2010
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The ultimate PS color guide
Meg KowieskiOur new swatchbooks have arrived and with them our yummy new colors, peacock, persimmon, sunshine and paper bag. We’re all about color here in the Design Department, and there is a certain giddy vibe that comes over us when the new swatchbooks are ready. It’s sort of like the satisfaction of…
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Paper ribbon made with love
paperNow we love our double-faced satin ribbon dearly, but it’s nice to bring different ribbon styles into the mix and we’re thrilled to have new paper ribbon. These gorgeous biodegradable ribbons are made from 100% cotton that is responsibly grown and dyed in the USA. The ribbons can be…
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How-to: wall bulletin organizer
Meg KowieskiI may not be heading back to school with a fresh supply of notebooks or have a locker in dire need of personalization, but that doesn’t stop my urge this time of year, to get organized. And of course, in the prettiest way possible! This cheery bulletin board made with our brand new Marigolds…
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How-to: camp stationery
Meg KowieskiBefore the kids head off to summer camp, squeeze in some craft time to create this camp stationery set. Note cards, envelopes, address labels and postage stamps are all neatly packed inside a little backpack, which you can add to their favorite stuffed animal! Kids will have a fun time making their…
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Extra special stationery for a first-time camper
paperMy oldest daughter just went to sleep-away camp for the first time. It’s a big deal for both of us – she’s a bit reserved and home-based, and I like having her around! Of course I wanted to send her off with materials to write our family lots of letters (we’re five days in…
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PS Real Weddings: Laurel
paperWe were so excited when our Atlanta store manager, Carol, shared this wonderful wedding invitation with us. Her customer, Laurel, a Graphic Designer from that area, put this clever, colorful invitation suite together for her wedding in Vegas! Here’s her real wedding story: When Brayden (a Las Vegas…
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Bridal shower invites – handy registry cards
paperI recently helped my mom make bridal shower invitations for a bride-to-be who will be getting married in Costa Rica. My mom wanted a subtle tropical theme and a unique wedding invite that she could design on her own. We browsed the wedding inspiration boards at the Evanston store for ideas, and…
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Go ahead…color outside the lines!
paperPart 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…
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Buyer’s favorite: Stocking stuffers for all ages
paperAt my house the stockings have always been my very favorite thing at Christmastime, both opening mine and shopping for them. And, here at Paper Source, we have tons of great items for stockings, from candy to toys to little coin purses. Even glitter or stamps make great stocking stuffers! The…
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From house pet to holiday card
paperInspiration comes from anywhere and anything, and in the case of this Valentine’s Day card it came from Fabra’s adorable Boston Terrier, Archie! As the intern here at Paper Source, I’ve gotten the chance to observe the unexpectedly extensive process that one simple greeting card design goes…
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Will you be my bridesmaid?
Meg KowieskiWhen it comes to weddings, popping the question is no longer just the groom’s responsibility. The tradition has taken new form, as brides begin to more formally ask their dearest friends, “Will you be my bridesmaid?” A simple and sweet question that’s been asked for years,…
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New PDF templates for printable labels
paperOur printable labels are popular with Paper Source customers because their uses are endless. They make lovely mailing labels, but can just as easily be used for names on school cubbies, card making, or perfecting a scrapbook. You can even achieve total organization for your pretty as a picture…
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How-to: tissue pomettes
Meg KowieskiWe love these easy Halloween decorations for doorways and hallways. Our tissue paper pomettes (mini pom-poms) can be done in any color for any occasion – here the combination of black and poppy adds a touch of Halloween flair. Spooky fun! –Annie PS colors: peacock & paper bag Latest…
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How to make envelope liners
Meg KowieskiFor those of you who have tried it, you know, lining envelopes are oh, so satisfying! It’s an easy, instant upgrade to wedding invitations, stationery, and greeting cards, and even if you claim you’re not crafty, you will be able to do this. You can use almost any paper imaginable to make envelopes…
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Carve your own stamps…magic!
paperI am just crazy about carving my own stamps – especially with soft Speedball stamp blocks. I used a Speedy Stamp Carving Kit and a few extra stamp blocks to create the two designs shown below. I drew the flower and lined notebook page designs, then carved them out. Since then I have used…
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Easy centerpieces
paperI had friends over for dinner the other night and needed a quick and easy centerpiece. To update regular glass vases, I looked to my stash of wrapping paper. Inspired by Fabra’s idea of covering milk cartons with paper to make unique vases, I thought wrapping my vases in a colorful print…
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How-to: button baby banner
Meg KowieskiWelcome baby with a banner that’s cute as a button! You can easily customize the colors using any combination of our circle cards and labels. Further personalize by changing the message on the banner – use baby names or special greetings. Makes for great nursery décor too! –Annie…
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How-to: Pretty printable place cards
Meg KowieskiI love the ease of our printable place cards, especially during this busy, bustling, holiday season…it allows just enough time for me to get my craft on! An edging of ink color from a rubber stamp ink pad and a simple raffia bow adds that perfect dash of warmth to my Thanksgiving table. Bon…
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Introducing… our 2011 calendar collection!
