Tyori is a brand by Tishani de Mel, a self-taught artist and craftsperson  who specialises in paper crafts – cards and party décor such as paper flowers and paper mâché items.

“I also make bespoke items from themed party décor to customised cards. This Christmas I’m making cards and upcycled gift tags, serviette rings, wreaths and even baubles from old Christmas cards,” Tishani told the Sunday Times Magazine.

“I’ve been making cards since childhood, and friends from all over the world wait for my handmade cards. Party décor is another craft I’ve worked on–from my children’s birthday parties to school dances and even the annual big match,” she said.

Orders for Tishani’s products can be placed through Facebook (TYORI), Instagram (tyori.sl) and WhatsApp (0754100371). Customers have the options of having the products delivered for an extra charge or picking them up from Tishani’s home in Kotte.

Chrissy Craft Boutique

Chrissy Craft Boutique is run by designer Nilushi De Costa, who graduated from the Colombo Academy of Design in 2015.

“The main motive of Chrissy Craft Boutique is to help people connect with their loved ones by being expressive and giving them ‘little things’, in an old fashioned way. We currently exist in a world where technology has a great impact on relationships and traditional ways of expressing feelings are gradually fading away,” said Nilushi.

She sells handmade and digitally –made cards, décor and crafts for all occasions, personalised photo frames, notebooks, handmade flower decor, wreaths, candle holders and other craft items. During the Christmas season she mainly focuses on making and selling greeting cards and handmade Christmas décor.

“I believe when it comes to unleashing our creativity nothing is off limits – we can use anything and everything including scrap paper, scrap fabric, old buttons, empty jars, twigs, stones, dried flowers, fruits etc. I also like to add beads and crystals to Christmas decor to add a touch of elegance,” Nilushi said.

At the moment Chrissy Craft Boutique is an online business but Nilushi has plans to open a physical store. Right now, she delivers to areas in the Colombo and the Gampaha districts, and is planning to add Kandy and other areas, in future. Her clients place their orders though Instagram (chrissycraft_boutique).

Dinelle’s Handmade Cards

Dinelle’s Handmade Cards is by Dinelle Munasinghe, a fourth year medical student and final year psychology student who makes and sells handmade cards with calligraphic writing, exploding box cards and framed artwork for clients. Upon request, items such as photos, clip arts and other items are used.

“Arts and crafts have been a passion of mine since a young age, winning me Artist of the Year in Primary School. Over the years, this passion has been a means of “de stressing” and I created an Instagram page to showcase my artwork. It was after I started getting requests for orders that it became a business venture,” Dinelle said.

From store-bought cardboard to scraps of paper, felt and cloth, ribbons, sequins, glitter and other accessories are used as well. She uses acrylics and watercolours for hand-painted cards and framed artwork. Her cards and other creations can be purchased through Instagram (dinelleshandmadecards) and Facebook (Dinelle’s Handmade Cards).

“Products can be delivered within the Colombo city limits but most often, a convenient location is selected where the customer can collect the product. Islandwide delivery depends on the postal service, so customers are advised to place their orders early,” she said.

Miracle House by Imz

Miracle House by Imz is an online venture by Imaya Perera who started making customised cards as a hobby to give her friends, and then realised there was a greater opportunity in it for her.

Right now Imaya and her team create greeting cards, invitations, explosion boxes and personalised photo albums. They also put together gift hampers for the festive season.

“We try to use eco-friendly materials and reuse and repurpose scrap material for our products,” Imaya said.

Miracle House by Imz currently operates through Facebook (Miracle House) and Instagram (miracle_house_by_imz). They deliver all their products to their customers.

Alpha Graphics run by graphic designer Ian Jason Daniel is an online graphic designing and printing service that creates visual communication materials for clients such as logos, marketing materials and advertising.

He designs and prints corporate stationery and business cards, wedding invitations and also customised postcards, badges and mugs, party props and seasonal products.

For the Christmas season he has introduced the “Holly Jolly” Christmas Card Pack with eight sets of different Christmas card designs. Each “Holly Jolly” Christmas Card Pack is priced at Rs. 500 and customers can choose from more than 20 unique designs for each set of cards.

Orders can be made through the Alpha Graphics Instagram page (alpha_graphics2020) Facebook page (Alpha Graphics), over the phone (075 293 2614) and through email: agraphicsstudio2019@gmail.com.