When thunderstorms, heat waves or snow days keep the kids indoors lean on us to help you weather the storm. We went through our archives to find a few kid-friendly crafts that will keep you from getting caught in the rain.

Paper Source moms recommend keeping bulk packs, a Xyron machine and colorful pens around for stormy days. What do you recommend pulling from the craft closet in the event of a kid crafting emergency?

You spend hours creating the perfect nursery and you spend a lifetime nurturing that little being – now celebrate your new arrival with our exclusive line of stylish birth announcements. Parents may choose from 150 distinctive designs, including styles fit for a boy, a girl or twins. Each design allows you to personalize birth details and photo.

As you may remember, we invited PS Fans to submit photographs for our new line. From hundreds of lovely photographs, the Paper Source Design Team selected 50 adorable faces and a few of those babies can be found in baby announcements online, in our stores and in our latest catalog. Do you recognize any of these smiling faces?

Of the photos featured in our Facebook album, one family was selected at random to win a $100 Paper Source gift card. Join us all in congratulating PS Fan Lisa J., proud mom of the little one featured in the Softhand Type Birth Announcement featured above and in other baby designs on our website.

Be sure to head over to the Paper Source Facebook Page to welcome some of our littlest fans or customize an announcement online and Do Something Creative for Baby!

This month it seems we have a love affair with all things French! From Lauren’s experiences in the color-filled countryside to our recent Parisian-inspired bridal shower, we’re smitten with the sights and sounds of France. And, to top it off, tomorrow is Bastille Day!

Get inspired at the Bastille Day Crafter’s Night Out happening tomorrow night (July 14)! We’ll have wonderful crafts, including stamped favor bags, paper covered magnets, and baby envelopes and stationery using Cavallini papers. Enjoy creating with fellow crafters while listening to classic French music and nibbling on light hors d’œuvre.

Sign up, find out more, and discover other inspiring Paper Source Workshops.

–Linda
PS colors: paper bag & persimmon
Latest fave: Academic Great Big Calendar

It’s a wonderful day when we get to put our products and skills to use at the corporate office, and a colleague’s upcoming nuptials certainly gave us reason to celebrate. The store operations team surprised bride-to-be Stephanie with a day centered around her favorite destination.

Our team created a Parisian-inspired bridal shower that would remind her of strolling through streets lined by iron lamps, inviting bistros and romantic florals. Knowing we were limited to conference room fixtures, we focused on Art Nouveau elements and pastels to elicit a nostalgic charm. A Silhouette-produced sign celebrated the couple and favored subway text of the city; a fresh assortment of paper flower bouquets, each designed by associates from our store locations, was the focal point of the room; and the shower spread included fresh fruits, delicious breads, and rich cheeses. The halls were flooded with the sounds of Edith Piaf and everyone took in the delight of spending a day in Paris.

Join us in congratulating Stephanie and Ryan, and check back for photographs from her big day and their romantic honeymoon in Paris (of course!).

Looking for more ideas? Check out Lauren’s French inspiration post and photographs.

– The Store Operations Team
PS colors: sage & bluebell
Latest fave: Paris Map Cavallini Wrapping Paper

A PS Fan fan recently wrote in about a 4″ x 6″ booklet idea she was working on and, like many of us, the final execution of her project was unanswered – How was she going to secure the pages of her booklet?

Would it be snaps?

Could it be eyelets?

Or should it be brads?

Decisions, decision, decisions…

Sure, they seem too small for the fuss. But, take it from me, these embellishments add charm and function in their own unique way. To help her and others understand how and when to use each I created this quick-step guide.

Feel free to comment with other questions. I’ve tackled a lot of projects and have plenty of tips and tricks to offer the inquiring crafty mind.

Cheers!

–Linda
PS colors: paper bag & persimmon
Latest fave: Academic Great Big Calendar

Hey PS fans! Now you can keep up on the latest Paper Source news with our redesigned news section. Find out which PS items Martha Stewart finds inspiring, see the decorations Woman’s Day loves for the holidays, or locate that cool PS product you saw in the pages of Real Simple. Easily search by publication or recall old favorites by perusing our archives. Check back often and let us know how this section can help you Do Something Creative Every Day.