Paper Source Blog » home decor

The little black gift

Paper Source — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:32:11 +0000

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.

Table displays, like those from our Southport and Lincoln Park stores (shown here), provide endless inspiration for several springtime gift challenges– Find “that perfect gift,” stylish gift wrap, add accent (or don’t), and you’re done! Wrap a wedding gift with Black & White Iron Scroll Wrapping Paper and Persimmon Daisy Gift Wrap. Or grab the Great Mustaches Mug and a Decomposition Journal for a masculine graduation gift.

Or maybe you’re looking to freshen up your home decor? Treat yourself to a simple black and white redesign after tackling those daunting spring cleaning tasks. Apartment Therapy recently featured an upbeat selection of yellow, black and white rooms, which provides additional inspiration.

To help with your efforts, we’ve taken the beauty of our store display and compiled our favorite black and white products into one easy-to-shop category– click here and surround yourself with the classic beauty of black and white.

How-to: lovely leaf lights

PS Design — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 17:41:33 +0000

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

Materials Needed:
How-To PDF
Small Die Cut Fall Leaves
Walnut 4 Ply Linen Thread
Kraft 1/2” Cotton Ribbon
Double-Sided Tape
1/16” Hole Punch
Scissors
Glass Jars
Tea Lights or Small Candles

Instructions:
1. Punch two 1/16” holes (side by side) at the stems of each small leaf.
2. String leaves onto a length of linen thread, wrap around lip of jar and secure in place with double-sided tape.
3. Wrap paper ribbon around mouth of jar for a finished look.
4. Drop in candles, light, and enjoy the warmth!

How-to: wall bulletin organizer

PS Design — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:06:33 +0000

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
Marigolds Wrapping Paper
A9 Envelopes (Poppy & Persimmon)
A2 Note Cards (Curry)
1/4″ Satin Ribbon (Curry)
1 Large Binder Clip
Stapler
Scissors
1/4″ Super Tacky Tape
Ruler
Bone folder
EXTRAS: crystal push pins • clipiolas • slicci red metallic pen

Instructions:
1. Adhere two bookboards together with super tacky tape and cover with wrapping paper.
2. Make a hanger by cutting approximately 2 feet of ribbon and knotting each end. Staple ends to back of bulletin 3 or more times (diagram A).
3. Gusset fold two envelopes to form pockets, creasing with a bone folder, and stick in place with tape (diagram B).
4. Pushpin a length of ribbon across bulletin to hang photos and mementos. Binder clip note cards to one side for jotting reminders. Use more pushpins along bottom edge to hang keys, IDs or jewelry.

Picture this!…handmade frames

PS Workshops — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 20:40:59 +0000

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

Paper wall art

PS Design — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 16:52:54 +0000

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.

Lay your paper face down, and then place the frame on top (also face down). Fold the paper up over the sides to see how much you need around the edges so the paper can reach to the back of the frame; then, trim your paper to fit. Next, starting on the center of each side, fold the paper up and around to the back of the frame, and staple in place with a mechanical stapler. Pull the paper pretty taught, so that there are no wrinkles or bubbles on the front. Work your way around, inching out towards the corners as you move around the frame, stapling the paper to the back of the frame. I usually place a staple every inch and a half or so.

And that’s it, so easy, so affordable! The best part is, if you want to change up your room a little bit, all you have to do is get some new paper and staple it right over the old! For me, this is so great, because we ALWAYS have new paper coming in that I love and want to use!

–Alanna
PS colors: gravel & plum
Latest fave: Faux Bois Soap Set

Organizing your life…with style

PS Design — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:40:45 +0000

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

Label it

PS Design — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:38:39 +0000

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, and non-fiction books with solid color paper covers and contrasting labels.
Labels and stickers also dress up any file folder– be it a manila one you are recycling, or one with lovely Chartreuse Dots as shown. Either way, you will be pleased with the hit of color and decoration they provide. They can also play a part in defining your filing system, organizing the file content through use of label color, decoration, or shape.

