1. Scrapbooking the Paper Source way!

    Many of you are much like me – you love being creative any chance you get, but finding that time can often be challenging between work, home, errands and well…life! We kept this predicament in mind when planning our highly requested scrapbooking class.

    At our Girl’s Night Out: Scrapbooking the PS Way (Thursday, September 16, from 7-9pm), we’d like to provide all you busy, artistic (and yes, those who think you’re not artistic) crafters the opportunity to treat yourself to a creative evening out. Knowing how busy your life can be, we’ll be teaching you fast, easy and lovely ways to build timeless scrapbook pages to last a lifetime.

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  2. Eat. Drink. And just BE married.

    A few weeks ago Cindy asked readers to talk about their wedding inspiration and the discussion showcased so many thoughtful themes. It also gave me pause: What the heck was my inspiration?

    Liz and Joe

    The Mister and I knew we wanted our guests to have fun, but we needed it to be a little more meaningful than the usual “Party at Joe and Liz’s.” We kicked around a dozen possibilities – my I-give-up-let’s-go-to-the-courthouse suggestion was nixed – and went with what made sense: a hometown Indiana celebration. (I know what you’re thinking, here come the corn, cows and country line dancing. Think again.)

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  3. Go ahead…color outside the lines!

    Part of the fun of being creative is having the opportunity to play with some old favorites, but in a new way. Faber-Castell Aquarelle Watercolor Pencils have long been a favorite of mine and I was thrilled when we picked up this set of 12 colors. Here’s an easy way to create fun stationery or note cards with just a rubber stamp, ink pad, Aqua Water Brush and these colored pencils. The five quick steps below will show you how to make any ordinary image a bit more like magic.

    1. Ink Your Stamp: Select a rubber stamp with some open space for fill in opportunities and room for things to flow outside the lines! This little Dandelion Rubber Stamp is one of my favorites. Ink up your stamp with Black Color Box Inkpad.

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  4. Mallaree finds the perfect wedding place cards

    When the new Squirrel Place Card Kit arrived at our Brookline store I just about squealed with excitement! (I might have made the Brookline staff a little deaf.) My fiancé has had a slight obsession with squirrels since he was little (or maybe I have the obsession with his obsession?), so I thought how adorable they would be as bride and groom place cards at our very own barn wedding! I dressed these up giving the groom a nice size rock to hand to his blushing bride. The fall colors included in the place card kit made them a very compatible and stylish couple!

    Squirrel place cards

    Unique wedding place cards

    Cheers to Paper Source and these new adorable and functional friends!

    –Mallaree, Paper Source Brookline Store
    PS colors: paper bag & sunshine
    Latest fave: Hydrangea Wrapping Paper

  5. Learn card making tricks from the pros!

    Like you, we know how much fun it is making cards for those special occasions, where your own imagination is the secret ingredient! This Thursday’s Creative Card Making Collection Workshop offers the perfect opportunity to roll up your sleeves and learn plenty of easy tips and tricks for layering, embossing, and fill-in ideas that will last you a lifetime. We’ll have an assortment of rubber stamps, ink pads, cards and envelopes to get you started – you’ll leave with a stash of cards and the skills to create even more on your own!

    Here are a few card samples using some of our new bold colors along with card making techniques we’re sure you’ll love! Most of these designs sprang from the creative minds of our amazing sample making “dynamic duo,” Annie and Claudia, who never cease to wow me with their clean and playful style.

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  6. With love from Whidbey Island

    Since it’s back to school time I thought I’d choose one of my favorite teacher appropriate cards and tell you a little bit about the company who created it. The card I’ve chosen is called Apples made by Salmonberry Studio on Whidbey Island, Washington.

    Salmonberry Studio Apple Card

    Salmonberry Studio is actually a lovely woman named Francy Kling Blumhagen. An artist for over 30 years, Francy got her art degree in painting from the University of Washington in Seattle. She works in a variety of media including block print, woodcut, collage, and wax resist. While Francy was busy creating art, her late husband, Bob – who I had the great pleasure of knowing before he passed away – ran the business side of their little publishing company. He LOVED their company with all his heart, and when Paper Source met the pair at a trade show several years ago, we began a long lasting and memorable relationship.

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  7. Printable place cards – the new wedding essential

    It’s no secret, the last few weeks leading up to your wedding can be surprisingly action packed! Even the most Zen personalities can find themselves overwhelmed by all the tiny details. It’s a story the wedding experts at Paper Source hear all too often. You may have booked the venue for your reception ages ago, but those last few straggling RSVPs have prevented you from completing the guest list. Before you know it your wedding is two weeks away and just thinking the words “seating chart” makes your temples throb. What to do? Where to turn?

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  8. Dressed up recycling

    The Design Department at Paper Source is a full of color and creativity, and you don’t have to look hard to see that the team really loves inventing new things! What I love about our space are all the little surprises that pop up – the creative things people bring in and add to their workspaces or to the general office area that create the inspiring environment that we are lucky enough to enjoy each day.

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  9. A most unusual paper collection

    Is it wrong to collect something that wasn’t meant to be seen? No, according to me and my Paper Source work mates. A few months ago I brought in my collection of security envelopes and tacked them to my inspiration board. Each day since everyone in the Design Department has been adding to the mix! They’re really quite beautiful and detailed.

    Security envelopes collection

    Some of the envelopes are duplicates so I made some origami with them.

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  10. How-to: customized cubbie

    We love how our wall bulletin organizer dressed up our work space so much that we created a coordinating cubbie to hold pens, notes and of course, our PS Swatchbook. Follow our steps to create a desk organizer of any size, and cover it in your favorite wrapping paper.

    Decorative desk caddy

    A great back to school craft to get your tweens and teens organized or spruce up your own desk (adults can celebrate back to school, too!).

    –Annie
    PS colors: peacock & paper bag
    Latest fave: Spritzer Rubber Stamp Cleaner and Rubber Stamp Cleaning Pad

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