Bonnie Wong's mission is to spread as much joy as possible. After working for years in corporate design, she set out to start her own business in branding and stationery. Having a love for the holidays, she found an outlet for her creativity by pondering the age-old question: what would my friends look like if they were animals? Hence, her first cards were born! They were sent out and her mission was accomplished—people were ecstatic to get them.

When she's not in a coffee shop—finding other ways for her critter friends to get into trouble on new cards—you'll find her in Homesense browsing for unnecessary sweaters for her dog, Bao (yes, you guessed right, he does hate them).

Despite her branding being of minimalist and simple design, she always believes in creating the beautiful out of the ordinary, bringing to life the stories of her clients through designs that bring joy to both them and their customers.

What’s your business’s origin story? 

It started two Christmases ago sitting in a local coffee shop. My excitement for the holidays built up as I thought about ways to make my friends and family feel special that year. My full-time design job was at a corporation and I wanted a creative outlet that was fun and intimate. My first holiday cards grew from an idea that would become a reality. The critters that graced the fronts of my initial cards were modelled after my closest friends (not sure they know that yet...) and how much I valued their relationships in my life. To my delight, my friends and family loved them, and I was content knowing a bit of me went into each card I sent. That legacy continues as my heart, joy, and appreciation gets printed on each card, hoping that same delight is brought to more and more people.

What is your favourite part of getting a letter or card?

That feeling of opening the mailbox and seeing a card gives me butterflies in my stomach. I start wondering who sent it and what’s inside. I sit with anticipation, slowly opening the card, being careful to not rip any of the writing or stickers, and I find a sudden warmth in my heart; I’m touched that someone thought enough of me to get me something.

What made you choose to work with stationery in the digital age?

Stopping to appreciate the moment. In the digital world everything comes and goes by so fast. As I hold a physical card in my hands, all my senses are engaged—I feel the texture of the paper, notice the smell of the pen, hear the sound of the envelope ripping, and experience the caring message that was handwritten to me. I get a moment to pause and be filled with just that card and I want others to feel the same way.

What is your favourite holiday and why?

I love the Christmas holiday season! Lights sparkle everywhere and that excitement is reflected in the eyes of everyone in the city. As snowflakes fall, the magic of the season makes my heart grow fonder for the people around me and our city.

What do you do to relax? 

Most weekends, you can catch me sitting in a cute coffee shop, sipping my flat white as I watch the world pass by. I take a moment to breathe and let the neighbourhood tell me its story. All I need to do is listen and then I create.

We’re so happy to have Bonnie in the Paper Hearts Pen Pal family!
Follow her at @bonwongdesigns on Instagram to see all her beautiful designs.