Paper Source Blog » homemade greeting cards

Valentine card making recipes – yummy!

PS Design — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 01:01:47 +0000

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

How-to: Hunka Hunka Burnin’ Love

PS Design — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:02:12 +0000

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

Heart Hole Punch

Foam Squares

Glue Stick

Silver Metallic Sharpie Marker

Instructions:

We’re making a list! Share your favorite expression of gratitude.

Paper Source — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 21:39:19 +0000

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

Holiday card making recipes – Get ‘em while they’re hot!

PS Design — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 19:42:33 +0000

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

Paper Source Workshop: Adults & Kids Valentines Classes

PS Workshops — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:56:09 +0000

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 the daughters of Sally, Paper Source CEO, had making Valentine fortune tellers!

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

2009 holiday card contest winners – store submissions

PS Workshops — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:29:03 +0000

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!

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

How-to: halloween wreath card

PS Design — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:34:08 +0000

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
Branch Hole Punch
8 1/2″ x 11″ Black Text Weight Paper
Black Diamond Stickles Glitter Glue
1/4″ Black Satin Ribbon
Happy Halloween Rubber Stamp
VersaMark Watermark Inkpad
Opaque White Embossing Powder
Embossing Heat Tool
Glue Stick

Instructions:
1. Punch 20 or more branch shapes out of black text weight paper. Use a glue stick to adhere each branch punch to the front of the poppy card in a shape of a wreath.
2. When the wreath is complete, embellish with Stickles glitter glue. Try using a paintbrush to dab Stickles all over.
3. Cut a length of 1/4″ black ribbon to approximately 7″, tie a bow and adhere to the bottom of the wreath.
4. Stamp the Happy Halloween greeting below the wreath using the VersaMark Watermark Inkpad. Emboss by sprinkling with opaque white embossing powder, shaking off the excess and setting with heat embossing tool.

How-to: new home greeting card

PS Stores — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:40:58 +0000

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
8 1/2″ x 11″ Text Weight Paper
VersaMarker Pen
Embossing Powder
Embossing Heat Tool
Exacto Knife
Ultra Fine Point Sharpie
Glue Stick or Double-Sided Tape
A7 Envelope (choose an envelope large enough to accommodate the house pop-up)

Instructions:
1. To create the grassy hill on the front of the card cut Chartreuse text weight paper down to the width of the A6 folded card, draw a hill curve with a pencil, then cut out the shape. Adhere the hill to the card with a glue stick or double-sided tape.
2. To create the house cut-out, open the A6 card and lay flat. Starting from the top of the hill draw a house making sure you draw past the fold of the card, so part of the house is on each half of the folded card. You’ll finish decorating the house in the steps below before cutting it away from the card.
3. To add texture to the front of the house, color in the solid part of the house with the VersaMarker Pen, sprinkle embossing powder over the drawn area and use the embossing heat tool. Once the powder is set, cut out windows with the Exacto Knife and add finishing touches with a Sharpie.
4. To cut out the house, use an Exacto Knife to cut around the top part of the house and roof – cut only the part of the house that has been drawn on the back half of the folded card. This small section you cut will then stand up when you fold the card.
5. Using the VersaMarker Pen add a curvy sidewalk and a message like “Moving on Up!”. Sprinkle clear embossing powder and use the embossing heat tool to set.
6. Write a personal message to the new homeowners on the inside!

Paper Source Special Event: Holiday Card Making

PS Workshops — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:41:14 +0000

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

Favorites: India rubber stamps

PS Design — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:25:53 +0000

I love the graphic simplicity of our India Rubber Stamps. Whether used as one clean image or stamped in multiples they really make a statement. When I find a new rubber stamp design I love, I make several cards and gift tags to keep on hand. These cards would work for birthdays and as thank yous, and gift tags are great attached to a gift box or tied to a bottle of wine (the ultimate last minute gift!). If you love our India collection as much as we do, read more about the inspiration behind the entire collection.

p.s. Did you know that elephants are a symbol of luck, fortune and protection? They’re perfect for so many occasions!

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