One trend that I am totally into is the selection of cute and funky aprons on the market right now. We have been selling the adorable ruffled bohemian aprons from Funktion for years, like the Gia Apron, which is very fresh and springy in yellows and pinks. Funktion’s owner, Tara flies to India frequently to mix and match all of the soft colorful cotton fabrics. We also have a cool Minerva Owl Apron and matching oven mitt, which has a little more urban flair.

Recently the most popular apron in our assortment has been the Cupcake Apron from Jessie Steele. While watching the trailer for the Sex and the City 2 movie I spotted Charlotte wearing the same cupcake apron! It is adorable and we even carry a matching oven mitt and child size cupcake apron too! (I wonder why they didn’t put her little girl in the movie in the matching apron – that seems so Charlotte to me!)

Check out the Sex and the City 2 trailer – the movie comes out this week!

–Lindsay, PS Buying Team
PS colors: beet & fuchsia
Latest fave: Lotus Flower Gift Wrap

Lots of great new items for summer are here and I wanted to tell you about a couple of my favorites! First, I love our giant roll of 1,000 Admit One Tickets. They’re super fun for all kinds of summer shenanigans from family talent shows to movie nights around the tv. Hey kids, it’ll be so fun!…when those adults pay you admission you can hand them a real, official “admit one” ticket! I think these would make really cute accents on a Valentine card, too. You know, like “admit one” to my heart sort of thing. Maybe that’s goofy, but I thought it sounded cute…good thing I have 9 months until Valentine’s Day to noodle on my idea.

I’m also excited to share this beautiful washi tape with our customers. Washi tape is Japanese masking tape made from washi paper. (Washi comes from “wa” meaning Japanese and “shi” meaning paper, and the term is used to describe paper made by hand in the traditional manner.) This first set is similar to one of our best selling Japanese papers, Yuzen Blue White Swirls Fine Paper, and comes with one roll of dark blue decorative tape and one roll of red decorative tape. This tape is easy to tear and has a slightly translucent quality. It’s great for card making, or tear pieces off to use as page flags…it might just become your new favorite craft item. It looks great on colored paper and kraft paper. The second set features a color similar to our pool, along with a roll of teal.
There are fun blogs out there about washi tape such as sideoats + scribbles where you can see that the possibilities are endless and it’s REALLY easy to use!

–Gretchen, PS Buying Team
PS colors: fuchsia & moss
Latest fave: Poppies Flower Kit

Father’s Day is only one month away, and let’s face it, dad can sometimes get the short end of the stick when it comes to sentimental gifts! Of course we know why… he would probably rather be watching a ball game (of some sort) or out fishing on any given weekend, but deep down he loves being remembered, especially with a gift from the heart!

What better way to say thanks to the Big Guy than to create a one-of-a-kind gift at our Father’s Day Workshop on Thursday, May 27. You’ll use our most unique “fish file folder” to create a clever and personal keepsake filled with photos, cards, and messages, reminding dad of those things he might not get to hear everyday!

Whether it’s for a husband, grandpa, your own dad, or a dad-to-be, we have all the ingredients to turn this unusual pocketed accordion into an embellished treat – complete with rubber stamping, glassine envelopes, stickers and a tiny makeshift fishing pole to remind him that you “hooked the best dad!” Read the rest of this entry »

One 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 and greens used in her wedding suite provided ample inspiration for this weekend’s bridal shower in her honor.

To keep with the bride’s theme, Lauren (hostess and maid of honor) used the Folk Ornament Printable Party Invitations, and tried something different with the Peacock Feather Rubber Stamp—by using food coloring and powdered sugar she created an elegant and edible glass plate design. Read the rest of this entry »

Before 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 own stationery set, and then filling them in later so you can hear all about their summertime fun!

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

Materials Needed:
How to PDF Read the rest of this entry »

For the past several years, I’ve been making “cake boxes,” putting chenille fabric, lace trims and other vintage baubles on craft boxes to resemble frosted confections. When I came across our Flocked Cream Fine Paper, I instantly recognized it as a perfect “frosting” for a cake box. With a few other PS embellishments, what a beautiful cake box it would make!

To begin, I took three sizes of our vanilla craft boxes and covered each with the fine paper. I then trimmed the edges of the lids—as well as the top center of the second lid where the smallest box would sit—with chocolate grosgrain ribbon. To have the ribbon resemble decorative icing trim, I applied the ribbon by doubling back and adhering it in small folds (about 1 inch wide) using a hot glue gun. I used Diamond Stickles Glitter Glue to give the icing trim a soft gleam. I trimmed the bottom of each of the boxes with straight chocolate grosgrain ribbon.

