For 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 Source accents. And since so many of you LOVED our Gingerpaper House Workshop for kids, we created a Sweet Handmade Valentine Workshop (with Mom or Dad) perfect for ages 7 and older.

Classes vary by store location – we’re so sorry if the class you want is not available at your local store! But don’t forget to check workshop schedules for surrounding stores in your area, or plan your own Valentine private party with just 4-6 people (call your local store for more information)!

Sweet Handmade Valentine – Victorian Fold (for adults)
The romantic at heart will love making the Victorian folded Valentines as seen in Martha Stewart Living. We’ll also decorate a favor box with rubber stamps and paper – a perfect way to present your handmade Valentine to your someone special!

WHERE: Select stores
WHEN: Thursday, January 28 – 6:30-7:30pm
The registration fee is $15. To register visit our Workshops page.

Sweet Handmade Valentine – with Mom or Dad (for kids)
Perfect for a Mom & me or Dad & me morning! Your kids will learn to fold a “fortune teller of love” Valentine and decorate it with our rubber stamps and accents. Then you’ll get to help them create a petal envelope to store their Valentine, using a heart boot punch, brads and string!

WHERE: Select stores
WHEN: Sunday, January 31 – 10:30-11:30am
The registration fee of $15 covers the cost of one adult and one child. Add a second child for $10 (two children per adult maximum). To register visit our Workshops page.

Check out what fun Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re having a New Years party or are looking for New Years activities for your family, you must make these glittery gold New Years party hats! CBS 2 Chicago (click to view) even featured them as a fun way to get kids involved at New Years. You could, of course, use this party hat design in different colors with different stamped messages for other celebratory occasions!

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

Materials Needed:
How to New Years Party Hats PDF
8 1/2″ x 11″ Cover Weight Paper (Eco-White & Shimmer Gold)
8 1/2″ x 11″ Text Weight Paper (Black & Shimmer Silver)
1/4″ Super Tacky Tape Read the rest of this entry »

Advent calendars are so much fun for kids (and adults!) – a festive count down of the days til Christmas. We were so excited to come up with a way to create an advent calendar using our Gingerpaper House Kit, so that kids could actually make their own (yes, with some help from mom or dad)! By adding numbered shingles to the house, you have a way to mark the days – and because the roof opens, parents can hide candy or little gifts inside, as a surprise for each day.

A great way to get the whole family into the holiday spirit!

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

Materials Needed:
How-To Advent Calendar PDF
Gingerpaper House Kit
Eco-White 1 1/4″ Circle Labels
Pool 1/8″ Satin Ribbon
1/4″ Super Tacky Tape
Glue Stick
Scissors

Instructions:
1. Follow the instructions included with the Gingerpaper House Kit. Read the rest of this entry »

We’ve turned our Pocketbook Favor Boxes into just about every kind of animal, so we knew we had to try a turkey for a fun Thanksgiving party favor! With just paper, labels, and tape or glue, these favors are super easy to put together. If you’re having little ones over to your house this Thanksgiving, use this as a kids craft project that will keep them entertained while you’re busy in the kitchen with the big bird!

Gobble, gobble!

–Annie
PS colors: gravel & beet
Latest fave: Owl Placecard Kit

Materials Needed:
8 1/2″ x 11″ Text Weight Paper
Chocolate Pocketbook
Eco-White 1.25″ Circle Labels
1/8″ Hole Punch
1″ Circle Hole Punch
1/8″ Super Tacky Tape
Glue Stick
Scissors
Pencil

Instructions:
1. Using tape, assemble the pocketbook favor box according to instructions.
2. Stick eco-white 1.25″ labels in place for eyes.
3. Print out our PDF template, then trace the feathers, beak, and other turkey components from text weight paper in various colors. Cut out pieces as indicated.
4. Adhere pieces in place with glue stick, as pictured.

