Make this zero calorie dessert as a delicious party favor for your next dinner party, ladies lunch or tea. With scallop icing trim and chocolate curls, they are lovely to decorate a place setting or stack them on a cake platter for a centerpiece. Also wonderful as bridal shower favors or decorations.

Use our PDF template to cut out each cake shape for easy assembly, and choose any colored paper to create your own combination of “flavors”…red velvet…strawberry…dark chocolate!

Sweet!

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

Materials Needed:
How to PDF
8 1/2 x 11 Cover Paper (Superfine Soft White)
8 1/2 x 11 Text Paper (Shimmer Chocolate and Stardream Opal)
Xacto Knife or Scissors
Ruler
Cutting Mat (optional)
Bone Folder (optional)
Glue Stick
Scallop Scissors
Pencil

Getting Started:
Begin by printing the How to PDF and cutting out each cake part template. Read the rest of this entry »

I admit, I am a bit of a paper hoarder. I still have scraps of some of the very first decorative papers that I bought at Paper Source long ago. Chances are, if you’re reading our blog, you might have a bit of this problem yourself! I found myself recently in a dilemma with last year’s Paper Source Wall Art Calendar – in spite of the great templates printed on the back of each month to make gift boxes and file folders, I just couldn’t bring myself to cut up the calendar. But now that the 2010 Paper Source Wall Art Calendar is here, I think I’m finally ready to take the scissors to 2009!

Here are a few ideas of how I’m planning to re-use the 2009 calendar:
1. Use the templates on the backs of the pages, of course.
2. Use sections of the artwork to make greeting cards. With 12 beautiful designs to choose from you can create greeting cards for every occasion.
3. Frame it! The numeric calendar grid is positioned in the bottom right corner of each page, so the top section can be cut to size and framed as a piece of art. Or use it as a decorative matte for a photograph. Trimmed calendar pages fill the LP Album Frame quite nicely.
4. I love to use papers to wrap vases, pencil cups, Kleenex boxes, candle holders…you name it, I’ll wrap it!

I’m looking forward to enjoying the 2010 calendar artwork through the year, then making fun things again when 2011 arrives!

– Karen
PS colors: moss & papaya
Latest fave: India Calico File Folders

As promised here is the second installment of some of the Holiday Card Contest submissions from a few of our stores. We think you will find these soooo amazing and inspiring that if you haven’t already sent cards for the holidays, a brilliant handmade New Year’s card may be just the ticket!

Read the rest of this entry »

At this time of year, we at Paper Source are reminded of how blessed we are to be surrounded by inspiring ideas every day. We recently had our annual office Holiday Party. To get everyone in the holiday spirit, we asked team members from around the organization to design placemats to be used at each table. It started with a simple piece of 12” x 12” cover stock in either pool or red. We asked each person to create a place setting aligned to the corner. The last step was to attach four squares together with double-sided tape to make a “cloth” for each table of four.

While this is a super fun idea for kids; I’m here to tell you, it’s a fun idea for anyone who is young at heart. Our office had a blast coming up with creative ideas. We had nearly 100 completely unique settings, which created a stunning effect. Read the rest of this entry »

Here is a fun way to make use of leftover paper, gift wrap scraps or this year’s old calendar pages, while also getting into the holiday spirit – make an origami paper wreath! With just a few folds it’s really simple and fun. Surprisingly sturdy, these wreath decorations are lovely to hang on doors and windows, and miniature versions are great on top of gift packages or hung on the tree. Try using holiday colors for homemade holiday decorations.

–Fabra
PS colors: gravel & chocolate
Latest fave: Teflon bone folder

Materials needed:
Any Paper – try your favorite Gift Wrap
Double Stick Tape
Bone Folder (optional)
Satin Ribbon (optional)
1/8″ Hole Punch (optional)

Instructions:
1. Cut 8 sheets of rectangle paper the same size where the length is double the width. The sheet size will depend on how large you want the wreath to be (as a sample, the wreaths in the photo use 5″ x 10″ sheets). Choose your favorite paper or mix and match patterned and solid styles.
2. Fold each sheet of paper Read the rest of this entry »

Making creative things is my job…and my heart. So to inspire holiday cheer, I made Christmas stockings for each of my department co-workers. Hung from a hutch and flanked by other holiday paper decorations, it’s a treat to walk into our area each day greeted by such a festive scene.