Around the House
You can carry these organizing themes into any closet in the house – labeling boxes and shelves with contents. Very satisfying to accomplish and to look at!

Several of us have also used labels in recent moves – labeling boxes by color, by room. This helped direct which boxes went into what rooms, quickly and correctly. Nothing worse then being exhausted from moving and then having to re-lug the right boxes into the right rooms!

Time Management (sort of)
Finally, I thought I’d share this wonderful idea for keeping time. Annie and team came up with the idea of using a Paper Source circle card and coordinating circle stickers to make a mid-century mod wall clock! The clock itself is a little battery-operated box with hands. You can find one at your local hardware store. When hung behind a circle card (hands sitting on top of the card) with four 2”circle stickers and twelve 1 ¼” circle stickers surrounding the center to mark the hours of the day, the inexpensive clock becomes modern art!

P.S. A word of warning: putting our stickers directly onto a wall may pull off paint if removed. We suggest you apply the stickers to solid roll wrap then hang on the wall if you do not want to damage your walls!

– Cindy
PS colors: chartreuse & pool
Latest fave: PS India Elephants Wrap – I love the proud marching elephants with their beautifully painted toes!

How-to: decorative silhouette box

PS Design — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:00:23 +0000

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:
A2 Box Mailer
Decorative paper
1/4″ Satin Ribbon
Zots Dots Small
8 1/2″ x 11″ Cover Weight Paper
3D Zots Dots
Craft Knife or Scissors
Double-sided tape

Instructions:
1. Cut pieces of decorative paper to fit top (5 15/16″ x 4 1/2″) and/or bottom (5 3/4″ x 4 3/8″) lid of box mailer, and adhere in place inside with double-sided tape. (Use both the top and bottom lids to create a pair!)
2. Trace bird silhouette onto cover weight paper, (customize using any desired image/profile via photos or downloaded image), and cut out. Use 3D Zots Dots to adhere silhouette onto decorative paper inside box.
3. Cut approximately 18″ of ribbon. Apply Small Zots Dots to bottom and corners of box. Center ribbon on edge of box, affixing to Zots Dots to create a decorative edge.
4. Tie a secure bow to top and hang.

Enjoy!

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

Inspired by sunflowers

PS Design — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:34:00 +0000

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.

Our biggest and most interesting challenge by far was finding a way to recreate the unique texture of the center of a sunflower– using paper of course! Take a look at this photo– who’d have thought that a bunch of round, flat paper stickers could represent that rich, velvety part of the flower? It took some trial and error (no stranger to our kit designers) but we finally found a way, and one that’s easy to replicate on your own. Just one example of how beautifully paper can imitate the art of nature!

P.S. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the giant paper sunflowers currently in our store windows. If you’re up for a challenge and want to make the oversize blooms yourself, we recommend getting acquainted with our sunflower kit, and then simply expanding the scale to a size you like.

You’ll need the following materials to make giant sunflowers:
Paper Sunflower Kit for getting started
26″ x 20″ Text Weight Paper in Curry, Moss for the petals and leaves
26″ x 20″ Cover Weight Paper and 4″ Round Labels in Chocolate for the flower center
Wooden dowels from a hardware store and floral tape from the sunflower kit for the stem
Adhesive of your choice — tape, PVA or a gluestick

–Claudia
PS colors: curry & fuchsia
Latest fave: Our new PS India papers

Happy Father’s Day, Dad!

PS Workshops — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 23:45:36 +0000

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). Our solid 12×12 paper works great for this (or even choose a decorative paper). Use a pencil so you can erase the lines.
2. Cut inside the lines with a nice scissors for a smooth cut, and erase any stray pencil marks.
3. Using a glue stick, adhere paper cutouts onto the front of each letter.
4. Once you’ve chosen and printed your photos (make sure each is large enough to back one of the craft letters), trace around the outside of the letter only.

5. Cut out each photo and adhere to the backside of one of the letters with a glue stick, so that the photos peek through the letters.

Voila– perfect photo memories to share with the world’s best Dad!

Cheers,

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