Image from NBC

Earlier this month, TODAY Show correspondent Jenna Bush Hager and her soon-to-arrive firstborn were honored by the NBC family. Her NBC co-hosts and friends threw a book themed baby shower at the Peter Callahan Catering Studio in New York. With a theme centered around books and words of wisdom, the event included a few key accents from Paper Source.

Image from NBC

Jenna’s four-tiered diaper cake was wrapped in Burlap Ribbon, draped in peaceful Olive Leaves, accented with our Burlap Flowers, and topped with the ever-popular Sophie the Giraffe.

Image from NBC

The hosts tied in an alphabet element by hanging kraft letters with burlap ribbon for an educational and adorable accent to the day’s events.

Image from NBC

Gifts and wishes were offered to mom and baby in the form of books! Inside covers were signed by friends in good humor and wisdom, a trend that is likely to start a bookworm baby boom. Journals and books are a fun and unique way to share moments with friends, loved ones and newborns!

Image from NBC

Favors were presented in burlap bags, which complimented the diaper cake perfectly. Guests were given a few seasonal treats like earrings and nail polish. The items were stuffed with Paper Source Wasp printed tissue paper and tied off with decorative ribbon from our collection.

We were excited to see how our products inspired this special event and even more tickled to learn that Jenna, Henry and their families welcomed Margaret Laura ‘Mila’ Hager to the world this weekend. We look forward to the creative celebrations that follow!

Throwing a shower of your own? See other baby shower ideas from Paper Source.

Spring has sprung. Hop on over to our website, or find a store near you, to take a gander at our selection of gifts and crafts that were hand-picked for the season.

Easter is March 31! Celebrate with this egg-stra special garland! Decorate and display the Egg Garland Kit on a wall, mantel or doorway.

This colorful garland is 10 feet long and features 12 eggs, each 4 1/2″ x 6 1/4″. The kit includes pre-cut shapes, papers, ribbon, stickers and templates for creating our sample… but it’s also fun to customize with your own style using paper cuts, stickers and other embellishments.

You can even grab individual die-cut eggs for additional accents or coordinating craft ideas.

This Easter craft is a colorful addition to any home and the perfect kit for beginners or the time-strapped crafter.

See this and other Easter Kits online.

If you enjoy handmade creations — crafts that give you a chance to add your own personal style — we have Easter card making ideas online, like the egg, chick and carrot cards featured above.

The Easter egg cups (also shown above) are easy to modify with your favorite PS colors and embellishments. Find this and other craft inspiration on the PS Blog.

Springtime always makes us crazy for daisies! The Daisy Wreath Kit is the perfect accent to mark today’s changing season. Crisp white daisies paired with clover green leaves feel spring fresh.

Make this wreath on a rainy afternoon and enjoy the cheer it brings! Adorn your front door, hang above a mantel or display in a window.

Daisy inspiration extends to our custom products too! Shop a variety of invitations, stationery and gifts featuring this happy sign of spring. We even have a few fine paper varieties that show off this lovely bloom.

See these and more daisy-inspired products online.

Today also brings Spring showers… and not just rain showers that offer ample time to craft and create. Many of our customers are also looking for baby, bridal and wedding shower gifts. Shop by recipient, category or price easily from our new Gifts page. Or, ask an associate at your local store for assistance. We’re always happy to help you create something unique.

The holiday season is a perfect time to craft with friends, kids, or to explore creative ideas independently. Last weekend one of our own Paper Source family members hosted an annual Mother-Daughter Holiday Crafting Tea at her home. With treats upstairs and creativity downstairs, the setting was ripe to organize a knock-your-socks-off craft that would be simple and fun for kids of a range of ages, yet interesting and sophisticated enough for parents. She also really wanted the final presentation of the craft to have that “wow” factor!   

Materials:

Instructions:

There are endless ways to get playful with creating different looks- more traditional or whimsical-depending on your choice of paper selection and size, patterned assembly, color choices, paper loop size, etc.

These trees look stunning in multiples of the same or varying heights! Group them on your mantel, feature them as holiday table décor, give it as a gift…this craft is sure to impress all! But not only that, a Holiday “Crafternoon” Tea is a wonderful new tradition to start that brings kids and parents together in a cozy, creative way!

Happy Holidays! Happy Paper Crafting!

Leah, Linda and Sally

When my friend’s daughter, Alexa was turning one, I knew I wanted to do something extra special for her first birthday party invitations…and I knew it must incorporate our fantastic box mailers. Inspired by the tiny paper pinwheels featured at our recent office baby shower, I created these pretty in pink party invites.

A simple printed card layered onto a scallop card and adhered to the bottom of the box mailer served as the base. The pinwheel was folded, held down with glue dots, then accented with a brad for the center.

People are always curious to know if you can really send these in the mail, and yes, you can! I made a band from our 8.5 x 11 label sheets that displayed the to and from addresses, and held the box mailer together. Several postage stamps later and they were out the door.

If you have a small event and want to make a big impact, give our box mailers a try!

