We use the term “card hospital” for the cards that have to be set aside for special handling. Our shippers have a lot to do, and often have to save up hospital patients for a time when life slows down enough to stop and fix some cards.

Our shippers repair the cards as best they can so they’ll last the rigors of shipping overseas and back again. Please remember that the card you make could be a family’s last contact with their hero. Use good cardstock and adhesive, make sure it will stay together, and produce your best work!

Check your cards for these common issues before sending them:

• Glitter; these cards go straight to the morgue to avoid contaminating other cards.
• Dark card bases without liners.
• Cards not stamped on the back.
• Cards without envelopes – oh my! That’s a naked card. Please provide cards properly tucked. We do not advise handmade envelopes, we’ve had too many that simply fell apart.
• Orphan embellishments falling off (not enough or bad adhesive)
• Card fronts (no card base) or fancy-fold cards with nowhere to write
• Inappropriate themes (new baby announcement, party invite, cards for daddy or mommy, welcome to the neighborhood, etc)
• Flimsy card bases (copier paper or lightweight patterned paper)

Download a guidelines brochure to get a quick and easy idea how you can keep your cards out of the hospital!

If you live near a shipper, you can volunteer to perform triage; occasionally the hospital overflows with patients and some extra helping hands are needed. We don’t ship hospital boxes for repair, as the cost is not worth the effort; but if you collect cards in your town, be sure to open your own triage center before the cards are sent in!