Take treats for school in paper bags with adorable personalized labels. Run our large circle labels through the printer with our print template or write each name by hand. An adorable back-to-school design that is great for single lunches or an entire classroom!

Materials Needed: Read the rest of this entry »

If you’ve had time to flip through our latest catalog you probably found yourself having a hoot with our new line of office organization products.

We always have a hard time picking a favorite calendar, but now the new office storage is causing greater debate. Some prefer the traditional style (and humor) of our new file folders while the DIYers love the creative possibilities of the kraft storage line. Then again, there is something special about bringing the outdoors in with our latest Paper Source designs – Adorable owls and birch tree branches!

Karen, one of the Paper Source designers, pulled owl inspiration that dated back to her youth to bring PS style to this symbolic icon, “When I was young, my mom and her dear friend Joan had a running joke where they would find odd owl jewelry and decorations at garage sales and send them to one another in the mail.”

With fond memories of sterling owls with turquoise eyes, quirky owl paper weights and vintage owl needlepoint designs, the team set out to create friendly owls that would represent wisdom, intelligence and protection and infuse a little good humor into any space. A few sketches, renderings and color variations later and they unveiled a wonderfully detailed scene, which features fun hits of Peacock, Chartreuse, Pool, Curry and Papaya that bring a playful touch to the owl’s owl natural habitat.

Take a peek at our new office and organization and tell us your must-have accessory for home, office or heading back to school.

If you’re like me and haven’t gone completely digital… or you hate dog earring pages in your favorite books…then you’ll appreciate this simple how-to! These page savers are so FUNctional! Kids will enjoy making them and adding them to notebooks or text books.

–Annie
PS colors: peacock & paper bag
Latest fave: Spritzer Rubber Stamp Cleaner and Rubber Stamp Cleaning Pad

Materials Needed: Read the rest of this entry »

We love how our wall bulletin organizer dressed up our work space so much that we created a coordinating cubbie to hold pens, notes and of course, our PS Swatchbook. Follow our steps to create a desk organizer of any size, and cover it in your favorite wrapping paper.

A great back to school craft to get your tweens and teens organized or spruce up your own desk (adults can celebrate back to school, too!).

–Annie
PS colors: peacock & paper bag
Latest fave: Spritzer Rubber Stamp Cleaner and Rubber Stamp Cleaning Pad

Materials needed:
How to PDF
8 1/2″ x 11″ Chipboard Read the rest of this entry »

I haven’t been “back to school” in over 10 years, but when the time comes around it is always nice to freshen up my lunch accessories (celebrating “still at work”!). It brightens up the fact that summer is almost over. This year I brought in a bunch of adorable back to school items like backpacks, lunch bags, pencil cases, journals and other fun school supplies.

Some of my favorites are reusable lunch items that I can bring to work everyday. I love to bring leftovers for lunch and the Amy Ruppel Travel Bowl is great for pastas, rice dishes, and even soups! I am also a tea junky, so the matching Amy Ruppel Thermos is perfect – it’s insulated, BPA free and so cute!

I’m also a fan of our Resnackit Reusable Bags – they’re awesome Read the rest of this entry »

I may not be heading back to school with a fresh supply of notebooks or have a locker in dire need of personalization, but that doesn’t stop my urge this time of year, to get organized. And of course, in the prettiest way possible! This cheery bulletin board made with our brand new Marigolds Wrapping Paper, envelopes and fun accessories will make putting things in their right place an absolute joy!

P.S. If there are kids in your family who would love a project like this, check out our Tween Message Board Workshop in stores August 21 (for ages 9-12).

–Annie
PS colors: peacock & paper bag
Latest fave: Spritzer Rubber Stamp Cleaner and Rubber Stamp Cleaning Pad

Materials needed:
How to PDF
2 pieces of 9 1/2″ x 13″ Bookboard Read the rest of this entry »

Jot lists, to-do’s and ideas on this E-Z to make and stylish notepad. Make it tall, make it small! Customize your notepad colors to suit any mood or room in your home. Handmade notepads make fun gifts for friends – don’t forget to pair them with paper covered pencils!

–Annie
PS colors: gravel & beet
Latest fave: Japanese 8 1/4″ Scissors

Materials needed:
How to PDF
3-4 packs of A2 Note Cards (use two different colors for a jazzy pad!)
PVA
Glue Brush
2 Rulers
1-2 Jumbo Binder Clips

Instructions:
1. Stack A2 Note Cards (alternating colors optional). Jog sides back and forth on a flat level surface until desired edge is completely flush.
2. Cover one edge with PVA to bind cards.
3. Carefully sandwich the glued edge between two rulers, then clamp with jumbo binder clips. The rulers will protect the paper from the clips. Set aside to dry.
4. If necessary, apply another layer of PVA and set aside to dry. Once completely dry, unclamp and use!

Make the mundane magnificent by covering mechanical pencils with beautiful papers! Improving on an already classic idea and using refillable – not disposable – pencils makes complete sense in this time of reusing and recycling. Enjoy the fruits of your labor over and over (and over again)!

–Annie
PS colors: gravel & beet
Latest fave: Japanese 8 1/4″ Scissors

Materials needed:
Mechanical Pencils
Decorative Paper (Indian & Japanese papers work best!)
PVA Glue
Glue Brush
Scissors
Guillotine Paper Trimmer (optional)

Instructions:
1. Cut strips of decorative paper to fit lengths of mechanical pencils, with a 1/4” overlap.
2. Coat backs of decorative strips with PVA. Wrap around barrels of mechanical pencils just below erasers.
3. Reuse over and over and over again!

Once each year, I take a day of vacation and visit a grade school in my small hometown in Central Illinois. My husband and I are both from this small community of farmers and commuters, and have deep roots and relationships. My mother-in-law is a kindergarten teacher at one of the local grade schools and they love a good paper project.

Our new Royal Crowns Kit is perfect for this age group. All I provided were the die-cut crowns and some basic instruction. Be assured, no five year old needs help with creativity or inspiration. Every year I am amazed at how happy a collection of children become when you get out a basket of markers and a few sheets of inexpensive stickers. At the end of the day, each kid gets to wear their crown home proudly (myself included).

For the classroom, we created two flag banners from our Paper Flag Kits. Each student received one of the solid colored flags to decorate. Many students created a signature look, coordinating their flag with their crown. Once we assembled all of the pieces with some double-sided tape, the banners were hung criss-crossed over the kids’ desks.

By the end of the day, the joy always wears off onto me and I leave feeling like a little paper really can bring joy to your life! A huge “thanks” to Mrs. Kidd and her wonderful kindergarten class!

–Ann
PS colors: moss & papaya
Latest fave: Cupcake Kit