The cards
What you're holding.
Are these cards actually handmade?
Yes. Every card is hand quilled in our studio in Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
90%+ of each design is built by hand, in quilled paper. Two to three artisans collaborate on every card, so no single person builds one alone.
Does one artisan make the whole card?
No. Two to three specialists collaborate on every card.
Each artisan specializes in a quilling technique, such as line placement, filling or assembly, and is skilled across several. No single person builds a card alone. Read more on our artisans page.
How long does it take to make one card?
Roughly 120 minutes per card on average, across two to three artisans.
More intricate designs take longer. The build time for each design is documented on its product page. See how a card is made.
What size are the cards?
Each card is 5 by 5 inches, square, built on 300gsm white card stock.
The square format fits a standard photo frame if the recipient chooses to keep it on display.
Can I write my own message inside?
Yes. The inside of every Vonderly card is blank.
Some designs carry a short printed wish on the cover top in calligraphic script, such as "Happy Birthday" or "Thank You", which is always stated on the product page. The inside is always left for your words.
Shipping and Delivery
From Jaffna to your door.
01. What is paper quilling?
Quilling is the craft of rolling, shaping and gluing narrow strips of paper into coils, scrolls and petals, then arranging them into a raised design.
Each shape is formed by hand. On a Vonderly card, hundreds of these shapes build the artwork in three dimensions.
02. Are these handmade, or just made to look it?
Every visible quilled element is cut, coiled, shaped, glued and placed by hand by artisans in Jaffna.
The base carries faint guideline marks that the finished quilling covers completely. Some cards also include a small wish set in calligraphic script on the cover top, which we always state on the product page. The inside is always left blank for you to write.
03. How many people work on one card?
Two to three artisans build every card.
Each specializes in quilling techniques such as line placement, filling or assembly, and most are skilled across several, so no one builds a whole card alone. Each finished card is then inspected by Kirushanthi, our creative head, after the quality-check team.
04. How long does one card take?
Around 120 minutes on average.
That time is spread across the two to three artisans who build it. Complex designs take longer. Cards are made in editions, never in runs.
The cards
What you're holding.
01
Are these cards actually handmade?
Yes. Every card is hand quilled in our studio in Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
90%+ of each design is built by hand, in quilled paper. Two to three artisans collaborate on every card, so no single person builds one alone.
02
Explored
The creative team works it up in different colors and styles until the strongest version is clear.
03
Prepared
One master design is chosen. Papers are cut and the base cards printed in bulk, ready to build on.
04
Built
Two to three artisans add their work by technique. No one builds a whole card alone.
05
Inspected
The quality team reviews each card, then Kirushanthi inspects every one herself before it moves on.
06
Packed
Boxed in recyclable kraft, ready to ship from our Jaffna studio.
What is inside
What is actually in Jaffna.
Every Vonderly card is built from the same short list of materials. Paper, adhesive, a heavyweight base, and the hands that put them together.
i.
The base
ii.
The quilling
iii.
The adhesive
iv.
The wish, where present
v.
The packaging
The quilling
What quilling is.
◉
Coiling and shaping
A strip is wound tight, then loosened or pinched into a teardrop, leaf or eye shape.
∞
Chains and scrollwork
Ends are curled into open scrolls and S-shapes that build the flowing borders and frames.
▩
Line and Filling
Fine lines and filled lattice work the space between elements. Our first series, Filigree, is built on this.
⎯⎯ Made to be felt ⎯⎯
We could print these in minutes. But we choose to build them by hand.
Still have a question?