Meg KowieskiFor the design team, working on the Paper Source calendar collection is a true joy and privilege. Having all of us work on the 2011 calendars results in a creative variety of design and illustration styles, tied together in look and feel by the PS color palette. Like clever little squirrels, we…
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How-to: easter egg cups
Meg KowieskiThese sweet egg cup holders will make an adorable addition to your easter table or spring gathering. Nestle ready-to-eat hard cooked eggs inside or proudly display the dyed and decorated variety. Another great tip – use them as place card holders! Just make the grassy coil tighter, write…
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Handmade paper from a far away place
paperWe are well known for our collection of high quality fine papers – but how much do you know about how they are made? Some of our best selling Lokta papers – Black and White Paisley and Gold Mums on Cream – are hand-crafted by Nepalese artisans. The material used for making these…
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Handmade Gifts (with PS crafting tips)
paperThe holidays are quickly approaching, and it’s my favorite time of year to be more creative with my handmade gifts… let’s face it, handmade gifts are just the best! Being an avid bookbinder and box maker, I get dreamy eyed thinking about how I will invent something fun using our bookbinding kits.…
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How-to: Little snowman holiday card
Meg KowieskiOur 12×12 sheets aren’t just for scrapbooks! Make this jolly lil’ fellow using our new “Button Nose Snowman” 12×12. It’s the perfect project for the snowman lover in us all! The page is filled with these frosty friends in all different shapes and sizes. Cut…
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Invitation inspiration
paperOh boy! Baby fever continues and this time it is my oldest, dearest friend who is expecting a little bundle of joy. Her first! And, like a good crazy “Aunt” Liz, the news prompted me to send her a litany of whimsical nursery room decorating ideas for welcoming baby Grayson. My best…
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Paper Source Workshop: Adults & Kids Valentines Classes
paperFor our Valentine workshop this year, we had a hard time deciding between a kids class or an adult class…so we created both! For our hopelessly romantic Girls Night Out gals, we have a workshop in which we’ll share our love of Victorian folded Valentine creations embellished with Paper…
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Rubber stamping with powdered sugar
paperOne of the most stylish gals I have ever met is getting married in June, so it was not surprising to receive a gorgeous peacock-inspired wedding invitation, which set the tone for what is sure to be a beautiful night in the Virgin Islands. There was also no surprise in discovering that the blues…
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How-to: recycled origami hearts
Meg KowieskiIn honor of Earth Day tomorrow, we came up with these adorable origami hearts made from our own catalogs. This recycled craft really says, “I heart the planet.” In just six simple steps you can fold old catalog and magazine pages, even shopping bags, into wonderful decorations. String a…
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Get into the spirit at our Free Holiday Open House – Join us tomorrow!
paperCome the holidays we feel a little like Mrs. Claus. We get to pull back the curtain on the toy room at Paper Source, showing off what our proverbial “elves’” have been busy creating! This year is particularly exciting. Along with all the great gifts and kits in our stores this season, we also…
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Feeling gifty with 300 nifty new items!
paperAs a long time fan, and first time employee of Paper Source, I felt like a journalist with an incredible scoop when the batch of new products arrived at my desk last week. More than 300 goodies not yet seen by our customers, ooo la la! The gift giver in me instantly started indexing items... The…
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Spooky sandwiches – Four frightening ways
paperYes, I am an adult. And, yes, I love Halloween. Admittedly, I am not much of a seasonal decorator, however, I do play hostess to an annual Halloween party where I try out crafty tricks and treats, one of my favorites being the graveyard of sandwiches. The original idea called for an assortment of…
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Bellevue store discovers a new craft – needle felting!
