How Are Recordable Greeting Cards Made?

First, the card is designed. The messages and images are printed on cardstock paper as if this were a regular card, except the inside right hand side of the card is left blank. Then, a separate piece of cardboard stock paper is cut to cover that back inside page. Any additional greetings or images are printed on the front of that small card. This will create a pocket in the card to hold the recording media.

The Recordable Chip

Next, a special recordable chip is prepared for the card. One part of the chip is a programmer, that allows you to record the message or music with the press of a button. Another part is a small stereo that creates the sound. A small, movable tongue is connected to a trigger that plays the music (similar to pressing the "play" button on a tape player).

The recordable chip is affixed to the card horizontally with one very small end stuck to the left hand side of the inside of the card and the rest on the blank right hand side. The end that is attached to the left hand side is connected to the tongue that triggers the music, so that when you open the card, the tongue pulls back and the sound starts playing. When you close the card, the sound stops.

Creating the Pocket

Once the chip is attached to the card, the separate piece of card stock that was set aside is now affixed to the back inside of the card so that it covers the recording device. Only the top, right, and bottom part of this top card is glued on, leaving the left inside part open for the tongue on the recordable device to move in and out freely.

Some recordable birthday cards are pre-recorded with a snippet from a song, but others allow the user to record his own message. In the latter case, a special "Press to Record" or similar message is printed on the paper that was attached to the right hand side of the greeting card. The message on the top flap is aligned so that it rests directly on top of the "record" button on the chip. The card must then dry completely before it is used or sold.

Sources:

David Twiddy "To Fight E-Cards, Hallmark Makes Recordable Greeting Card" USA Today 4/2008

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/2008-04-17-hallmark-recordable-cards_N.htm

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