Papyrus recently introduced a high-end line of greeting cards under a separate brand name called Niquea.D. Most of the cards in the line command only a slight premium over normal cards ($7-$11), but a select few are made in France of Swarovski crystals, ribbon, and have a fabric base rather than paper, and are in the $20 range. All Niquea.D brand cards come with their own postage and a wax seal.
My impression of the fabric cards: equally beautiful and exciting as regular Papyrus cards, however not worth the 100% or more premium. The one above is for a friend’s birthday in a week. It’s eye-catching but not dazzling. Some of the other Papyrus cards I’ve bought and sent have been simple and gorgeous, making use of Swiss paper-stamping and glittering techniques.
Paper is one of my favorite subjects – and getting into the details reveals a wealth of paper types, weights, and embellishments. In my experiences at Paper Source, one of Papyrus’ competitors, their cards feel more homemade and are often humorous. There is a time and place for that, and those cards appeal to a certain kind of person. Papyrus feels glitzy and exciting, and is often direct and genuine, not humorous, which is more my style.
