Being organized is a beautiful thing. So is finding easy ways to be creative! Labels and stickers are a perfect blend of the two because they satisfy the urge to get organized in a creative way. Here are a few fun ways we at Paper Source like to use labels and stickers.

School/Office
In school we all remember covering our books with paper to hide their second hand covers. You can do the same thing with books on your shelves at home, color coordinating cookbooks, home décor, gardening, art, fiction, Read the rest of this entry »

Using our box mailers as a frame, this silhouette box makes a great homemade wall decoration! Choose any colors or prints, and any silhouette– here we used a bird along with a paper from our India collection. Personalize the silhouette by tracing a photo of a family member or favorite pet!

Materials Needed: Read the rest of this entry »

This spring we introduced a new paper flower kit to celebrate one of our all-time favorite blooms, the sunflower. At Paper Source, from the moment we decide on a kit concept, we begin the rounds of brainstorming, sampling and prototyping that make up the creative process. After investigating different varieties of sunflowers (there are more than 50 species), and bringing in lots of fresh ones to examine in person, we decided on a look and began creating initial models. Read the rest of this entry »

Here is a fun, easy way to do a 3-D homemade Father’s day card (this technique is great for a kid’s or baby’s room too). Start with our nifty 3-D craft letters, colored paper and some large photos printed on superfine white text weight paper. Our superfine paper works great with inkjet printers, and the matte finish makes it easier to glue than glossy finished papers.

Instructions:
1. To cover the front of each letter, trace along the outside and inside edges of the craft letters on colored paper (here I used sage). Read the rest of this entry »

Okay, if it’s possible to have a total FAVE outside of PS designs, then these French canvas fabrics from Les Toiles du Soleil (”canvas of the sun”) have to be mine. They just scream summertime and the beach! The best news is that on top of using them to make our awesome French canvas journals (handmade at Paper Source here in Chicago), we are now selling the cloth online by the meter– ideal for summer craft projects! I have been hoping for years that we could offer it by the meter, so with five summery patterns now to choose from it’s a dream come true for me. Read the rest of this entry »

Our new India-inspired prints really got us thinking of summer– and what kinds of crafts and party decorations we could dream up for warm-weather celebrations. Using bright colors, including our vibrant new Fuchsia, we created these simple paper lanterns. They look great hanging from anywhere, adding a colorful touch to any outdoor occasion!

Materials needed:
One 26″ x 20″ sheet of text weight paper in each of 2 colors (one sheet of each makes two lanterns); floral wire; 1/8″ hole punch; double-sided tape; craft knife; ruler

Instructions:

Exterior sheet (outside frame of lantern)
1. Cut text weight sheet of one color down to a 10″ x 20″ piece. Fold each of the 10″ ends down 2″ to create a crease, then unfold.
2. Using craft knife and ruler, make vertical cuts between fold lines at roughly 1/2″ intervals. Read the rest of this entry »

Imagine this: the fragrance of arrabiata sauce fills the kitchen as it simmers on the stove top. Oh, the daunting task of clean up. As I sort through the mess, I hesitate to throw the empty tomato can in the recycling bin. As usual, I’m scheming, plotting, thinking: what could I make with this?

My latest idea: wash it out and make it into a delicious vase. Yup, I always treat myself to flowers after being such a good hostess. This technique is lovely, green and so easy to do– an empty milk or OJ carton also works great here, particularly with its water-resistant wax finish. Here’s how I did it:

Tomato can
I chose my favorite decorative paper (here I used the Lotus & Jasmine Garden print from our new India Collection), using tiny magnets to hold it together. The magnets allow me to switch out the paper when I want a change of scenery. Read the rest of this entry »

This is a great craft idea we put together to brighten our moods on a rainy spring day. Paper kites are a fun project to work on with kids and they make wonderful party decorations, or wall décor.

(One day when we are master kite-makers we will figure out how to make these for outdoor flying, but for now, these are indoor-only!) We find the kites to be most interesting when different paper patterns are used for the kite panels – here we used three papers from the Fauna & Flora paper collection. Read the rest of this entry »