Brides 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 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 of the wish box and drop them inside. What a treat it will be to open the wish box when you return from your honeymoon! A charming keepsake for you and your groom.

We used the three smallest Scallop Edge Kraft Boxes to make our wish box, which creates a cake that is about 9″ tall (excluding the ribbon loop) and 5 1/4″ in diameter. You can create a larger cake by stacking larger box sizes or even add more tiers. The boxes can be decorated in colors and patterns to match your wedding decor. A wish box also makes a wonderful bridal shower activity!

–Annie
PS colors: gravel & beet
Latest fave: Tree Trunk Tea Light and Japanese 8 1/4″ Scissors

Materials Needed:
How to PDF
Scallop Edge Kraft Box (extra small, small & medium)
7 Point Shape Hole Punch Read the rest of this entry »

This blog post has provided me with an opportunity to talk about two things I love: Our wonderful bindery department (yep, heard me right!) and the joy of learning to make handmade books. When I first came to Paper Source 7 1/2 years ago, our founder, Sue Lindstrom wanted to create our very own in-house bindery. She was interested then, as we are now, in creating hand-crafted products that speak to the core values of our company: use quality materials; pay close attention to the details; and above all, do it better than anyone else! All these years later, I am proud to say we are still making exquisite handmade products in our bindery at our headquarters here in Chicago.

Here are a few shots from our Paper Source bindery showing the items that eventually become the lovely photo albums, journals and guest books that you see in the stores and on our website. Some are covered in our Paper Source prints, some in our imported fine papers. And I couldn’t resist a photo of our imported German paste brushes that are so well-used, well-loved and last forever!

Now, if you’ve always wanted to learn to make books from scratch, then this blog post will satisfy that requirement too! Coming from someone who truly loves to make things with her hands (top of list are books), this next piece of information will make you very happy… this year we made sure to include on our New Year’s list of classes, a “how to craft an album or book by hand.” So, for all of you bookbinder wanna-be’s, this Saturday, January 30 ALL stores will be hosting a Fabulous Handmade Album workshop. We’ll teach you the in’s and out’s of making a 6″ x 8″ album by hand. You’ll not only leave with a finished album (plus get to be the envy of your friends), you’ll get to start the year off with a checkmark next to this one! Sign up while seats are still available.

Cheers & happy gluing!

–Linda
PS colors: chartreuse & pool
Latest fave: 2010 Paper Source Letterpress Calendar

We are thrilled to introduce the Paper Source 2010 Wedding Invitation Collection – now available in stores and on our website. What labor and love the teams here at PS put into the design and execution of this year’s wedding invitations. Planning our collection was not unlike planning an actual (BIG) wedding, just without the pretty dress, fancy cake and amazing party!

To kick off the development of our new wedding invitation collection, we began by creating an inspiration board. We looked at current trends in color, pattern, fashion and design, and gathered things we love – buttons, bits of lace and fabrics, branches and flowers. We also considered feedback from our wonderful customers about what was missing from our 2009 collection, and what they loved!

Much of this inspiration and insight eventually made it into the 2010 wedding collection in the design of our new embossed Faux Bois invitations; the introductions of curry and beet letterpress ink colors; the whimsy of the Carnival suite; and the much desired inclusion of black and white patterns and styles! In addition to beautiful wedding invitations and save the dates, we also created wedding guest books and rubber stamps that coordinate with many of our new designs so you can carry a theme throughout your wedding.

P.S. In planning your wedding, consider building yourself an inspiration board. You’ll have such fun doing it and it will remain a great reference for you throughout your planning process. And, when you’re happily married, it will be a wonderful remembrance of all the planning, labor and love that you put into your big day!

– Karen and Cindy
PS colors: moss & papaya and pool & red
Latest faves: India Calico File Folders and Dutch Woodcut Floral Wrapping Paper

Okay I’ll admit, the past few years I have not been so lucky in love. None the less, I am still a hopeless romantic, so I decided to create my own “recipe for love” Valentine cards using our Mini File Folders. Now this isn’t Hogwarts and these concoctions may not work, but it’s still so much fun! Consider delivering your Valentine messages this year in a creative package like this.

Most people put their recipes inside file folders, but these wonderful mini tabbed folders are actually great for printing on the outside. I printed my recipe for love on each (2 cups sweetness, 1 spoon of romance), then embellished them with Valentine rubber stamps and decorative hole punches. Tuck your Valentine greetings inside these folders for a private way to deliver your message.

Let me know what your ingredients are for love – I just might try mixing it up! Here’s hoping you have a sweetie to share a recipe of love with this February 14th!

p.s. If you’re looking more inspiration on valentine crafts, check out our new Valentine workshops in January and early February.

–Linda
PS colors: chartreuse & pool
Latest fave: 2010 Paper Source Letterpress Calendar

While 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 luke warm water. You don’t need to add soap to the water as long as you are using a water-soluble ink such as Color Box, Versa Mark, Versa Magic or Brilliance stamp pads. Spritz water onto the rubber portion of the stamp and dab with a paper towel. It’s important to dab at the rubber stamp, and not to scrub it – repeated scrubbing, even if not done aggressively may loosen the rubber from the stamp block. Although you can use water, do not clean your stamps by running water over them (e.g. in the sink) – too much water in contact with your entire stamp can degrade the adhesive that binds the stamp to the block eventually causing it to fall apart.