These personalized Christmas stockings are really simple to make. I drew a stocking shape onto solid roll wrap and holiday wrapping paper (you need two stocking shapes for each stocking), then sewed the pieces together by making holes along the edges with a 1/4″ hole punch and threading with metallic cord. I printed the names of my co-workers onto 1 1/4″ round labels and stuck them to the top of each stocking (a great alternative to handwriting). Finally, I edged the stocking cuffs with scallop scissors for a whimsical look.

Keep in mind, these stockings are for decorative purposes or for holding light items like gift cards or, if necessary, coal (made from paper)…wink!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!

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

Looking for a glam decorating idea for the holidays, but have a fear of glitter or aren’t feeling especially crafty? Try this easy craft project from our team at the Paper Source Reston store! They added tons of elegance to kraft ornaments with a clever combination of stamp pads.

It takes just 3 simple steps to make these festive holiday decorations! With this Ball Kraft Ornament they first applied a Colorbox Chalk Inkpad to add color, then used the Platinum Color Box Metal Extra Inkpad on top. Hang them on your tree, decorate a mantle, or use in a centerpiece on your holiday table.

Stop by a store location this weekend for more tips & tricks on decorating holiday ornaments!

–Linda
PS colors: chartreuse & pool
Latest fave: Saddle Stitch Notebooks

1. Stamp Your First Ink Color: Add your first ink color by applying the stamp pad directly to the surface of your kraft item (here I’m using a shimmery Galaxy Gold Brilliance Inkpad). Hold the edges of your object with a paper towel to prevent ink from getting on your hands.

2. Stamp Your Second Ink Color: Read the rest of this entry »

I recently found myself needing a gift for a friend of mine… a friend who has everything. I came up with the idea of making him a set of decorative kraft letters in his initials. Although I’ve used glitter to decorate these in the past, I wanted to try a new technique that would create a handsome piece he could display on a shelf in his home.

Turns out heat embossing using a metallic powder creates an elegant and sophisticated finish. I used the VersaMark Watermark Inkpad on the kraft letters, sprinkled on embossing powders in a mixture of Jade Patina and Metallic Copper, and used the heat embossing tool to set in place. Combining those two embossing powders created a patina that looks similar to an old penny.

In the past I’ve decorated kraft letters with glitter by covering them in PVA, then sprinkling on glitter. These “JOY” letters in True Red Glitter make a great holiday decoration – use in a centerpiece arrangement or display on a mantle surrounded by evergreen branches. You could achieve a different red finish by using the heat embossing technique described above and Cherry Twinkle Embossing Powder.

My gift of the “JC” initials was extremely well-received, because it was personal and unlike anything he had. They turned out so well in fact that I decorated other kraft letters to display in our store!

–Ken, Paper Source NorthPark Dallas Store
PS colors: chartreuse & pool
Latest fave: Woodgrain A2 Embossed Stationery

We have a wonderful customer here in Dedham who loves to create her own special holiday cards and decorations. She visited us recently on our Grand Opening Day in search of a Thanksgiving placecard idea, perhaps a twist on our classic Turkey Placecard Kit. Along with my fellow associate, Calla, I had some fun concocting this adorable turkey placecard for her using our Owl Placecard Kit as inspiration.

We chose chocolate 4bar oval scallop cards for the body, and cut a few in half to create feathers. We cut poppy 4bar oval scallop cards into feet and a beak, and used red cover paper to make the waddle.

We gave our turkey some stylish eye shadow using gold 1.25″ circle labels. Two circle hole punches created the large white and brown eye components, and a 1/8″ hole punch was perfect for the small whites of the eyes. We think our turkey has some attitude.

Our customer was thrilled with our creation, and we’re looking forward to seeing her group of turkeys soon!

–Colleen, Paper Source Dedham Store
PS colors: beet & chocolate
Latest fave: Flocked Gift Boxes