Paper Source Spotted: Jenna Bush Hager’s Bookworm Baby Shower

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.

kraft lettersImage 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.

New Bar & Bat Mitzvah Invitations!

From modern and bold to playful and sweet, our Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah invitations let you build anticipation for an incredible life event. Create a stylish custom invitation, then add perfectly coordinated custom labels and gift tags to honor the occasion with something truly unique.

Click on the photo above to see our selection online.

Lights, Camera…DIY! Oscars Party Inspiration

Roll out the red carpet! It’s Oscars weekend, and the party is ON. Set the scene with a little DIY Oscars party inspiration from Paper Source!

Bring the glamour of award season to your home with bold golds. This Friendsgiving Tablescape, created by a Paper Source Holiday Craft Contest winner, provides the perfect backdrop with our Chevron Table Wrapping Paper.

oscars party

Use Gold Chevron or Gold Confetti invitations to further accent your event. Print your menu, use as place settings or create an Oscars watching game.

Or, you can simply print the Oscars Ballot we’ve created: 2013 Oscars Ballot

2013 Oscars Ballot

While you’re watching the red carpet, have each guest fill out their guesses for this year’s winners. Throughout the show, attendees can keep track of their votes. Up the stakes by pooling a cash prize or simply supply your own prize (like a PS Gift Card). Once all winners are announced, the guest with the most correct votes takes all!

Oscars Party

You can also gift your favorite bottle to the winner, and complete your theme with a gold rosette. Create large versions for decoration or scale back for an accent, using this How-To-Paper-Rosette PDF

We’re sure this gold and glamour Oscars party will having you saying, “They like me, they really like me!”

New Personalized Napkins and Placemats

When it comes to your most special events, a little bit of decorative cohesion goes a long way, which is why Paper Source is pleased to unveil the newest addition to our personalized collection.

Our personalized napkins and placemats  not only allow you to customize your table decor with monograms, names or messages, but they also perfectly coordinate with other Paper Source colors so all of your menu cards, place cards and other accents can have a crisp, perfectly put-together look that wows your guests.

personalized napkins

Accent your next special event with our new assortment of personalized napkins. Featuring exclusive designs for holiday parties, baby showers, wedding events, bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah, graduation and other special events and parties. Each style available as a cocktail napkins, lunch napkins or guest towels.

personalized placemats

You can also add a touch of elegance, retro styling or a colorful accent to any party with any of our new personalized placemat designs. Opt for confetti stylings, vintage flatware or Italian illustrations to make your place settings truly exceptional.

Either option is sure to make your next party pop with personality.

How To: Halloween Treat Boxes

If we could turn the planet on to Halloween parties, we think world peace could finally be achieved. To that end, we’ve tricked up one of our favor boxes to inspire your ghastly bash. This treat box is perfect for your favorite little witches and ghouls. It’s such a cute and easy way to make a festive impression, you’ll be dreaming up Halloween parties in no time!

To create: follow along with our image or reference the items and instructions below.

Materials

  • Classic Square Favor Box
  • Double-Sided Tape
  • Green Glitter
  • Black Brads
  • Red Brads
  • 1″ Circle Punch
  • White Cover Paper
  • Directions

  •  Fold and assemble the Favor Box, leaving the lid unfolded.
  • Create a random criss-cross pattern across the top and sides of lid using Double-Sided Tape.
  • Shake Glitter onto the Tape, so that it is fully covered.  Carefully blow or shake off excess glitter.
  • Make two circles using the 1″ Circle Punch and Cover Paper.
  • Create eyes for your mummy by punching one Black Brad per circle.
  • Affix the eyes to the box by punching the brad through the lid.  Flatten the prongs of the brad against the inside of the lid to secure.
  • Create neck bolts by punching one Red Brad into the left and right side flaps of the lid.  
  • Fill with candy (or travel-sized toothbrush and toothpaste, if you’re mean)!
  • Enjoy!

    First birthday party invitations (no envelopes required)

    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.

    first birthday party invitations

    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.

    labels for box mailer invitation

    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

    An Olympic Tribute to Team USA

    olympic crafts

    Paper Source is gearing up for the Summer Games!

    Hosting a get-together of your own? Sport Team USA inspired designs –note the wreath made of olive leaves!– and catch the crafty Olympic fever our Summit location is sporting.

    USA crafts

    Likewise, Paper Source Oak Brook is featuring a festive ode to the Red, White, and Blue: alongside our Stars and Stripes Garland, scrap paper came in handy to create an athletic-minded accent!

    Tell us, what’s your favorite event?

    Piece of Cake Birthday Decorations

    DIY birthday banner

    With a few materials and some simple folds, you can create a memorable birthday banner that’s sure to have its recipient singing your praises!

    Our store operations team celebrated Greg’s big day with these nifty birthday decorations. Here’s what they used:

  • Text paper
  • Scoring board
  • Silhouette CAMEO Electronic Cutting Tool
  • Adhesive
  • Note: In a pinch, in place of the Silhoutte CAMEO Electronic Cutting Tool, alphabet stickers or alphabet rubber stamps could embellish solid paper, just adhere to the accordion banner itself.

    DIY birthday card

    Feeling especially festive? Try your hand at a complimenting card, using a pool A6 Folded Card and accenting persimmon cover weight paper.

    How-to: Dressy Paper Parasols

    Dressy Drink Paper Parasols

    Add an element of cute class to an upcoming dinner party with these dressy drinks. Create paper parasols with ease with our latest how-to!

    Materials Needed:

  • Polka Dot Paper Parasols How-to PDF
  • Red & White Paper Straws
  • Polka Dots Origami Paper Pack
  • 4″ Round Labels in various colors
  • Text Weight paper in various colors
  • 2 1/4″ Circle Hole Punch
  • Glue Stick
  • Zots Dots (we recommend the medium size)
  • Scissors
  • Instructions:

  • Create the bottom layer of the parasol by adhering a 4″ round label in the color of your choice to a sheet of polka dots paper. Using the edge of the label as a guide, cut off the excess paper with scissors.
  • Punch out a circle from a contrasting color of text weight paper using the 2 1/4″ hole punch. Choose which side you would like to be the top side of your parasol and use a glue stick to adhere the smaller circle on top of the larger one.
  • Use scissors to cut a straight line halfway through the layered circles. Create a cone shape by overlapping the circle at the cut line and adhere in place using glue stick. Secure to straw with a medium glue dot on the underside of the parasol.
  • Not your style? Check out our summer cup covers!

    Bottoms up!

    -Claudia

    Favorite PS colors: curry & fuchsia
    Latest Fave: Red & White Paper Straws