Woodland Inspiration
September 10th, 2012
Whether you prefer the simplicity of wood accents or the quirky cuteness of our fox, hedgehog and owl designs, it is clear that fall is full of woodland inspiration. Even our associates have been inspired by the sights and textures of the wilderness.
Tiffany K. of the Paper Source Invitations Department fell in love with the Paper Source Fox and Hedgehog designs, and found an adorable way to tie in natural fibers like burlap and jute. Using solid paper, Tiffany created an adorable fox gift tag, which perfectly accents this Faux Bois wrapping paper.
The gift tag is folded to allow for a simple greeting or a to/from label.
Her gift wrap inspiration continued with a Hedgehog-inspired label, complete with prickly accents cut from a scallop card.
Calla from our Dedham Paper Source location has been inspired by the Paper Source owl, using flat cards to create custom owls with loads of character.
What wilderness icons are inspiring your fall crafts and home decor?
First birthday party invitations (no envelopes required)
September 3rd, 2012
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
Guest blogger: A Vintage-Modern Wedding
August 31st, 2012
Who’s ready for some wedding inspiration? I am the Kansas City Paper Source Assistant Store Manager, and I wanted to share my wedding invitation story with the PS family!
My fiancée and I decided right away that we wanted a DIY and mostly paper wedding — he wanted it to be cheap and casual, and I wanted to make everything. So DIY was an easy decision!
I wanted a neutral color palette of cement, whites, and gravel. I also love lace. A vintage-modern wedding theme married the two and quickly became our style.
To start, I found a case of 1,000 paper doilies from a website called www.mypapershop.com, and got them at an awesome bulk price! As every bride knows, you have to watch your budget, and I was really excited to make all my inner envelopes with the doilies, so I would save money and have something surprising and different! Read the rest of this entry »
Bright Ideas with New Neon Accents
August 28th, 2012
Lately, we’ve been playing around with a new saying: If it isn’t neon; it shouldn’t be on. Neon has certainly become an A-lister in the world of fashion, making it a noteworthy must-have for your crafting creations.
Whether you’re penciling in a slue of dates and engagements, designing a card or adding decorative flair to an ingenius idea, bright and bold is the way to go. And our new NEON accents offer a few bright ideas.
Tell us, what are your favorite neon looks?
KinCommunity visits Paper Source
August 26th, 2012
The producers of KinCommunity, an online network celebrating the artistry of everyday life, visited our newest LA location to bring a few classic PS Blog projects to life. Eight video tutorials featuring Paper Source ideas will be featured on Kin DIY.
Learn how to make our Maritime Knot Accent, Rolled Paper Banner, and other projects with easy-to-follow and fun-to-watch videos, like this DIY envelope and envelope lining project.
Find Paper Source on the KinCommunity YouTube Channel. Or, spot these segments on product pages of the Paper Source website – the ideas are sure to inspire you to Do Something Creative Every Day.
Celebrating the Craft of Canning
August 23rd, 2012
Celebrate fall’s favorite hobby with our fresh-picked Canning Jar designs. These canning products might inspire you to ransack the garden or your craft closet to celebrate this timeless tradition.
Scarlett C., an associate at Paper Source Bethesda, shared her own touching story about the craft of canning:
“Last fall, my grandmother, whom I was very close with, passed away. In the wake of her death, I was left with the huge responsibility of settling her affairs and estate. Given this very literal pile of legalities and paperwork, I found myself having a hard time actually accepting the loss.
This summer, I tried to find some sort of mental peace and quiet, to really come to terms with what had happened in the past year. In this journey I looked to several hobbies and pursuits that I thought might help me finally unwind and process. I had a long list of things to try… yoga,camping, road trips, and oddly enough, canning.
I’m not really sure where the canning part of that list came from. Between all of the wonderful farmers’ markets in the DC area, a twinge of homesickness and memories of the orchards and farms that surround my hometown, came the desire to roll up my sleeves and try to ‘put up’ food the old fashioned way.
The very next day, I walked into the Bethesda Paper Source to work. As fate would have it, we received our first copies of Food in Jars in that day’s shipment. Naturally, I took this as some sort of sign, and immediately purchased a copy, and of course called my mother.
“Isn’t that CRAZY?! I mean, I was just talking about this LAST NIGHT, and here this book shows up. It’s a sign. I need to go to Ace Hardware and buy supplies!”
My mom had an even better idea: drive back to Strasburg, Virginia, and use my grandmother’s canning equipment.
Later that week, my mother and I found ourselves sitting in the cool basement of my grandmother’s house loading up dozens of Mason jars, pots, lids and seals, all for me to cart back to DC and can to my heart’s content. Though canning was not necessarily a huge part of my grandmother’s life, something about using her things resonated with me. This was different than hanging a picture of her in my apartment, or wearing her wedding band on a chain around my neck. It was as if I was discovering a hidden treasure she had left for me, something she could share with me even if she couldn’t be there herself.
I selected several recipes from Food in Jars, and promptly took over the kitchen with my canning mission. I had success with Strawberry Vanilla Jam and also with Blueberry Butter, the last of which I brought in to share with my PS family.
With an introduction like this, you can imagine my excitement for each new Canning Jars product that comes into the store. Each notebook and tea towel is a reminder to me that sometimes that ‘thing’ you are looking for might be on its way, without you even suspecting it.
To celebrate this discovery I wanted to share some things I’ve made at the demo cart in our store, as well as a gift basket example of some commonly themed items. Enjoy!”
The tag attached to the basket reads:
We hope that our new Canning Jars artwork inspires you as much as it does us! Take your creative projects to the kitchen this fall and try your hand at canning. Food in Jars is an excellent how-to and cookbook guide to preserving foods. Our file folders, notebooks and notepad provide great organization for new recipes and grocery lists as well! Show off your new hobby with our tea towels and magnets- they’ll be sure to complement your kitchen with all of your new preserves! Lastly, browse our notecards, gift tags, burlap bags, stamps and autumnal inks to send out your homemade goodies in style.
–Scarlett C, PS Bethesda Associate
PS colors: fig, persimmon & paper bag
Latest fave: Canning Jars
Trending: Burlap & Jute Accents
August 15th, 2012
Burlap is the new black, which means we are adding pretty little accents to our assortment to make sure you have this season’s trend in your craft closet.
Incorporate this earthy trend into any style or project. Think natural napkin holders with modern flair, tailor stems of your bridal bouquet with chic detailing, or liven up a vase with a folksy wrap! DIY invitations and gift wrap look great with woven texture.
Like burlap, jute and other natural fibers add a rustic touch to cards or vintage detailing to a package. Modern looks can come alive with this natural fiber too. Here, Kin Community walks viewers through the Paper Source Maritime Knot Accent, which features red jute cord.
What are your favorite way to use burlap and jute?
Paper Arts Inspiration from a PS Fan
August 14th, 2012
What a hoot!
Paper Source gift card winner Amy B. has us inspired! Check out her most recent project, which features our Owls Wrapping Paper. We’re loving her feathered friend!
Want to share your Paper Source-inspired creation with us? Email us at: psfan@paper-source.com
A Baby Shower Keepsake for CEO Sally
August 12th, 2012
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