While no special supplies are required for cleaning rubber stamps, we do recommend two stamp cleaning products that make the process easier, especially if you use your rubber stamps often.

1. The Spritzer Rubber Stamp Cleaner is a pump-action spray cleaner that works perfectly with paper towels. Spritz some cleaner onto a rubber stamp (rubber side up in the direction of the spray) – be sure to spritz generously onto the areas that have been heavily inked. Once the stamp is moistened, gently dab (don’t scrub) at the ink with a paper towel. Repeat the dabbing process as needed until all the crevices are clean and clear of any residual ink.

2. Another great rubber stamp cleaning product is the Rubber Stamp Cleaning Pad by Rub-N-Scrub. This is especially good for lightly inked stamps. The surface of the cleaning pad is covered in soft bristles – dab your inked stamp against these (do not scrub or rub your stamp). We love this pad because it’s a green way of cleaning: the pad is removable and reusable, so you don’t waste paper towels as with other cleaning methods.

So, go forth and clean. Happy Stamping to all!

– Betsy
PS colors: gravel & red (and curry)
Latest fave: Desk embossers, Yuzen Red Pool Plum Blossoms Japanese paper and Yuzen Seagreen Orange Fish Japanese paper. Love them!

Make this zero calorie dessert as a delicious party favor for your next dinner party, ladies lunch or tea. With scallop icing trim and chocolate curls, they are lovely to decorate a place setting or stack them on a cake platter for a centerpiece. Also wonderful as bridal shower favors or decorations.

Use our PDF template to cut out each cake shape for easy assembly, and choose any colored paper to create your own combination of “flavors”…red velvet…strawberry…dark chocolate!

Sweet!

–Annie
PS colors: gravel & beet
Latest fave: Tree Trunk Tea Light and Japanese 8 1/4″ Scissors

Materials Needed:
How to PDF
8 1/2 x 11 Cover Paper (Superfine Soft White)
8 1/2 x 11 Text Paper (Shimmer Chocolate and Stardream Opal)
Xacto Knife or Scissors
Ruler
Cutting Mat (optional)
Bone Folder (optional)
Glue Stick
Scallop Scissors
Pencil

Getting Started:
Begin by printing the How to PDF and cutting out each cake part template. Read the rest of this entry »

I admit, I am a bit of a paper hoarder. I still have scraps of some of the very first decorative papers that I bought at Paper Source long ago. Chances are, if you’re reading our blog, you might have a bit of this problem yourself! I found myself recently in a dilemma with last year’s Paper Source Wall Art Calendar – in spite of the great templates printed on the back of each month to make gift boxes and file folders, I just couldn’t bring myself to cut up the calendar. But now that the 2010 Paper Source Wall Art Calendar is here, I think I’m finally ready to take the scissors to 2009!

Here are a few ideas of how I’m planning to re-use the 2009 calendar:
1. Use the templates on the backs of the pages, of course.
2. Use sections of the artwork to make greeting cards. With 12 beautiful designs to choose from you can create greeting cards for every occasion.
3. Frame it! The numeric calendar grid is positioned in the bottom right corner of each page, so the top section can be cut to size and framed as a piece of art. Or use it as a decorative matte for a photograph. Trimmed calendar pages fill the LP Album Frame quite nicely.
4. I love to use papers to wrap vases, pencil cups, Kleenex boxes, candle holders…you name it, I’ll wrap it!

I’m looking forward to enjoying the 2010 calendar artwork through the year, then making fun things again when 2011 arrives!

– Karen
PS colors: moss & papaya
Latest fave: India Calico File Folders

With so many Paper Source favor boxes to choose from it’s easy to see why we love sharing our countless wedding favor ideas. Though our favor box assortment means endless possibilities to us, we know that our customers can feel overwhelmed by all of the choices. That’s why we’re always developing new wedding favor workshops that provide you with a framework for your favor project.

At this month’s Wedding Favor Workshop we’ll share ideas and decorating techniques to get you headed in the right direction. By the end of the class you’ll have the know-how and completed samples to make creative decisions for your own wedding celebration! Our workshops are also a great way to spend quality time with your mother, future mother-in-law and bridesmaids. A real treat for all of you!

WHAT: Wedding Favors Workshop
WHERE: All Paper Source stores
WHEN: Saturday, January 16 from 11am-1pm.
HOW: Visit our workshop page to find your store & purchase your $35 ticket. (Save 10% when you sign up with a friend!)

–Linda
PS colors: chartreuse & pool
Latest fave: 2010 Paper Source Letterpress Calendar

With rubber stamps, labels and super cute googly eyes, making homemade valentine cards is easy as can be. Take this idea and substitute with your favorite Valentine rubber stamps and stamp pad colors. Be careful, googly eyes are totally addicting…you’ll be sticking them to everything before you know it!

– Claudia
PS colors: curry & fuchsia
Latest fave: Mini Magnolia Paper Flower Kit

Materials Needed:
4bar Folded Cards Pure White & 4bar Envelopes
Blossom Strawberry Cloud Labels Read the rest of this entry »