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.

Created by one of our assistant store managers, these make great kid’s party favor boxes — or a rainy day project for kids to make themselves. Come by your local Paper Source store to see this favor box created in person!

Materials needed:
Chocolate Pocketbook Favor Boxes
Chocolate Oval Scallop Cards
Cover Weight Paper in Eco-white and Strawberry
Brads in Chocolate, Pool and Silver
Scallop Paper Punch
1/8″ Round Hole Punch
Scissors
Gluestick

Instructions:
1. Fold and assemble favor box according to instructions in package.
Ears & tail
2. Cut one scallop circle card in half lengthwise and fold each down to create two ears.
3. Cut a half moon or u-shape out of another scallop circle card to create tail, folding end about 3/4″ to create an anchor.
4. Using 1/8″ hole punch, punch holes in the ends of each ear Read the rest of this entry »

I am loving our new rocket rubber stamp, one of many new stamp designs that we recently launched (no pun intended). It’s perfect for kids’ parties and is an image that’s timeless for year round use. Here we used it with our For Date Time Place rubber stamp to make a folded card into an invitation, with details on the inside.

Materials needed:
Rocket Ship Rubber Stamp
For Date Time Place Rubber Stamp
1/8″ Round Hole Punch
Versamark Watermark Inkpad
Brilliance Starlight Silver Inkpad
Metallic Silver Embossing Powder
Read the rest of this entry »

Here is a fun, easy way to do a 3-D homemade Father’s day card (this technique is great for a kid’s or baby’s room too). Start with our nifty 3-D craft letters, colored paper and some large photos printed on superfine white text weight paper. Our superfine paper works great with inkjet printers, and the matte finish makes it easier to glue than glossy finished papers.

Instructions:
1. To cover the front of each letter, trace along the outside and inside edges of the craft letters on colored paper (here I used sage). Read the rest of this entry »