive's death or disability.

          c.    "Disability"  shall  mean  any  physical or mental incapacity,
     illness or injury that renders the Executive  unable to provide full-time
     services to the Company as contemplated by this  Agreement  for more than
     six consecutive calendar months.

          d.    "Good Reason" shall mean:

                (i)  an  Acquisition  of  Control  of  the Company and  if  an
     employment agreement, reasonably satisfactory to the  Executive,  for the
     continuation of the employment of the Executive is not executed; and

                (ii)  The Company's failure to perform in a timely manner  its
     material  obligations  under this Agreement, a reduction in the amount of
     the Executive's base Compensation  or  Benefits  or  the  breach  by  the
     Company of any other provision of this Agreement.

          e.    "Termination Notice" shall mean a written notice which:

                (i)  may  be  given by either the Company or the Executive for
     any of the reasons set forth in Section 6 hereof;

                (ii)  sets forth  the  specific  provision  of  this Agreement
     relied upon by the Company to terminate the Executive's employment  or by
     the Executive to resign from such employment;

                (iii)    sets   forth  in  reasonable  detail  the  facts  and
     circumstances claimed to provide  the  basis  for  the termination of the
     Executive's employment; and

                (iv)  sets forth a Termination Date (which  shall  not be less
     than 30 days or more than 60 days following the delivery of a Termination
     Notice).

          9.    NOTICES.  Any notice required or desired to be given hereunder
relating  to  this  Agreement  shall  be effective if in writing and delivered
personally or by certified mail, postage  prepaid, return receipt requested to
a party at the address for such party previously  set  forth in this Agreement
or to such other address as a party may specify by written notice to the other
party similarly given.

          10.   BENEFIT.   This  Agreement  and  the  rights  and  obligations
contained  herein  shall  be  binding  upon and inure to the  benefit  of  the
Company, its successors and assigns, and  upon  the Executive, the Executive's
legal representatives, heirs and distributees.

          11.   WAIVER.  The waiver of any party  of a breach of any provision
of this Agreement shall not operate as or be construed  as  a  waiver  of  any
subsequent breach.

          12.   ENTIRE   AGREEMENT.    This   Agreement  contains  the  entire
agreement between the parties and may not be altered  or  amended except by an
instrument  in  writing  signed by all parties hereto.  In the  event  of  any
conflict  between this Agreement  and  the  terms  of  any  of  the  Company's
employment   policies,  manuals,  or  other  statements  regarding  employment
generally, now  existing or hereafter promulgated, the terms of this Agreement
shall control.

          14.   PARTIAL  INVALIDITY.   The invalidity or enforceability of any
particular provision of this Agreement shall  not  affect the other provisions
hereof  and  this  Agreement shall be construed in all  respects  as  if  such
invalid or unenforceable provision were omitted.

          15.   APPLICABLE   LAW.   This  Agreement  shall  be  construed  and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

          16.   HEADINGS.   The  headings  contained  in  this  Agreement  are
inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.









          IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the  parties  hereto  have  duly  executed this
Agreement as of the Execution Date.


                                 ARTISTIC GREETINGS INCORPORATED



                              By: /S/ JOSEPH A. CALABRO
                                 Name: Joseph A. Calabro
                                 Title: Chief Executive Officer and President



                              By: /S/ ROBERT E. JOHNSON
                                 Name: Robert E. Johnson, Jr.
                                 Title: Senior Vice President Finance and
                                       Chief Financial Officer