Like the little black dress that sits in your closet, we’ve found the little black (or white) gift offers the same reliability and versatility. So, in addition to a springtime ode to daisies, we’ve compiled a beautiful assortment of black and white products.

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Add rustic charm to your Thanksgiving table using recycled jars and our Small Leaves Die Cut Pack. Assemble a cluster of jars at your table’s center and dress up mantles or shelves to add a warm welcoming glow.

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

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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 »

Handmade picture frames as easy as 1-2-3! The beauty of this workshop is that we’ve done all the hard work of pre-cutting bookboard pieces for you. That means no fear, no sore fingers, no worries…leaving you with the fun part of simply creating! I know – you love us, don’t you?

At our Fun Frames Workshop you’ll mix PVA and that mysterious methyl cellulose, as well as learn tricks like how to master those “corner turn-ins” for a professionally finished project! Register now, seats are limited and the class is tomorrow – Thursday, June 3 (don’t worry, we love last minute sign ups!). We can’t wait to show you the easy steps so you can continue to create frames for everyone this year.

We know you’re always looking for the next new project from Paper Source! If you love the idea of making something that looks like it took a lot of skill, but is super easy (cause you want all the credit, we know), this is the workshop for you. These frames make the perfect Father’s Day gift, or use them for new grads, summer weddings, or to frame that precious baby photo you’ve been dying to display. There are just too many reasons to create these prefect handmade frames.

P.S. Frame kits will be available in our stores soon! If you’re interested in purchasing one of these kits even before they hit the stores, please post a comment to this blog entry and we’ll follow up with more info.

Cheers and happy gluing!

–Linda
PS colors: chartreuse & pool
Latest fave: Circle Stickers and Presentation Envelopes

My dad is a pretty handy guy, and so growing up, I was always encouraged to build, tinker and create. I remember as a little kid I was always outside in the tool shed with dad (yep, I was a daddy’s girl!) while he was working. Sometimes he’d give me a piece of wood, a handful of nails and a small hammer, and there I’d sit, hammering nails into the wood, and then sometimes finishing off my “project” by stringing twine around the nails. Now, all grown up and living on my own, I still go to dad when I need help constructing items to decorate my living space. And, of course, since I work at Paper Source, I have to incorporate paper! This is my favorite home decorating trick: paper-covered wall art.

It’s a good idea to select your paper first, because that will affect how large your piece of art can be. For the base, all you need is a wood frame (this is where my dad helps!) Using scrap pieces of wood, he constructs a simple frame to the dimensions that I need. Canvas stretcher bars, which are quite inexpensive, also work well, and you can customize the size by choosing the lengths you buy. An old wooden frame without the glass/picture might also work. If you don’t have access to wood (or someone who can build the frame for you) you could also try old shoe boxes, shirt boxes, etc. Read the rest of this entry »

The folks at Better Homes and Gardens are experts in finding keen uses for Paper Source product! In the spirit of the New Year and the urge to organize, I thought I’d share their ideas for a very stylish and inspiring closet and craft space. The oranges, greens and blues of our wrapping paper, suitcases and storage containers feel so fresh and energizing.

Featured: Poppy Riveted Suitcases and Colonial Indian Chintz Riveted Suitcases

Featured: Papaya Pool Gravel Stripes Office Organizer and various wrapping paper. Don’t you love how they’ve decorated their plastic tape dispenser with Poppy Dots Wrapping Paper!

I have to admit, I’m still feeling a bit lazy from the holidays – maybe next month I’ll give organizing a shot. Or, I’ll go sledding with my kids instead!

– Cindy
PS colors: pool & red
Latest fave: Dutch Woodcut Floral Wrapping Paper

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 »