paperNeedle felting is a fun crafting technique that gets a little less of the spotlight than others. But there are endless possibilities to what you can make, once you know the basics. I learned this new technique making a soft sculpture using the beginners needle felting kit (Flower Felting Pin Kit).…
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Easy DIY holiday decor using PS fall kits
Meg KowieskiRecently I came across this image on the Martha Stewart Living website and fell in love! But it also inspired me to point out an easy DIY solution. Using the Paper Source Fall Leaf Wreath Kit or Die Cut Fall Leaves as a templates, you could make this beauty out of old books, sheets of... The post…
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Buyer’s favorite: Holiday cards & crafts
paperIt is so warm here in Chicago. It hardly feels like it is almost Thanksgiving! In fact, it feels a little weird to talk about my favorite holiday products when I didn’t even wear a coat to work, but here goes… For crafting, a couple super-easy, but super-impactful items are the Snowflake Trim…
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How-to: wedding cake wish box
Meg KowieskiBrides are always looking for unique wedding ideas, and we think we have just the thing! This wedding cake wish box is the perfect addition to a wedding guest book table or to display on the way into the reception area. Guests can write well wishes onto small slips of paper, then open the lid...…
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How to clean rubber stamps
paperWhile it might seem obvious, cleaning rubber stamps does need to be done and with care to prolong the life of your stamps. Whether you’re an avid stamper or just a periodic user, you should learn how to clean rubber stamps. A simple way to clean rubber stamps is by using a spray bottle with... The…
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How-to: colorful birthday banner
Meg KowieskiAt Paper Source headquarters, here in Chicago, the winters are long and a bit bleak. So, a little color is always welcome. For one of the first birthdays of the year we created a colorful banner – Estela was so surprised to get her very own rainbow birthday banner! This was created by simply…
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Learn card making tricks from the pros!
paperLike 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…
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Wedding menu ideas
paperIn addition to centerpieces, wedding place cards, dinnerware and custom wedding napkins, wedding menus are staples of a wedding reception table. Not only do they wet your guests’ appetites by listing the culinary elements of the meal, menu cards offer another opportunity to present your wedding…
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How-to: Whimsical bow
paperAs a Paper Source employee, my friends and family expect the gifts I give to be wrapped in a creative, interesting way. Here, I did just that, taking some great new holiday 12×12 to make this whimsical bow. The nice thing about 12×12 is that most of the sheets are double-sided (they are…
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How-to: 4th of July decorating
Meg KowieskiIf you’re throwing a bbq or pot luck for the upcoming holiday weekend, use these easy 4th of July decorating ideas to make your gathering extra special with patriotic touches made from paper. A festive banner done in red, eco-white and blue (I mean, lake!) will add instant charm to your…
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Letterpress Machine…tell me more!
paper“Letterpress is undeniably special and luscious. This print method originated in the 15th century and is known for its timeless beauty and rich, tactile feel. Type and image are impressed into the paper through the pressure of a clam-shell-like printing press, resulting in a luxuriously…
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Personalized Invitations with Santana Row and “Home with Lisa Quinn”
paperOur Santana Row store manager, Linda Kaiser, did a wonderful job hosting the Live Well Network’s “Home with Lisa Quinn,” demonstrating three great party invitation ideas! Have a look at the simple projects she shared using our cards, rubber stamps, favor boxes, and table tents: …
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Spring has sprung new Paper Source stores!
Meg KowieskiWe are all in a scurry here…this spring brings new Paper Source stores and there’s a lot to do before opening day! Our first two new stores this year are in Corte Madera, California opening in June and Houston, Texas opening in July…and when they do, they will have lush, colorful paper…
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Work at Paper Source for the holidays!
paperHappy Holidays! Yes, here in the Paper Source Recruitment Department I am focused on getting our stores staffed for the busy holiday season. I love reading blog entries written by our staff that start with “I have the best job ever!” I have to agree, and in my role as Field Recruiter, I get the...…
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Paper Wedding – February 20 & 21
paperThis year celebrates the 5 year Anniversary of our signature Bridal Event—Paper Wedding! To give you some background on the events’ inception we have to reflect upon the notion that “Good things come in small packages.” Indeed, it was our wonderful little store in Kansas City that…
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Scrapbooking the Paper Source way!
paperMany 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:…
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Mallaree finds the perfect wedding place cards
paperWhen 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…
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Holiday Cards & Tags – inspiring creative workshop TODAY!
paperOur customers have been raving about our most recent Holiday Card Making event, so we added another to the schedule to keep the inspiration coming! Trust me when I say that this October 21st class should bring your holiday greetings to life. You will get to play with some of our new products…