Our Favorite Things series continues with a taste-maker from our store operations team. Many of you were introduced to Rick last year when we featured this Winter Wonderland Holiday Card creation.

Rick has returned to share his holiday gift and craft recommendations with our readers.

Rick
Paper Source Regional Manager
Noted for his incredible holiday card creations

Like our first taste-maker Kristen, Rick also creates fabulous gift packages. One gift he plans to give this year is the botanical journal set, paired with a chalk pen with metal chalkboard frame (or slate note cards and envelopes and a white pen), twig leaves rubber stamp, VersaMark pad and embossing powder.

It’s a beautiful gift package for the holidays and beyond!

150 Love Notes is a great stocking stuffer, but you can also add note cards and envelopes in a variety of colors, along with a tape runner and refill to make a quick DIY card package.

Rick says, “The designs of 150 Love Notes are so unique and special. It’s a nice gift to pass on or turn into cards to send to special friends and family.”

Rick’s packaging ideas include using the Novel Scallop Fine Paper as gift wrap. Then, he impressed us with the idea of doing an ombré glitter treatment to a kraft ornament.

Rick is also inspired by our pom pom ribbon used in tandem with wide satin ribbon in chartreuse, moss or red. He admits that his 2012 holiday card design might also include these elements.

“I always like to relate my gift packaging to my holiday cards. I even use my chosen gift wrap as an envelope liner for my cards.”

When it comes to last minute gifts, Rick has a great solution.

“Our cello bags are a go-to for any gift. Use for baked goods or a small gift wrapped in colorful tissue, then accent with ribbon, embellishments and a tag. It’s quick easy and always looks terrific.”

See other Favorite Things from our Holiday Series on our Pinterest page. Check back, as we wrap this series with A Few of Karen’s Favorite Things.

The holiday season is a perfect time to craft with friends, kids, or to explore creative ideas independently. Last weekend one of our own Paper Source family members hosted an annual Mother-Daughter Holiday Crafting Tea at her home. With treats upstairs and creativity downstairs, the setting was ripe to organize a knock-your-socks-off craft that would be simple and fun for kids of a range of ages, yet interesting and sophisticated enough for parents. She also really wanted the final presentation of the craft to have that “wow” factor!   

Materials:

Instructions:

There are endless ways to get playful with creating different looks- more traditional or whimsical-depending on your choice of paper selection and size, patterned assembly, color choices, paper loop size, etc.

These trees look stunning in multiples of the same or varying heights! Group them on your mantel, feature them as holiday table décor, give it as a gift…this craft is sure to impress all! But not only that, a Holiday “Crafternoon” Tea is a wonderful new tradition to start that brings kids and parents together in a cozy, creative way!

Happy Holidays! Happy Paper Crafting!

Leah, Linda and Sally

Image via Midwest Living

Can you believe it’s almost December? In our family, we always had a first of December tradition of going out to a store and buying each kid their own Advent calendar to count down the days until Christmas. Midwest Living has done this tradition one better with their fun DIY Advent calendar created with a few simple Paper Source items!

Materials:

Instructions

This is a great, simple craft for kids but we think it’s even more fun to keep the contents of the Advent calendar a surprise! What would you put inside your envelopes?

It’s safe to say that we get as excited about new products as much as our customers do– especially around the holidays! In this special holiday series, we talked to some of our noted taste-makers to find out about their favorite holiday gifts and crafts. From seasonal crafts to holiday gifts, check back weekly as we reveal A Few of our Favorite Things. Maybe some of these ideas will make their way into your holiday celebration, too!

Kristen
Part of the paper-source.com team
Noted by Paper Source associates for her expert gift baskets

As a busy bride-to-be, Kristen has a new-found appreciation for the gift of wine. Between pre-wedding events and the hustle and bustle of the holidays, this gifted gift giver has transformed her vision of the perfect gift — finding new and unique ways to style wine bottles for the holiday hostess or as a gesture of thanks.

Kristen recently decorated wine bottles as gifts for friends who had planned her bachelorette weekend, which included wine tasting. Using burlap wine bag, decorative ribbon and solid paper, she created a lovely personalized gift for the many people she wanted to thank. Her favorite part…the oversized layered tags — the top tag printed with each friend’s name; the bottom tag with a thank you message.

The warm reception of these wine gifts, got Kristen thinking about the many ways you can style wine gifts for the holidays or any occasion. To let us in on her favorite things, Kristen started our Favorite Things Pinterest Board.