When the layers were finished, I constructed the cake by attaching the stacked boxes with a hot glue gun. I then attached the whole cake to a piece of cardboard covered in Silver Glitter Wrapping Paper. Now for the fun part of decorating! Using flocked cream and opal shimmer papers, and templates from two sizes of our Magnolia Paper Flower Kits, I made a collection of magnolias to drape over the cake. I glittered the magnolia stamens with adhesive crystals and Stickles Glitter Glue. For a finishing touch, I placed green leaf trim on the straight grosgrain ribbon by anchoring it every few inches with Zots.

The cake box made a lovely centerpiece during our Wedding Suites Girls’ Night Out in March. A cake box can also be used as a wedding wish box to hold cards given to the bride and groom, as a table decoration at a bridal shower, or as a gift box for a special occasion.

–Denise, Paper Source Princeton Store
PS colors: violet & bluebell
Latest fave: Printable Round Labels

I 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 them on all kinds of fun projects – creating stationery, using fabric paints to print on aprons, and making favor boxes for a friend’s b-day. So cute, if I do say so myself! Combine them with a few stamp pads and Cat’s Eye Inkpads for real creative magic!

The rubber in these stamp carving kits is so soft that it cuts like butter – not like the hard linoleum, which typically requires some serious cutting skills and a super steady hand. If you are interested in learning to carve rubber stamps for your own projects or to give as gifts (give them with stationery notes for a great gift set), then register for our Carve Your Own Stamp Workshop on Thursday, May 20, from 6:30pm to 8pm. For $25, you receive a full stamp carving kit, tools, transfer paper, assorted cards, envelopes and a favor box to get your projects started!

I promise you’ll be hooked, and will want to make custom stamps for all kinds of occasions!

Cheers,

–Linda
PS colors: chartreuse & pool
Latest fave: Circle Stickers and Presentation Envelopes

After weeks of anticipation we are thrilled to announce the winners of our first ever Facebook contest. Collectively the twenty-six Mother’s Day card entries perfectly celebrated motherhood, both the many different kinds of mothers and the many different styles of mom. From retro to whimsy the design inspiration will be permanently available as a Mother’s Day photo album on our Facebook page.

The winners, as determined by hundreds of fans who voted online, were asked to share a little bit about the woman who inspired their creation. Here are their stories:

Grand Prize Winner
Everything Grows In Mom’s Garden

My inspiration for this Mother’s Day card is my mom. She had the most beautiful garden in town while I was growing up. Everything grew in Mom’s garden including her children. Her garden is still as just as lovely, serving as a place for friends and family to gather and celebrate the bounties of hard work and dedication. Growing up in my mom’s garden has shaped me into the devout naturalist I am today, and for that I have my mom to thank!

–Tiffany Heater, PS customer
PS colors: strawberry & pool
Latest fave: Summer Magnolia Paper Flower Kit

2nd Place Winner
Grandma’s Roses Read the rest of this entry »

We never tire of hearing the line “We love your store!” Now you might expect this from our many brides and our wonderful following of designers and bookbinders, but the crowd we are both surprised and delighted to hear this from are kids! Our store associates can’t help but smile when they hear these exclamations…from little girls twirling through the store wearing their Princess Tea paper crowns. And little boys in their baseball uniforms, wearing crazy finger puppets as they rubber stamp and heat emboss at the demo table, offering a resounding “that’s so COOOOL!” And the birthday girl at a private party who wears a sparkly paper crown decorated with punches and labels who sings out “I wish I could live in this store!” And the young tweens who ogle the 12×12 display searching for the perfect paper to add to their latest project.

These affirming comments remind us of the first time we each fell in love with Paper Source, not to mention as pure evidence, watching many a “size 2 Mary Jane” go skipping out our door as if she had just left the Magic Kingdom. Ah yes, KIDS LOVE PAPER SOURCE!

As our way to show that the love affair is mutual, we are throwing the first ever Family Fun Day – Saturday, May 15. One hour time slots are available between 10:30am and 2pm. Don’t worry Mom and Dad, we’re offering various time slots so you can decide which one hour experience best fits your schedule. So go ahead and get in the morning soccer game, perhaps a horse back riding lesson, or round up the kids from the sleepover the night before, and then head on over to your local Paper Source store for some creative fun. Read the rest of this entry »