Paper Source moms recommend keeping bulk packs, a Xyron machine and colorful pens around for stormy days. What do you recommend pulling from the craft closet in the event of a kid crafting emergency?

Quiet and hard working, they started by testing our Ninja Kit concept. (Due in stores this Fall thanks to the overwhelming response from the boys!) This interactive kit creates puppet-like ninjas with jointed arms and legs for action-packed battles!

They then switched to building our Space Creatures Kit, and had a great time making the aliens and other-worldly pets uniquely their own.

About an hour and a half into testing and the rowdiness was full on! The sugar-boosted creativity paired Space Creature googly eyes with our Photo Props Kit (due for release in September) prototypes. The fun continued until parents arrived.

Even at the height of silliness, these boys were nothing but pure pleasure. And thanks to their expertise, two new Paper Source kits will hit the shelves in mid-September. Boy tested but, no doubt, equally fun for girls too!

Thanks to the crew, and their parents, for taking a rainy morning to show us how to Do Something Creative Every Day.

– Cindy
PS colors: persimmon & paper bag
Latest fave: Personalized Stationery

Decorate your Easter table or start an Easter project for the kiddies with these lovable little lambs! This idea is great for baby showers too!

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

Materials Needed:

• Lamb Treat Bag How-To PDF
• Small White Treat Bags
• Superfine Soft White 4″ Round Labels
• Superfine Soft White 8 ½” x 11″ Text Paper
• Googly Eyes
• Glue Dots (Glue Stick Optional)
• Fuchsia Natural Cotton Ribbon
• Sunshine Natural Cotton Ribbon
• Ribbon Shredder
• Scissors
• Marker

Instructions:

1. To make these treat bags, cut out lamb body shapes from templates and fold where indicated.
2. Adhere ears and arms in the bag’s gusset, against the front of the bag.
3. Adhere feet to bottom of bag.
4. Adhere tummy patch in place and stick 4 inch round label for face.
5. Adhere googly eyes in place.
6. Draw in nose and belly button, as shown.
7. Tuck shredded ribbon into bag as garnish on top of treat.

Sure, I honor the holiday with a batch of étouffée. I even go as far as accepting my father-in-law’s usual Sazerac offer, despite not yet developing a taste for this potent cocktail. Still, it never feels like I do the Carnival justice.

But, earlier this year I had a chance to visit New Orleans for the first time. (Hello New Orleans, long time lover, first time visitor!) I was escorted by seasoned visitors the Sazerac-loving father-in-law, queen of bayou cuisine mother-in-law, and my fun-loving Mister. We tackled that town like it was sprouting legs and running away– hitting the St. Louis Cemetery to visit famous Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau, riding the St. Charles Streetcar through the Garden District, and watching quintessential blues legend Dr. John perform at Tipitina’s.

Oh, the French Quarter? We tackled that too. And, boy, did we eat.

So, this year, the Carnival season not only seems possible, it seems necessary. And, lucky for this geeky web girl, I am surrounded by creative people, who figure out the best party crafts. Take these festive Mardi Gras masks made from our Mask Kit .

I saw these and thought to myself, “Man, I can actually do that!” Perhaps some of you can too? Dig around in that craft closet (or drawer) and pull out your glitter papers, decorative papers, stickles, adhesive gems, embellishments and ribbon. Then invite your friends over for an evening of Cajun crafting. Set the mood with Zydeco and gumbo. And, if your crowd needs a little “creative juice,” then mix up a round of Sazeracs (history and recipe from Esquire).

Our stores are even hosting a Mardi Gras Masks and Crowns workshop this Thursday, for those who want to have their Fat Tuesday favors ready ahead of time. Sign up here.

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

– Liz
PS colors: peacock & fig
Latest fave: Cavallini Wrapping Paper

Cheers!

–Jacob, PS Kansas City
PS colors: gravel & curry
Latest fave: gingham fabric tape

Materials Needed:

• Red take out box
• Blossom text weight paper
• Pure White text weight paper
• Strawberry text weight paper
• Black text paper (for eyes – gel pen also an option)
• 3/16” hole punch (for eyes – gel pen also an option)
• ¾” round Paper Source boot punch
• Xyron 150 sticker maker (or larger)
• Double-sided tape (optional if using larger than Xyron 150)
• Red brads

Instructions:

1. Assemble the take out box using the red brads
2. Trace the face of the box onto the blossom text weight paper. Cut out the face – go in about 1/16” from your traced line to allow for a small red border. Attach with double-sided tape (or large Xyron)
3. Punch seven 3/4” circles from pure white 8.5×11 text weight paper
4. Punch one 3/4” circle from Strawberry 8.5×11 text weight paper
5. Run punched circles through the Xyron – use six of the white circles to create the beard, and the single Strawberry circle for the nose
6. Punch two 3/16” circles from Black 8 1/2 x 11 text weight paper for the eyes, run through Xyron, and attach (or just draw them on with a black gel pen)
7. Cut the brim of the hat from pure White text weight paper – run through Xyron and attach at top of face
8. Create Santa’s hat by disassembling the top of the box, and reassembling leaving the pointed flap (touching the face on the box) up
9. Top off Santa’s hat with a pom pom affixed with the Xyron

(Sorry this is not a kid’s class – this is for adults only – please see the policy page.)