Read on, as our series continues with: A Few of Sally’s Favorite Things.

Looking to add a little pizazz to your upcoming patriotic party? Try your hand at these star-spangled wands that are sure to be a hit amongst your little ones!

Materials Needed:

• 4th of July Star & Ribbon Wands How-to PDF
• Star Die Cut Cards
• Red & White Paper Straws 
• Red Adhesive Crystals
• Crystal Stickers Elements-Silver
• White Glitter Tape
• Silver Glitter Tape
• 6mm Satin Ribbon in Night or add decorative ribbon of your choice
• Rouge Glitter Ribon and/or Silver Glitter Ribbon
• Double Stick Tape or Glue Stick
•  Zots Dots-Memory Large

Instructions:

• Create your star wand by cutting and layering different colored star shapes and/or embellishing star shapes with adhesive gems and glitter tape as desired.
• Cut ribbons in a variety of colors and lengths.
• Tie the individual ribbon lengths to the top of the straw.
• Secure embellished star shape to straw with glue dots.

Fun to bring along to a parade, or to add some festive flair to your 4th of July celebration!

-Claudia
Favorite PS colors: curry & fuchsia
Latest fave: Silhoutte CAMEO Electronic Cutting Tool

‘Tis the season for holiday gift guides, festive décor, crafts and more! We are delighted that much of our holiday assortment has been featured in recent press, so we wanted to give you a look at a few Paper Source picks of the season.

In the December issue, Better Homes & Garden suggests a new family holiday tradition and asks readers to write down good deeds using our Paper Chain Garland Kit and hang it from the tree. Read the rest of this entry »

We were tickled when this month’s Women’s Day featured a project inspired by red and white paper straws. Remember these straws from our Summer Cup Cover How-To? Well, this holiday variation — cleverly called the Straw-burst Wreath — caused a stir among DIYers.

Image courtesy of Tatertots & Jello

We loved the simplicity of the project and statement the wreath can carry throughout the season. But if you need something with a bit more charm, Blogger Jen of Tatertots & Jello created this wonderful paper straw wreath variation, using a snowflake and ribbon accent.

Image courtesy of Crossing the Bugger-Dixon Line

Left with extra paper straws? Jenny of Crossing the Bugger-Dixon Line shows off a paper straw garland that is perfect for parties or to string around your tree. Read the rest of this entry »

No one is more excited about the holiday season than your kids, and we have the perfect outlet for their joy and laughter. This weekend our stores are hosting a Kids Holiday Crafting Play Day where your kids and their friends can celebrate the season with festive paper crafts. Using a few of our new holiday kits and our assortment of embellishments, young crafters will create jolly keepsakes to adorn your home or your holiday packages.

Your kids will walk away with gnomes, mushrooms, elves and other colorful creations and you enjoy 10% off of purchases made that day. It’s a play day for crafters of all ages!

Kids Holiday Crafting Play Day
Saturday, November 19th
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (local time)
For more information or to register, visit our website.

Remember, sign up with a friend (or siblings) and save $5 off the price of both tickets. Kids ages 8 and under require an adult chaperone – contact your local store to inquire.

Happy Holidays!

We have so many splendid ideas to share with you at our Annual Seasonal Table Event that I couldn’t resist providing a little sneak peek at the collection of ideas we are featuring at Thursday’s Crafter’s Night Out.

These colorful holiday favor pouches provide the perfect opportunity to create something unique. We will be adding stamped accents to make them fun and personal. Imagine these on your holiday table?!

Or, perhaps you are a cookie aficionado – baking goodie bags for your work colleagues, like so many of us at Paper Source. (I know. Aren’t we lucky?!) These cellophane bags will be the perfect inspiration for your holiday confections, complete with fun retro accents cut from 12×12 decorative paper.

We also have other unique ideas using our new rubber stamps, like this one from a wonderful French Canadian vendor. They are sure to add charm to your seasonal presentation.

Be sure to sign up early, and enjoy $5 off your seat when you sign up with a friend! Sip wine with fellow crafters, nibble on treats, create stunning decorations and shop the night away with your 10% off coupon.’

Seasonal Table Collection of Ideas – Crafter’s Night Out
Thursday, November 10th
6pm – 8pm (local time)
To sign up, stop by your local Paper Source store or register online today.

–Linda
PS colors: paper bag & persimmon
Latest fave: Academic Great Big Calendar