1. Nature-inspired color combinations

    Farmers Market FlowersEvery Saturday morning I look out my 15th floor window to the tiny farmer’s market that sets up just a block away from my apartment. I can’t wait to walk by each stand to see the fresh produce picked just days earlier. But my favorite is the fresh cut flower selection. Many times I don’t even buy anything, but I still enjoy exciting my senses – the variety, texture, and infinite color combinations nature allows is inspiring.

    Read More

  2. Buyer’s faves for back to school — Gretchen

    l'apres midi datebook1

    This past Sunday I turned 37. How can I be 37? My birthday always makes me think of back to school time. I still remember being 7 or 8 and getting my new school shoes in early August and letting them sit in their box in my closet until I got to wear them on the first day of school. I would open the box every day to smell the new leather and would plan what to wear for the first day of school for about a month. Too bad I don’t get a new outfit and shoes bought for me every August anymore….boo hoo….being an adult is so hard! I am however excited to buy myself a new date book. This fall I’m going to buy the L’apres Midi Date Book. It’s so cute with little watercolor illustrations and French sayings painted throughout. It’s also really cool because it is an any-day diary, meaning it comes without specific dates. You just plug in your own schedule. It seems so happy to me and I like that quality in something I have to look at every day!

    Read More

  3. How-to: embossing on ribbon

    embossed ribbon favor boxAfter Linda (head of workshops) described this technique to me I just had to try it! Embossing on ribbon? Sweet! I think it works best with rubber stamps that have a clean bold image like this cherry blossom. Imagine how lovely this would be wrapped around a package or used to embellish an invitation.

    Be on the look out for cool (and free) in-store demos – this embossing on satin ribbon technique was featured in stores this month!

    –Annie
    PS colors: eco-white & pool
    Latest fave: 12″ Guillotine Trimmer — great for cutting large sheets of paper!

    Read More

  4. Buyer’s faves for back to school — Lindsay

    lindsay's bts favorites1 Sometimes trying to be environmentally conscious and still loving to shop puts me in a bit of a bind. We all have that one friend who claims to care about the environment but nevertheless drives a three-ton suburban mini-tank to her yoga classes, or happily sucks down 14 plastic bottles of water a day. Fortunately, in my ongoing quest to avoid being a total hypocrite, I have discovered a few gift ideas that we carry at Paper Source that are both environmentally responsible and attractive. One problem that I’ve always had with eco-gifts is that I love bright, saturated colors, but “green” items tend to be full of neutrals—lots of burlap and browns. Lucky for me reusable and colorful are becoming more and more popular.

    Read More

  5. A new take on the classic paper doll

    Haley's rainy day doll

    Haley’s rainy day doll

    We’re really excited around here about our new Paper Doll Kit. Our staff can’t seem to get enough of it–many of us and our families have been spending countless hours coming up with fun ensembles and paper doll characters (and their pets)– and we’re not done yet!

    We thought we’d start sharing some of the doll creations that have been circulating the halls here. (The dolls shown here were created by Haley, daughter of Rhonda in HR, with some help from brother Evan, and by our summer intern Tracy.)

    Read More

  6. How-to: fancy bookmark

    India-inspired bookmark In addition to being eye-catching, this fancy bookmark allows you to sandwich multiple pages to keep your place. Of course, the decorated front can be stamped with any image and embellished to your heart’s content — I went with an India-inspired theme.

    A great way to show your love of reading with a perfectly poetic statement!

    –Annie
    PS colors: eco-white & pool
    Latest fave: 12″ Guillotine Trimmer — great for cutting large sheets of paper!

    Read More

  7. Out-of-the-box gift wrap ideas

    creative gift wrap ideas
    Like all faithful paper geeks, my favorite part of gift giving is the wrapping. Here are two unusual techniques I like to use that often get a “wow.”

    Read More

  8. This weekend: free tips & tricks at Paper Source!

    Embossed ribbon favor box
    Did you know that you can create your own embossed design on solid ribbon? We’ll show you how– come check out our this Saturday, August 15 in stores to learn this simple technique for dressing up favors, gifts or invitations. Just stop by between 11am-2pm, no reservations required!

    Read More

  9. Desk embosser, woman’s best friend

    Gus

    Gus

    A typical day in my life:
    4:30am- get up, do yoga for ½ hour
    5:00am- take shower
    5:15am- walk dog
    5:30am- drink coffee, watch the weather, get dressed
    6:00-6:15am- leave for work, drop Gus off at Doggie daycare
    7am-6pm- WORK-WORK-WORK
    6:15pm- pick up Gus from Doggie daycare
    7pm- whew! Finally get home, scramble to find something for dinner
    7:30pm- eat dinner w/hubby, talk about Gus and what he did that day
    8:30pm- watch a little T.V.
    9:30pm- check my email
    10pm- go to bed….

    Read More

  10. The little calendar that could

    PS Mini Desk Calendar accordion

    At Paper Source, we’re constantly working to come up with interesting and beautiful ways to do calendars. Last year, we launched our first wall art calendar, a large-scale poster display of gorgeous saturated color. This year, we had a “paper engineering” brainstorm to come up with a fun new take on a monthly calendar– we were aiming for something neat and small, yet super utilitarian. And thus was born the Mini Calendar. It’s so multi-talented, we like to think of it as our little workhorse.
    Read More