–Kristen
PS colors: peacock & cement
Latest fave: Printable Labels

When planning our ABC baby shower for CEO Sally we wanted to create a keepsake for baby Ella. Using a Kolo album the team pooled creative talent to turn our ABC theme into a baby book that showcased the alphabet through the creativity of Paper Source associates.

The book ended up being more than any of us imagined it could be – a wonderful project for all who participated and a special keepsake for Sally and her family. Here are just a few pages from this colorful and inspired book..

A is for Animals – a beautiful menagerie of fine paper cut outs

F is for Fashionista – for a baby who is sure to appreciate style

I is for Invitations – featuring the baby shower invitation

J is for Jars – our canning illustrations with fabric and fine paper accents

L is for Letterpress – a Paper Source tradition

V is for Vellum – with button and vellum flower accents

And a fitting close that will inspire Ella to turn the pages over and over again.

-Ann, Kristen, Karen, Heather & Lora

PS colors: 2012 Paper Source Colorscope
Latest Fave: Baby Shower Ideas

From crafters to brides-to-be to home design enthusiasts it seems chalk is inspiring DIY projects across the board (pun totally intended). The Paper Source Design Team grabbed a few everyday items and went to town with our own chalkboard products, creating a dozen easy-to-execute ideas with simple chalk and chalkboard accents.

We also love the possibilities for kids. Let them doodle away with classic chalk, bistro markers, or even a white gel pen (if you’re seeking a permanent print that takes on the appearance of chalk).

Around the house you can adhere removable, repositionable Chalkboard Wallies to a kitchen wall or back entryway for notes, reminders, or even a running grocery list! Or, try using chalkboard paint on a porous surface. Secure a repurposed frame, window, or shutter to create a DIY memo board with chalkboard paint.

Last week, RealSimple.com listed Chalkboard Wallies as the #1 Item to Simplify Your Life. Our Summer Party Ideas post shows you how to use these must-haves as labels, just like the jars featured above.

What ways have chalkboards inspired your projects?

Looking to add a little pizazz to your upcoming patriotic party? Try your hand at these star-spangled wands that are sure to be a hit amongst your little ones!

Materials Needed:

• 4th of July Star & Ribbon Wands How-to PDF
• Star Die Cut Cards
• Red & White Paper Straws 
• Red Adhesive Crystals
• Crystal Stickers Elements-Silver
• White Glitter Tape
• Silver Glitter Tape
• 6mm Satin Ribbon in Night or add decorative ribbon of your choice
• Rouge Glitter Ribon and/or Silver Glitter Ribbon
• Double Stick Tape or Glue Stick
•  Zots Dots-Memory Large

Instructions:

• Create your star wand by cutting and layering different colored star shapes and/or embellishing star shapes with adhesive gems and glitter tape as desired.
• Cut ribbons in a variety of colors and lengths.
• Tie the individual ribbon lengths to the top of the straw.
• Secure embellished star shape to straw with glue dots.

Fun to bring along to a parade, or to add some festive flair to your 4th of July celebration!

-Claudia
Favorite PS colors: curry & fuchsia
Latest fave: Silhoutte CAMEO Electronic Cutting Tool

Celebrate the Easter season with our adorable Bunny and Chick Egg Friends. These fun characters are great as Easter cards, springtime decorations or cute paper companions for your little ones.

Materials Needed:

• Easter Bunny and Chick Egg Friends How-To PDF
• Egg Shapes Assortment Pack
• Googly Eyes
• Cover Paper in Poppy and Eco-White
• Bubblegum and Tangerine Sugar Coated 12 x 12 Paper
• Begonia, Powder and White Glitter Tape
• 1/4″ Hole Punch
• Scissors
• Zots Glue Dots
• Black Marker or Pen

Instructions:

1. Use templates provided to cut out shapes from indicated papers.
2. Adhere shapes onto corresponding egg shapes using glue dots, then glue googly eyes in place.
3. Embellish bottoms of eggs with strips of glitter tape as shown and trim off excess.
4. For bunny’s nose, punch out a circle from the pink glitter paper using 1/4″ hole punch and glue in place.
5. Draw in bunny’s mouth and whiskers using black marker or pen.
6. Great as place cards or for sending Easter wishes!

Happy Easter!

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

It seems like only yesterday we celebrated Lauren’s pregnancy with a Twice as Nice twins baby shower. And already her little darlings have turned one year old. While hundreds of miles and busy schedules keep us from seeing our former colleague, she remembered her Paper Source roots when creating this first birthday party for her girls. Here’s a look at the celebration…

A summer birthday party called for a playful theme that brought the outdoors in. Setting the tone with our Daisy invitation, Lauren used white paper daisies and adorable ladybugs to decorate her home.

Cheerful garlands draped across a mantel and in doorways and windows added festive flair with sweet messages like “The Ladies Are One!”

We love how Lauren mixed stripes and polka dot patterns on napkins, straws and balloons. And garden theme treats were tagged with printed labels – Dirt Pudding and Bug Juice…what fun!

-

First Birthday Party
Paper Source inspiration
Daisies Printable Invitation
Daisy Flower Kit
Oval Scallop Cards
Red Hang Tags
Decorative Ribbon
Baker’s Twine
Paper Straws