After another food-free crafting “lunch” playing with cool new product from the Buying team, and some talented creative work from the Crafting team, taking that inspiration and bringing it to life, we have our next round of card making “recipes”!

Have fun and do something creative for Valentine’s Day!

– Cindy
PS colors: persimmon & paper bag
Latest fave: 2011 Paper Source Booklet Calendar

Send your favorite fool rushing in this Valentine’s Day with our Hunka Hunka Burnin’ Love card. Utilize paper from season’s past or follow along with our color recommendations. Either way you slice it, this Valentine is better than a peanut butter and banana sandwich.

Materials Needed:

• Hunka Hunka How-to PDF
• A7 Black Folded Cards
• Persimmon & Poppy 4 Bar Heart Cards
• Red Glitter Wrap
• Peacock, Curry, Poppy, Papaya and Beet Text Weight Papers (or whatever scrap you’ve got!)
• Heart Hole Punch
• Foam Squares
• Glue Stick
• Silver Metallic Sharpie Marker
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Xacto & Cutting mat

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In flipping through a back issue of Budget Travel, I read the article “50 Top Tips From the World’s Smartest Cruisers.” The tips were pretty good, running the gamut of planning scenarios, but one, in particular, stood out to me:

#37- “Reward Good Service”

Since I am all about building relationships with service professionals who impact my daily life, I committed this to memory for future “cruising” opportunities. It’s so easy and requires little space in my travel bag–- not to mention being an excellent way to make use of those left over Grateful and Thankful cards! For you talented designers out there, I can only imagine the incredible illustrations and tiny sentiments that can be created from colorful business cards and envelopes. Regardless of whether you’re setting sail on the high seas or just cruising around your stumping grounds, what little tips do you provide for rewarding small favors and loyal service?

Help us generate “50 Expressions of Gratitude From the World’s Most Thoughtful Givers.”

– Liz
PS colors: night & curry
Latest fave: Cavallini Wrapping Paper

We had such fun creating our holiday card idea samples this year – including a multi-department crafting lunch, complete with holiday tunes (but missing the “lunch”)!

From the creativity of that day came the cards pictured above, along with recipes for you to follow, or improvise. We hope you enjoy the inspiration they provide and that you have a ball “cooking up” your own holiday cards this season. Remember, if you submit your ideas to us, as part of our Holiday Card Contest, you could win a PS gift card (always handy around the holidays)!

– Cindy
PS colors: persimmon & paper bag
Latest fave: 2011 Paper Source Booklet Calendar

For our Valentine workshop this year, we had a hard time deciding between a kids class or an adult class…so we created both! For our hopelessly romantic Girls Night Out gals, we have a workshop in which we’ll share our love of Victorian folded Valentine creations embellished with Paper Source accents. And since so many of you LOVED our Gingerpaper House Workshop for kids, we created a Sweet Handmade Valentine Workshop (with Mom or Dad) perfect for ages 7 and older.

Classes vary by store location – we’re so sorry if the class you want is not available at your local store! But don’t forget to check workshop schedules for surrounding stores in your area, or plan your own Valentine private party with just 4-6 people (call your local store for more information)!

Sweet Handmade Valentine – Victorian Fold (for adults)
The romantic at heart will love making the Victorian folded Valentines as seen in Martha Stewart Living. We’ll also decorate a favor box with rubber stamps and paper – a perfect way to present your handmade Valentine to your someone special!

WHERE: Select stores
WHEN: Thursday, January 28 – 6:30-7:30pm
The registration fee is $15. To register visit our Workshops page.

Sweet Handmade Valentine – with Mom or Dad (for kids)
Perfect for a Mom & me or Dad & me morning! Your kids will learn to fold a “fortune teller of love” Valentine and decorate it with our rubber stamps and accents. Then you’ll get to help them create a petal envelope to store their Valentine, using a heart boot punch, brads and string!

WHERE: Select stores
WHEN: Sunday, January 31 – 10:30-11:30am
The registration fee of $15 covers the cost of one adult and one child. Add a second child for $10 (two children per adult maximum). To register visit our Workshops page.

Check out what fun Read the rest of this entry »

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!

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In my world, wreaths aren’t just for Christmas. By using a black and orange color palette, presto-change-o… a spooktacular Halloween card is born! When I find a technique or idea that I love, I use it for all types of occasions throughout the year by making simple changes to the design. This card is super easy to make using our shape hole punches – perfect leaf shapes every time!

Try making this card with a blossom wreath to welcome a baby girl or a bluebell wreath for a baby boy. How about a fuchsia and red wreath for a Valentine’s Day card? The possibilities are endless!

–Annie
PS colors: gravel & beet
Latest fave: Owl Placecard Kit

Materials Needed:
A2 Poppy Folded Cards Read the rest of this entry »

My brother and sister-in-law recently bought their first house, so I wanted to send an extra special handmade card to their new address. To honor this significant life step I went with the theme, “Moving on up!”. With a few easy cuts I was able to create a fun pop-up, and heat embossing provided realistic texture for my design. I can’t wait for them to receive it in the mail!

–Rachel, Paper Source Alexandria Store
PS colors: curry & gravel
Latest fave: VersaMarker Pen

Materials Needed:
A6 Folded Card Read the rest of this entry »

You asked for it… our first ever Holiday Card Making Girls Night Out! Get your creative juices flowing while you play with our new holiday rubber stamps, punches, cards and glitter – leave the mess with us and take home all sorts of great ideas. The event is this Thursday, October 1, so call your girlfriends and reserve your seats today!

Along with useful tips and tricks, you’ll bring home a beautiful linen folio to hold your holiday card creations. Even better, you’ll receive 10% off all your purchases in the store that night – an opportunity to gather keen card making supplies and get ahead on your holiday gift list! Tickets for Thursday’s event are only $25… sign up with a friend and receive 10% off your ticket purchase.

WHAT: Holiday Card Making Girls Night Out
WHERE: All Paper Source stores
WHEN: Thursday, October 1, 7-9pm
HOW: Visit our workshop page to find your store & purchase your $25 ticket.

We hope you’re so very proud of your hand-made holiday cards this year that you will submit your design to our Fourth Annual Holiday Card Contest also kicking off October 1st!

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