If you are the crafter who is afraid of glue this project we will show you how to wrap book board using super-tacky tape to secure PS papers. No worries, we will also help you navigate the layout for your ribbon too!

There are still seats available for tonight’s class!! So sign up online or call your local store to get in on this wonderful French Message Board workshop.

–Linda
PS colors: paper bag & persimmon
Latest fave: 2011 Paper Source Booklet Calendar

If you’re having a New Years party or are looking for New Years activities for your family, you must make these glittery gold New Years party hats! CBS 2 Chicago (click to view) even featured them as a fun way to get kids involved at New Years. You could, of course, use this party hat design in different colors with different stamped messages for other celebratory occasions!

–Annie
PS colors: gravel & beet
Latest fave: Tree Trunk Tea Light and Japanese 8 1/4″ Scissors

Materials Needed:
How to New Years Party Hats PDF
8 1/2″ x 11″ Cover Weight Paper (Eco-White & Shimmer Gold)
8 1/2″ x 11″ Text Weight Paper (Black & Shimmer Silver)
1/4″ Super Tacky Tape
Happy New Year Rubber Stamp
VersaMark Watermark Inkpad
Metallic Silver Embossing Powder
Embossing Powder Heat Tool
Black Brads
Clear Adhesive Crystals
1/4″ Black Satin Ribbon
Foam Square Adhesives
1/8″ Hole Punch
Bone Folder
Xacto Knife
Scissors
6″ Guillotine Trimmer (optional)

Instructions:
1. Cut one 4″ strip of super tacky tape. Apply to upper left corner of Shimmer Gold cover paper as shown (see A in PDF) and set aside.
2. Using scissors or guillotine trimmer, create fringe topper by cutting one sheet each of Shimmer Silver and Black text paper in half widthwise. Make fringe cuts along 8 1/2″ side approximately 1/8″ apart, making sure to leave approximately 2″ uncut at opposite end for rolling (B). Roll fringed paper around pencil tightly, secure with tape and remove pencil. Curl fringe with bone folder. Center fringed tube on the sheet of 8 1/2 x 11″ Shimmer Gold cover paper that was prepped with tape earlier (C). Form cone shape, then unpeel super tape backing and press firmly to temporarily hold in place (D).
3. Cone needs to be permanently secured with brads. Do this by making small holes with an xacto knife where indicated (E). Insert brads into holes and fasten in place.
4. Stamp “Happy New Year” onto Eco-White cover paper with VersaMark inkpad. Sprinkle with Metallic Silver embossing powder. Shake off excess powder and heat with embossing heat tool. Cut phrase out with slight outline and adhere onto front of hat with two foam squares.
5. Punch 1/8″ holes at side of hat and thread approximately 24″ of black ribbon through holes. Knot ribbon at both ends with knots on inside of hat. Place on head and pull knots downward to tighten (F).
6. To add sparkle, stick adhesive gems all over surface of hat, including brads as pictured.

Advent calendars are so much fun for kids (and adults!) – a festive count down of the days til Christmas. We were so excited to come up with a way to create an advent calendar using our Gingerpaper House Kit, so that kids could actually make their own (yes, with some help from mom or dad)! By adding numbered shingles to the house, you have a way to mark the days – and because the roof opens, parents can hide candy or little gifts inside, as a surprise for each day.

A great way to get the whole family into the holiday spirit!

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

Materials Needed:
How-To Advent Calendar PDF
Gingerpaper House Kit
Eco-White 1 1/4″ Circle Labels
Pool 1/8″ Satin Ribbon
1/4″ Super Tacky Tape
Glue Stick
Scissors

Instructions:
1. Follow the instructions included with the Gingerpaper House Kit. When assembling the roof and shingles, do not apply adhesive to the entire area of the shingles. Instead apply only a line of glue along the top edge of the shingles (see A in How-To PDF) and attach to the roof panels. Attach only one side of a shingled roof to the house’s front and back triangles (B) – this will create a hinged roof so you can place treats inside. Assemble the rest of the Gingerpaper House Kit as instructed.
2. Add numbers 1-25 onto 1/4″ Circle Labels in one of two ways: print numbers using our online circle labels template or hand-write numbers directly onto the labels. If using our online template (Microsoft Word), follow these steps to properly format your text: In Word, go to Format, go to Font tab, select desired font and input font size (approximately 20); go to Character Spacing tab, choose position: lowered and by: (approximately 50-65 pt); click OK. These steps will allow you to print numbers on the lower half of each circle label.
3. Fold the numbered 1/4″ Circle Stickers almost in half (C). Stick in place, using the exposed portion of sticker as the adhesive, to the shingles by tucking slightly under rows.
4. Add a ribbon handle to the roof (the half that opens). Measure approximately 7″ of ribbon, loop and adhere in place under middle of shingled roof line using a 1 1/4″ circle label.

Tips: Add a special treat inside the Gingerpaper House each day, or for a multi-kid family, add a bowl of treats for everyone to enjoy! To count down to Christmas, use extra circle labels to cover each day, or gently peel off each circle label, or keep a marker handy to cross off each day.

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

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