My sister, a third grade teacher, is always looking for creative kids craft ideas. She recently asked me to come up with a fun project she could do with her students for Halloween. When I think Halloween, I think monsters, which led to these colorful paper monsters. The basic shapes are made from circle cards, printable labels, and scrap paper. For a fun dimensional look I combined two circle cards, folded the top card in half, adhered the top halves of each card together, and left the bottom halves free to create an open mouth.

The idea was to let the kids be creative when making their monsters, so beyond showing them some samples, they were free to add horns, eyes (however many they desired!), claws, teeth, etc. For finishing touches we used Stickles glitter glue as slime, warts, boogers…you get the idea.

The motto of this craft project: “No Rules, Anything Goes!”

–Ryan, Paper Source Reston Store
PS colors: moss & khaki
Latest fave: PS Printable Labels

Halloween is my all time favorite holiday, and I thought our paper dolls should get into the Halloween spirit too! I decided that our paper dolls had classic style and would probably choose traditional Halloween costumes…if they could talk, that is. So I made a Halloween costume collection that included a witch, mummy, ghost, pumpkin and devil.

I used a variety of different materials for the paper doll Halloween costumes, including chocolate brads for the ghost’s eyes, orange Lokta fine paper for the pumpkin suit and hat, and xmas red Stickles for the devil horns and dress accents. I created the mummy costume using soft white 1/4″ satin ribbon and tons of Zots to hold it all together. The possibilities are endless!

I had a great time creating the paper doll costumes, but my favorite part was making miniature trick or treat bags that perfectly match our Trick or Treat Bag Kit!

Happy Halloween!!!!!

–Lonni, Paper Source Annapolis Store
PS colors: papaya & beet
Latest fave: Envelope Liner Template Kit

It doesn’t rain very often in Los Angeles, so we don’t worry much about saving things for a rainy day. However, the skies do cloud over in Autumn. During such gloomy days, we’ve found that Paper Source kits are the perfect way to gather the family around the table – away from TV, Internet and video games.

Recently, my wife and I welcomed my mother-in-law, sister-in-law and niece over for a day of fun. When the weather didn’t cooperate, we ran upstairs to our craft area, pulled out the Owl Placecard Kit and a few other supplies (this kit only requires a few common items like a pencil, scissors, glue stick, and ruler). Seated together at a round table, I read out the instructions and, step by step, everyone made their first owl. After mastering the initial design, it was time for improvisation…droopy eyes, crossed eyes, different color combos, etc. Finally, we gave each of the owls a name like Dr. Hoot and Hootie Jr. The result was a fun family day indoors with our newest set of friends – the owls.

–John, PS customer
PS colors: curry & moss
Latest fave: Mr. T In Your Pocket & Snuffles The Dog

Who would have guessed that our new Paper Doll Kit would cause such a stir around here? The kids of Paper Source employees are showing their true creative roots in their continued excitement over our paper dolls!

Nicole (9) and Nina (7), daughters of Sally our CEO, have gone to town with their kits, literally. In addition to creating all kinds of outfits, they have spent countless hours building homes for their dolls adding table clothes made from origami paper and rugs from our French canvas fabric. While out walking the dog after having introduced the kit to some friends, Sally said a car pulled up and a little girl shouted to her daughter out the window, “Hey Nina, have you finished your curtains?!!” Word is spreading quickly in their neck of the woods!

Check out the girls’ bedrooms complete with bunk beds, tiny books on the bookshelf, and a painting hung on the wall! Who doesn’t stand around in their bedroom in their best bathing suit? Read the rest of this entry »

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.)

More to come — we hope you enjoy this new kit as much as we do!

P.S. A great tip from Crysia, the store manager at PS in Boston: in addition to the removable adhesive dots in the kit, try using Xyron repositionable adhesive for doll clothing and accessories– great for using those outfits again and again.

–Fabra
PS colors: gravel & chocolate
Latest fave: Teflon bone folder

Clockwise from top left: ballerina and go-go gal made by Haley; pilot made by Tracy; robin hood and redhead made by Haley and Evan.